All of the remaining links in the Bahama Breeze Island Grille chain are either completely shutting down or will be converted to other Darden Restaurants brands — including the Bahama Breeze located at 25830 Sierra Center Blvd. (across S.R. 56 from the Tampa Premium Outlets) (photo).
All 28 remaining Bahama Breeze locations across the U.S. are closing, according to a Feb. 3 Darden news release, after previously shuttering a third of its locations in 2025.
As mentioned above, half of those remaining Bahama Breeze locations — including the one in Lutz/Wesley Chapel — will be converted to other Darden eateries (see below), although it was not disclosed in the press release which locations would be converted into which brands.
The other 14 Bahama Breezes will close permanently on April 5. The 14 that are remaining open — including ten of the 14 in Florida, where the brand first opened in the 1990s — will remain open for the next 12-18 months, although there will likely be some temporary closures along the way, as needed for the locations to be converted.
The list of the Darden brands still operating include a number of more upscale eateries that many locals — after first reading about this news on social media — are hopeful will find a home at the location on S.R. 56.
Here is that list of possible Darden brands that our Bahama Breeze could become:
• Eddie V’s Prime Seafood
• Ruth’s Chris Steak House
• The Capital Grille
• Seasons 52
• Yard House
• Olive Garden Italian Kitchen
• Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen
• Longhorn Steakhouse
• Chuy’s
Of course, Cheddars, Longhorn and Chuy’s all already have locations on S.R. 56 and a previously undeveloped parcel on Wesley Chapel Blvd. to the east of Chick’n Fun is now under construction and may include Olive Garden, although we were unable to get official confirmation as to whether or not Olive Garden is still coming to 27391 Centerline Dr., just west of Gateway Blvd. — the plans for which were apparently submitted way back in Aug. 2025 — or whether that location would preclude another Olive Garden being opened in the former Bahama Breeze spot.
Obviously, the first four or five (as most people would probably also be OK with Yard House) Darden brands on the list would be the most desirable to locals, but we will keep you posted on any such announcements. — GN
If it’s been a while since you last ate at Señor Tequila, located on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., in the Shoppes at New Tampa of Wesley Chapel plaza just south of S.R. 56, I suggest you try it again.
When I told assistant manager Samantha Lopez that Jannah and I noticed a definite increase in quality the last couple of times we ate at Señor Tequila, Samantha said, “The owner, Alvaro Mellado, brought in a new general manager, Norma Mellado (yes, they’re related) and a new chef and they have been working on the quality.”
It shows. Although I’ve never eaten at any of the other Señor Tequila locations (in Westchase, on N. Dale Mabry Hwy. in Carrollwood and in Winter Springs), I have been sampling the Wesley Chapel location since it first opened in 2021 and everything — from existing items like the sizzling chicken fajitas (top photo) and molcajete (left) to new menu additions, like the esquites (spicy, creamy, “street” corn off the cob, below right), tostones Mexicanos (bottom right), birria tacos (below left) and the Señor Tequila’s Favorite skirt steak (bottom right) — are all quality.
Samantha says the fajitas are still Señor Tequila’s top-sellers. Jannah and I often do a steak and chicken Fajitas Mexicanas combo (there’s also a Texas Fajitas combo with beef, chicken and shrimp), but since we were sampling some other beef dishes, we opted for all chicken this time. The chicken came out tasty and tender and the sizzling onions, bell peppers and tomatoes were all spot-on.
Samantha says she prefers the new esquites to the restaurant’s still-available street corn on the cob — and we agreed the large order of it was delicious, with mayo, cotija cheese, lime, tajin and cilantro.
Although I can’t eat shrimp, Charmaine said the tostones with ceviche-style shrimp, topped with pico de gallo, queso fresco, homemade chipotle sauce and guacamole may have been her favorite dish of the day.
And, although we all found the molcajete — another popular sizzling dish served in a lava rock bowl “heaped with beef strips, chicken, pork, chorizo sausage and shrimp (which we had them serve on the side for Charmaine) and topped with cheese, grilled cactus, avocado, peppers and onions — was too many different flavors in one dish for our taste, Samantha says that traditional Mexican lovers say it’s among their favorites. Like the fajitas, the molcajete is served with rice, creamy refried beans, lettuce, guacamole, pico de gallo, sour cream and flour tortillas — so it’s more than a meal just by itself.
Jannah’s favorite new dish was the trio of birria tacos, which feature tender shredded beef, onions and cilantro in obviously homemade corn tortillas shells and served with a savory beef broth consommé.
Charmaine and I both preferred the Señor Tequila’s Favorite steak, which also was extremely tender and topped with a zesty house-made chimichurri sauce and served with a side of perfectly grilled mixed veggies and Mexican rice.
So good!
And of course, Señor Tequila also has a popular queso dip, fresh guacamole (not made tableside), a sampler appetizer with beef nachos, chicken quesadilla, chicken flautas and stuffed jalapeños, plus favorites like burritos, chimichangas, chiles rellenos and enchiladas, as well as steak Monterrey (served with a poblano pepper stuffed with shrimp, peppers, onions and mushroom, topped with a creamy habanero pesto sauce), chicken & steak brochetas and much more.
What About Beverages?
If you check out the ad below, you’ll see that Señor Tequila offers a number of different drink specials, including Margarita Tuesday, when regular 16-oz. house margaritas cost only $5, Thirsty Thursday, when a 28-oz. sangria or sangrita (which has a bottom layer of frozen lime margarita topped with a layer of homemade sangria) for only $9. There’s also a great Happy Hour every Monday-Friday, 3 p.m.-6 p.m., with draft beers, house wines and house margaritas all 2-for-1.
In the photo above, the 16-oz. house margarita is on the left, the 28-oz. sangrita is in the middle and the rosarita, with Three Olives rosé vodka, instead of tequila) is on the right. Jannah also sampled a “skinny” margarita, which may have been her favorite of all the drinks.
Señor Tequila also has a huge assortment of upscale tequilas, mezcals, Mexican and domestic beers on draught and in bottles, and a gorgeous, full premium liquor bar.
And yes, there’s also a $10.99 kids menu, with everything from one cheese quesadilla, taco, burrito or enchilada (with rice or rice and beans), or chicken fingers or a cheeseburger (with French fries). All kids’ menu items also include a soft drink.
Señor Tequila is located at 1640 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. It is open Mon.-Thur., 11 a.m.-10 p.m., 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Fri. & Sat. & 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Sun. For more info, call (813) 428-5411, visit TheSenorTequila.com.
Anytime businesses — especially restaurants — go out of business in (or near) our distribution areas, I do feel their pain a little — although some more than others.
Case in point: Over the past couple of weeks, both the Bahama Breeze Island Grille (above) located at 25830 Sierra Center Blvd. (across S.R. 56 from the Tampa Premium Outlets) and the O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Grill at 5429 Village Market announced they were closing, albeit for different reasons.
Bahama Breeze, which is owned by Darden Restaurants, is closing all 28 of its remaining locations across the U.S., according to a Feb. 3 Darden news release, after previously shuttering a third of its locations in 2025.
Half of those remaining locations — including the one in Lutz/Wesley Chapel — will be converted to other Darden brands (see below), although it was not disclosed which locations would be converted into which brands.
The other 14 Bahama Breezes will close permanently on April 5. The 14 remaining open, including ten of the 14 in Florida, where the brand first opened in the 1990s, will remain open for the next 12-18 months, although there will likely be some temporary closures along the way, as needed for them to be converted.
The list of Darden brands still operating include a number of more upscale brands that many locals, after first reading about this news on social media, are hopeful will find a home at the location on S.R. 56. Here is that list of possible Darden brands our Bahama Breeze could become:
• Eddie V’s Prime Seafood
• Ruth’s Chris Steak House
• The Capital Grille
• Seasons 52
• Yard House
• Olive Garden Italian Kitchen
• Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen
• Longhorn Steakhouse
• Chuy’s
Of course, Cheddars, Longhorn and Chuy’s all already have locations on S.R. 56 and many of us saw announcements that an undeveloped parcel on Wesley Chapel Blvd. to the east of Chick’n Fun already is supposed to be an Olive Garden. At our press time, however, we were unable to get confirmation as to whether or not Olive Garden is still coming to 27391 Centerline Dr., just west of Gateway Blvd., the plans for which were apparently submitted in Aug. 2025, or whether that location would preclude another Olive Garden being opened in the former Bahama Breeze spot.
Obviously, the first four or five (as most people would probably also be OK with Yard House) Darden brands on the list would be the most desirable to locals, but we will keep you posted on any such announcements.
O’Brien’s To Close February 21!
Meanwhile, in a Facebook post released on Feb. 2, Randy and Mike Goodwin, the owners of the O’Brien’s location in the Village Market (left) for right about 10 years, said that they will be hosting “An Irish Goodbye” party on Saturday, February 21, after which that O’Brien’s location would close permanently, “at the conclusion of our 10-year lease.”
The Facebook post said, “It is with full hearts, deep gratitude, and a touch of sadness that we share the news that O’Brien’s will be closing our doors [by] the end of February…At the end of 2024, the Village Market strip center was sold, and in early 2025, we began discussions with the new ownership (JBL Asset Management) in hopes of securing a renewed lease. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we were unable to reach an agreement that felt sustainable for both sides. After much consideration, we made the difficult decision not to renew.”
There has been a huge outpouring of support for O’Brien’s, which has been the only full-band live music venue in Wesley Chapel pretty much since the day it opened, so I’m hoping that hundreds of those supporters will come out to say goodbye to Mike, Randy and their wonderful staff.
The event will feature O’Brien’s “beloved corned beef & cabbage,” as well as bagpipe music from Emma Briggs, Irish music from Captain Kirk and DJ Aloha Kev closing out the event — and the restaurant. It’ s just a shame we couldn’t get one final O’Brien’s St. Patrick’s Day event this year.
For more info about the O’Brien’s “Irish Goodbye” party, see the ad below.-GN
Siyana Khan (left) & Nicole Huynh started “Hydrating for Hope” to help vulnerable Florida residents better deal with the upcoming summer heat. (Photos provided by Siyana Khan)
While some Floridians grew tired of the prolonged cold we experienced in the early weeks of 2026, Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH) sophomores Siyana Khan and Nicole Huynh know the heat is coming. Soon. Fast. Difficult for those without air conditioning and, especially, proper hydration, to survive.
As student athletes, Siyana and Nicole have both experienced some of the consequences of dehydration. “I’ve had sunburns, heat exhaustion and even strong nausea from not hydrating myself completely,” says Nicole, who is a member of the WRH color guard.
Siyana had lived in New Jersey for 10 years and wasn’t used to the heat, so playing flag football in Florida proved to be overwhelming for her. “When I moved to Florida, I wasn’t hydrating properly,” Siyana says. “I actually passed out and had to go to the ER, and was diagnosed with orthostatic hypotension (abnormally low blood pressure) because of dehydration.”
The girls teamed together and used their shared experiences to consider how others may need help when Florida’s heat takes hold.
“We created ‘Hydrating for Hope,’” Siyana explains. “It’s a local community service initiative dedicated to hydrating and serving those around us. Many vulnerable communities around Tampa Bay suffer in this hot environment, making them more susceptible to [several] heat-related illnesses.”
They began collecting heat-related essentials and also raised $1,260 through GoFundMe to purchase additional supplies.
Their efforts have allowed them to purchase nearly 1,200 items, including bottles of water, reusable water bottles, Gatorade, sunglasses, hats and portable electric and paper fans.
These items will be donated to homeless shelters and organizations that help vulnerable populations, such as Better Together, a Naples, FL-based nonprofit organization with a Tampa Bay-area chapter that is focused on preventing foster care by supporting families in crisis.
“I was genuinely moved by [Siyana and Nicole’s] passion for serving their community,” says Joy Harris, executive director of Better Together. “It was clear in our conversation that this initiative is coming from a place of deep compassion and a desire to make a tangible difference for others.”
Siyana and Nicole also worked with 100 students, including their peers at WRH and some at John Long Middle School, as well as The Learning Experience of New Tampa, to create 140 handwritten cards (above) for family members who are being served by Better Together.
The recent Hydrating for Hope event at WRH.
“Their efforts not only provide encouragement to those receiving the cards,” Joy says, “they also inspire others to step up and look for ways to support their neighbors. I am grateful for the opportunity to partner with students like these and for the chance to see the next generation lead with such heart and intentionality.”
The girls have become close friends through their time at the WRH Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) club. They plan to enter a statewide FBLA competition for community service projects this summer. They also are considering creating their own 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to be able to continue doing the work they’ve started through their Hydrating for Hope project.
“We hope to hold more events, like when we held an event to write cards,” Siyana explains, “and also make bracelets or other crafts, too.”
They hope their initiative will not only help those who are vulnerable, but will also provide awareness of heat-related problems for all of those living in Florida.
To learn more about Hydrating for Hope, visit Hydrating4Hope to link to its Instagram, GoFundMe, donation list on Amazon and more.
Editor’s note — The motivation for writing this story came from a post by Kelly Gilroy on her outstanding Pasco County Development & Growth Updates Facebook page. Former Florida Department of Transportation engineer — and, of course, Neighborhood News correspondent Joel Provenzano agreed that it was worth a deeper dive into what Kelly so perfectly presented. — GN
If you’ve driven around Wesley Chapel lately, you don’t need a traffic study to know one thing: Pasco County is growing fast. New neighborhoods, shopping centers, hospitals and medical offices and industrial parks seem to pop up overnight. With all of that growth comes an obvious question:
Who actually pays for the roads, sidewalks, and transportation infrastructure we all use?
The simple answer, of course, is “all of us,” but one of the biggest pieces of that answer is something called “mobility” (aka “impact”) fees.
What Are Mobility Fees, Anyway?
Mobility fees are one-time charges paid by developers each time a new building permit is issued. These fees help pay for the transportation improvements needed to support new growth, such as:
• New or widened roads
• Turn lanes and intersections
• Sidewalks and bike paths
• Other transportation facilities tied to development
In simple terms: new development helps pay for the new infrastructure it requires — and Pasco County has some of the highest impact fees of any county in Florida.
These fees don’t replace gas taxes or sales taxes, but they work alongside them to fund transportation
It’s also important to note that mobility fees are just one type of impact fee charged on new development in Pasco County. New construction is also subject to school impact fees, which help fund new schools and classroom capacity. And, park impact fees are used for land acquisition and creating new recreational facilities.
Together, transportation, school and park impact fees make up the bulk of the one-time charges paid when new homes and commercial projects are built. When combined, Pasco County’s total impact fee burden is often cited as among the highest in the region, reflecting both its rapid growth and the scale of infrastructure needed to support that growth
Why Are Mobility Fees Going Up?
Construction costs have skyrocketed in recent years. Roadway materials, labor and engineering costs have all increased — often sharply. Because of this, mobility fees have to be periodically updated to reflect the real cost of building roads today, instead of the costs from ten years ago.
Pasco County is allowed to update its mobility fee schedule every four years, and those updates are reviewed and recommended by the county’s Planning Commission, which looks at growth projections, construction costs and long-term transportation needs.
According to the county, Pasco is projected to add approximately 330,000 new residents over the next 20 to 25 years, requiring roughly 950 new lane miles of roads. Even with existing revenue sources, projected funding falls short of the need —which is why mobility fees matter.
How Much $ Are We Talking About?
Here’s a concrete example that helps put things in perspective:
• A single-family home built in Pasco in 2026 will carry a one-time mobility fee of $11,660 that is paid by the builder.
• That money goes into county coffers for roads, sidewalks and transportation facilities.
The fee is paid once — not annually, and not by the homeowner directly at tax time. A common question is whether mobility and other impact fees on new homes are ultimately passed along to homebuyers. While opinions vary, there is little evidence this is happening in today’s market.
In many cases, new-construction homes in Pasco are priced equal to — or even less than —c comparable resale homes, which carry no such fees. Builders are also routinely offering substantial incentives, including covering large portions of closing costs and providing builder-financed mortgages with rates currently as low as 3.99% for 30 years.
Based on current pricing trends and transaction data, impact fees do not appear to be quietly “added back” elsewhere in the deal. As a result, despite these one-time development fees, new construction remains one of the most competitive and accessible options for buyers today.
Why Some Businesses Pay Nothing
This is where things get nuanced — and are often misunderstood by homeowners.
Pasco County doesn’t charge the same mobility fees to every type of development. Instead, it offers incentives to encourage certain kinds of businesses that bring higher-paying jobs and long-term economic growth, including medical & professional offices, industrial, logistics, warehouses, distribution centers and hotels
These uses currently receive a 100% incentive, meaning they pay $0 in mobility fees.
On the other hand, a fast-food restaurant with a drive-through might be charged a mobility fee of around $80,569, because it receives only a 25% incentive.
Why the difference? County officials have been clear about their goal: “Pasco is open for business,” especially for industries that diversify the tax base and bring higher-wage jobs to the county.
Who Covers The Rest Of The Cost?
This is where something called Tax Increment Financing (TIF) comes in.
TIF is often mentioned alongside mobility fees, but they work very differently:
• Mobility fees are one-time payments made upfront by developers.
• TIF uses future property tax growth to fund infrastructure over time.
Pasco County, “locks in” property tax values at a base year (2012 for unincorporated Pasco). As development happens and property values rise, the increase in tax revenue — the “increment” — is set aside.
About 33% of that increment is dedicated specifically to transportation improvements.
Those TIF funds are then used to “buy down” mobility fees for targeted developments like offices, industrial sites and hotels. In other words, the county — and its taxpayers — still funds the roads, but with future tax growth instead of charging those businesses up front for them.
Other Ways Infrastructure Is Built
Mobility fees aren’t the only way roads and infrastructure come online:
• Developers often build roads, turn lanes and/or sidewalks themselves as part of their residential or commercial projects and dedicate them to the county.
• If those improvements benefit more than just the residents of those developments, the developers can apply for mobility fee credits.
• Some communities (including many in Wesley Chapel) are built with Community Development Districts (CDDs) — quasi-governmental entities that maintain roads, sidewalks and landscaping within the developments themselves, rather than the county taking on that responsibility long-term.
This approach shifts some maintenance costs away from the county and onto the developments that directly benefit from them.
Why This Should Matter To You!
At the end of the day, mobility fees are about matching new growth with new infrastructure — and making sure existing residents aren’t left paying the full bill for new development.
Mobility fees are imperfect, complex and often controversial. But without them, Pasco County would face even larger funding gaps, even slower road improvements and even more pressure on general taxes.
As Pasco continues to grow, understanding how these fees work can help you better engage in conversations about development, transportation and the future of our community.
The growth is coming, no matter what. The real question is how we plan and pay for it.
And, most people sitting in traffic every day in Wesley Chapel believe that they are the ones paying for it — and that whatever money is coming in isn’t either not enough or not being spent fast enough to keep up — and no, they’re not wrong.
