Nibbles & Bites: Slim Chickens To Open By Aug. 17!

Yes, we know that the Wesley Chapel area already has The Chicken Boss, Chick-fil-A, King of the Coop, Chick’n Fun, Zaxby’s, Popeye’s and many other restaurants, chain and mom-and-pop, that specialize in fried chicken (and/or wings) in its many (sometimes) delicious forms. 

Even so, as we reported months ago that it was coming, the latest news is that Wesley Chapel’s next entry into these “Chicken Wars” will be Slim Chickens, a chain founded in 2003 in Fayetteville, AR, with more than 225 units already open and with 1,200+ in development across most of the U.S. 

Specializing in hand-breaded chicken tenders, Slim Chickens’ Wesley Chapel location was still hiring at our press time and was expected to open by Thursday, August 17, according both to a Google search and a spokesperson at the nearly-completed building at 27244 Wesley Chapel Blvd., or about halfway between Chick’n Fun and The Wing House. 

With its nearest location to us on S. Macdill Ave. in Tampa, the Wesley Chapel location also will serve the chain’s new Nashville hot and other chicken sandwiches, wings, salads, Southern-style sides (including fried okra, mac n’ cheese and fried pickles) and, of course, its “Slim Sweets” signature desserts served in mason jars, like chocolate brownie pudding. 

For more information, visit SlimChickens.com. — GN 

Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar Getting Close To Opening On WC Blvd., Too! 

A few miles south of Slim Chickens, at 25026 Wesley Chapel Blvd. extension (in the same plaza as Chicken Salad Chick) in Lutz is the Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar, which will be the 20th link in a chain that already has locations in seven states, including the nearest to us in Ocala. That Shuckin’ Shack also is owned by Brad Harper, who is opening the Lutz/ WC location. 

Founded in Carolina Beach, NC, in 2007 by co-founders Matt Piccinin and Sean Cook — because of the co-founders’ shared “craving for fresh oysters” — Shuckin’ Shack began franchising locations in 2014 and features raw, steamed and chargrilled oysters, “sharkbite” shrimp (because “bang-bang” and “firecracker” were already taken, according to TheShuckinShack.com), scallops, snow crab legs (by the lb. or 1/2-lb.), crab “balls,” calamari, fresh clams and mussels and a variety of sampler and family-style options, like a “Low Country Boil.” 

There also is an ahi tuna appetizer, but no fresh fish entrĂ©es on the menu, but there is a fried cod sandwich and mahi tacos (there also are shrimp, tuna, chicken and even oyster tacos), as well as wings, salads, po-boy and other sandwiches, quesadillas and even shrimp ‘N grits. 

And yes, when it opens later this summer, Shuckin’ Shack will feature a full liquor bar and will be managed by our new friends Alie and Hunter (photo, right). Watch our “Neighborhood News” Facebook page for opening date updates. — GN 

Sorbo To Open In Former Bru Growler Bar Location 

In the Shoppes at Wesley Chapel plaza at 2653 Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. (across from AdventHealth Wesley Chapel) that already is home to Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, Latin Twist CafĂ©, The Hungry Greek and Umu Japanese & Thai, the former location of Bru Growler Bar and Buttermilk Provisions before that will go back to its coffee-&-tea roots, as Sorbo Coffee ‱ Tea ‱ Bakery ‱ Wine (photo) is expected to open by sometime this fall. 

The partners who own Umu also are involved in the ownership of Sorbo, as our friend Chef Will told us when we stopped in a few days before we went to press with this issue. “Sorbo will serve coffee, tea and a variety of pastries for breakfast and become a wine bar in the afternoon,” Will said. “We are excited to be bringing this new concept to Wesley Chapel.” 

All I can say after my sneak peek inside is that the place already looks pretty great (and upscale) and will be a welcome addition to the community. — GN 

Playa Bowls Not Open Yet 

Speaking of the Shoppes at Wesley Chapel, we told you a couple of issues ago that Playa Bowls — the beach-themed açai-&-more healthy bowl chain with more than 200 locations — was planning to open on or around June 17. 

Also known as “Pineappleland,” Playa Bowls was still not open at our press time and we had no word yet from local franchise owners Tabitha Castro and Pablo Reid as to when it will open. For more info, visit PlayaBowls.com.— GN 

Business Briefs — The Latest On Sam’s Club Gas & More! 

One of the most common complaints we hear about the Sam’s Club on S.R. 56 is how hard it is to get in and around the superstore’s gas pumps — which usually have among the lowest gas prices in town. 

Well, Sam’s is planning to expand its gas station pumps to deal with those frustrating backups. It appears, based on the diagram near right that will be reviewed at an upcoming preapplication meeting with Pasco County, that Sam’s will expand from twelve fueling positions to sixteen. 

It appears as though the existing kiosk, car wash and underground fuel tanks will remain, but that there may also be an additional inbound lane to those pumps, and some other changes. In other words, vehicles should be able to get in and gased up a lot quicker, with the addition of four more fuel nozzles and two more queue lanes. 

Of course, we’ll keep you posted. 

Moe’s To Add A 2nd WC Location 

Despite still having only one lane in each direction for much of its length, Wesley Chapel (WC) Blvd. continues to add new restaurants, retail and office space. 

With our area’s first-ever Slim Chickens restaurant currently under construction just north of where WC Blvd. meets Old Pasco Rd., a new retail plaza, to be called Post Oak Crossings — anchored by Wesley Chapel’s second Moe’s Southwest Grill restaurant — is under construction on WC Blvd., just north of the entrance to Lexington Oaks. 

The new 11,000+-sq.-ft. plaza being developed by Aprile Real Estate, has a total of five spaces, the anchor of which will be the new Moe’s, according to Aprile Real Estate president Jason Aprile. 

Aprile says that, in addition to Moe’s, a national dental group and a high-end med spa are planning to move into the building, leaving two available spaces, suitable for retail, office or quick-service restaurant uses. 

“With S.R. 54 getting ready to be widened and 500 new apartment units in the area, it’s an ideal location for many different kinds of businesses,” he says. Aprile Real Estate, which has three generations in both the cattle and real estate business in Tampa Bay, currently also is handling properties in Riverview and Temple Terrace. 

For more information about Post Oak Crossings, call Jason Aprile at (813) 532-6432 or email him at Jason@aprilerealestate.com. 

Amberlin Outparcel Coming Soon 

While the Amberlin Wiregrass Ranch apartments, a 216-unit rental community for ages 55+ on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. (across BBD from the new BayCare Wesley Chapel hospital), has gone vertical and should be ready for residents by sometime in early 2024, a new commercial project to be located just north of the Amberlin entrance on BBD has been approved for development. 

“Outparcel B,” which will be called the PSP Commercial Strip Center, will feature both retail and restaurant uses, although no specific users or names have yet been mentioned with regard to who the retail or restaurant will be. 

Meanwhile, there also is an Outparcel A, on the south side of the Amberlin entrance on BBD, which has only been approved for clearing and leveling. No permits have yet been approved for that spot. 

New Retail KRATEs 

Although most of the restaurants at The KRATE Container Park at The Grove have done a good job of building a following, quite a few of the retail stores at the largest container park in the Tampa Bay area haven’t been as fortunate — despite some success stories (like Maeberry Co., Katie Beth’s Boutique and a few others). 

Two new retail KRATEs (both pictured here) now have signs up and although we have no additional information at this time, we wish both Fitness Fashioness (in the former location of both The Rebellious Hippie and Mythos) and Sunglass Krate the best of luck and hope to bring you more information about both once they get closer to opening.