Nibbles & Bites: Total Wine, Ice Dreammm deliciousness & more!

Total Wine, Spirits, Beer & More!
You long-time readers know how bummed out I was about the closing of the old Earth Fare “green” grocery store on the north side of S.R. 56 at Wesley Chapel Blvd. And, while many had hoped that Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s would open in that space, I continue to be excited that a new Total Wine, Spirits, Beer & More has now opened in that location.

I did a Facebook Live video that received several thousand views in front of the store the morning Total Wine opened and there’s no doubt that the 15,734 different options (over 8,000 wines, nearly 5,000 spirits and 2,700 beers) inside are all at or near the lowest prices you’ll find anywhere.

Store manager Albie Johnson Escoto, who came from Total Wine’s Clearwater location, said she “jumped at the chance” to open and manage the new store in our area — and I may be about the only person as or more excited than Albie, although Total Wine’s happy, friendly staff is right up there, too.

I picked up some outstanding Grand Opening deals on Opening Day, including a 750-ml bottle of my favorite value Irish whiskey, Wolfhound, for only $16.99, plus great deals on Italian reds like Barolo and Amarone, French Meursault (white burgundy) and so much more. And, while they didn’t advertise the deals in this publication, the American bourbons, in particular, appeared to be flying off the shelves.

Hopefully, Total Wine’s marketing department will see fit to advertise some of its upcoming Tastings and other special events in these pages. Total Wine & More is located at 25535 Sierra Center Blvd. and is open 9 a.m.-10 p.m. every day (until 11 p.m. on Fri. & Sat.). For more info, visit TotalWine.com or call (813) 435-1207 — and tell Albie and her staff I sent you!  — GN

Ice Dreammm -mmm-good!

Shortly after Falabella Family Bistro opened in The Grove, owner Joe Schembri (photo above) opened his second location of the Ice Dreammm Shop directly across from Falabella in the Village at The Grove plaza.

Featuring the same creamy, delicious homemade ice cream (including those amazing alcohol-infused flavors for adults only) as in the original Ice Dreammm Shop on S.R. 54 in Lutz, Schembri promises that the new location will soon add more freshly baked goodies to go with the decadent chocolate chip cookies, hand-made waffle cones, hand-spun shakes and dairy- and gluten-free ice cream options to the mix at the new location.

“Ice cream is my passion,” Schembri says. “I gave up my corporate job (to do this) and I’m excited to scoop for everyone in the Wesley Chapel community.”

The new Ice Dreammm Shop (6013 Wesley Grove Blvd., #101) is open every day 11 a.m.-9 p.m. (& until 10 p.m. on Fri. & Sat.). For info, visit icedreammmshop.com or call (813) 586-3767. — GN

Congrats To Our SVB Contest Winner!
Congratulations to the super-excited winner of our Sarah Vande Berg (SVB) Tennis & Wellness Center contest winner — Jennifer Pedraza of Avalon Park West! 

When she picked up her prize package valued at more than $500 at our office, Jennifer told us that she’s been wanting to “check out the new tennis center in our community.”

She also was thrilled that, in addition to winning a 60-minute massage and a 25-minute Salt Room session, plus brunch for two at the Vesh Bistro (that we reviewed in our last issue) and an SVB “swag bag” (which included an SVB logo mask, Mahala cup, lipstick, sunstick, black cup & borosilicate verre water bottle) for herself, she was happiest to receive one week of Recreational Kids Summer Camp for her son.

If you didn’t win the contest, check out all there is to offer at the SVB Tennis & Wellness Center, located less than 20 minutes from most of Wesley Chapel (at 6585 Simons Rd. in Zephyrhills) — from the amazing variety of tennis courts, to the padel and pickleball courts and the delicious Vesh Bistro for breakfast, lunch, weekend brunch or dinner.  

For more info, call (813) 361-6660 or visit SVBTennisCenter.com. — GN 

Coming Soon!
Although we still don’t know exactly when it is expected to open, the Miller’s Ale House to be located on the south side of S.R. 54, across the Wesley Chapel Blvd. Extension from Aldi, the Tidal Wave Car Wash & and the soon-to-open Zaxby’s chicken restaurant, has now gone vertical. We’ll keep you posted with any news we receive about the new Ale House. — GN

Total Wine & More Coming Soon, Chicken Salad Chick Later

Finally! Total Wine & More is coming to Wesley Chapel.

When it comes to surveying our readers about what they would like to see next in Wesley Chapel or New Tampa, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods always top the list, but Total Wine & More is always pretty close behind.

Well, cheers everyone — Trader Joe’s is about to lose its toughest non-grocery competition for that most anticipated title, because Total Wine & More is on its way and opening pretty soon.

While no grand opening date has been revealed, construction is ongoing to convert the failed 24,000-sq.-ft. Earth Fare store on S.R. 56 to the area’s first Total Wine & More, or America’s Wine Superstore, as it dubs itself.

Started in 1991, Total Wine & More has more than 200 stores in 26 states, and a typical store carries more than 8,000 different wines, 2,500 beers and more than 3,000 different spirits.

 It’s been more than three years since Dilip Kanji, who was building the Hyatt Place Hotel on the north side of S.R. 56, told local business leaders at a meeting that Total Wine & More was coming to Cypress Creek Town Center North.

This may not have been the exact original plan for the store, but locals will be happy that it is finally almost here.

CHICKEN AND MORE CHICKEN: While the Zaxby’s in front of Costco just south of S.R. 56 has finally gone vertical, another chicken joint is on the way right next door.

Chicken Salad Chick will soon be  under construction in the parcel right next to Zaxby’s, according to county permitting records. A 2,665-sq.-ft. restaurant is planned.

While both restaurants serve chicken and are concentrated primarily in the south, Zaxby’s focus is on chicken wings, chicken tenders and chicken sandwiches, most of which are fried.

Chicken Salad Chick specializes in chicken salad served in varieties that include chopped pecans, cranberries and Fuji apples, to name a few.

The menu has more than a dozen different kinds of chicken salad served on bread, lettuce or atop a salad. Pimiento cheese, broccoli and grape salad and other salads also are available.

Chicken Salad Chick has nearly 200 locations in 17 states, mostly across the south, including a few in Tampa. 

Stacy Brown, a stay-at-home mom in Auburn, AL, started the business by perfecting her recipes and dropping off samples door-to-door. Demand became so great, she and husband Kevin opened their first restaurant in 2008. 

ALSO COMING: Just a few doors down from the Total Wine & More, a Badcock & More Home Furniture store is currently under construction at 25665 Sierra Center Blvd.

The long-awaited Ferman Harley Davidson also is finally ready to begin construction on it’s 37,000-sq.ft. dealership on the west side of Wesley Chapel Blvd. north of S.R. 56 and the Tapestry at Cypress Creek apartments. The new Harley dealership was approved last Nov.

With a BMW dealership under construction on S.R. 56 and ready to join other luxury car dealerships like Audi, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz already with locations in Wesley Chapel, a Harley-Davidson dealership is another feather in the cap for our area. Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson is not only one of the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturers, its brand is absolutely iconic.

AND, ON S.R. 54: On S.R. 54, just west of the entrance to Saddlebrook Resort, a BayCare Medical Group office has opened in a new plaza, called Clearwater Crossings. BayCare, of course, is building a new hospital expected to open on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. just south of S.R. 54 in 2023.

Michelle Spencer, M.D., a family medicine doctor, is the first physician to be located at the new office, and she says she sees patients 2 years old and up. 

A dental office and a restaurant (which Dr. Spencer says is rumored to possibly be a breakfast chain) also are scheduled to open in the plaza, which is nearing completion. 

For more information about BayCare Medical Group (28864 S.R. 54), call (813) 998-2870 and tell Dr. Spencer and her staff that we sent you. 

And, a little west of Clearwater Crossings in the Publix-anchored Hollybrook Plaza shopping center at the corner of BBD and S.R. 54, Banfield Pet Hospital is in the midst of a $680,000 renovation job, as it takes over the 5,500-sq.-ft. space previously occupied by Mattress1One.