If you haven’t yet driven to, or by, the new Chicken Guy! restaurant, which finally opened on Jan. 7, on the north side of S.R. 56 (across from the Tampa Premium Outlets, at 25769 Sierra Center Blvd.), well, let’s just say you might be the only person in Wesley Chapel who hasn’t.
The brightly colored eatery, founded in 2018 and co-owned by restaurateur Robert Earl (the founder of the Planet Hollywood and Earl of Sandwich chains) and Food Network star Guy Fieri, has been packed virtually all the time from the moment it opened, especially the drive-through, which has caused some backups onto 56 from the traffic circle adjacent to the restaurant.
The Neighborhood News was on hand for both the Friends & Family event on Jan. 6 and the actual opening the next day, when (l.-r. in top photo) Marcelo Cardoza (the manager of culinary operations for Fieri’s Knuckle Sandwich, LLC), franchise co-owners Suhail Rifae and Moe Khalil were joined by Jason Taliaferro (the senior VP of Chicken Guy!) to introduce the Wesley Chapel/Lutz community to Chicken Guy!’s always-fresh chicken.
Fieri, the self-proclaimed “Mayor of Flavortown,” offers several varieties of chicken at the new fast-casual chain, including his seasonal limited menu items like the pepperoni chicken parm sandwich (right photo, shown with Guy fries and the chopped cheese & chicken eggrolls), as well as “Big Bite,” two-tender sandwiches like the BLAT (bacon, lettuce, avocado & tomato; above photo, shown with mac & cheese and a thick, hand-spun Oreo Flavortown shake); the CG Classic and Buffalo Mac ‘N’ Cheese Sandwich.
All of the fried sandwiches and tenders come lightly seasoned, so you can add your favorite Fieri-created sauce from “The Boss of Sauce” list (below).
The good news is that if you’re not a fried chicken lover, all of the sandwiches and tenders also are available grilled, instead of fried, and there are two salad options (including the chopped chicken Caesar with chopped grilled tenders below left).
About the only menu items we haven’t yet sampled are the fried chicken dumplings (topped with smoked bacon, green onions & sesame seeds) and a few shake varieties. Go give it a try!
For info, call (813) 344-3311 or visit ChickenGuy.com & tell GM Trevor McIntyre (below) I sent you!
Congratulations to the owners of the new Tous les Jours bakery franchise at 27209 S.R. 56 — in the former location of Capital Tacos.
Like the Tous les Jours inside the Lotte Plaza Market in New Tampa, the Wesley Chapel location offers a large selection of freshly baked croissants, pastries, donuts, breads and more — in both sweet and savory varieties — as well as cakes, coffee drinks, teas, smoothies, lemonades and much more.
Photographer Charmaine George and I have visited the new Tous les Jours twice and the first thing we both noticed is how much nicer and more spacious the new location is than the one in the Lotte Plaza Market food court. There are several tables, as well as couches, for enjoying your purchases inside the shop, which in no way still resembles the old Capital Tacos.
As for the baked goods, among the sweet options we’ve sampled are an almond croissant, a large Mont Blanc pastry (which is like a huge, crispy outside-flaky inside cinnamon roll), a strawberry croissant filled not only with super-fresh strawberries, but also whipped cream, and a mini caramel apple pie. The savory items we’ve tried and enjoyed include a ham-&-cheese croissant, a spinach and feta pastry (which is both sweet and savory), a croque monsieur sandwich (a grilled French-style ham and cheese sandwich) and a sausage onion pastry, which is like a hot dog surrounded by a pastry with onions, cheese and ketchup. There also are several different kinds of milk breads, full bread loaves stuffed with whipped cream and so many more. We haven’t tried any of the cakes yet, but give us time!
As for beverages, I’ve enjoyed both the vanilla latte and caramel macchiato and Charmaine and I agreed that the fresh, thick, hand-spun mango smoothie (below) was delicious. There also is a huge selection of hot and iced teas available and more!
Tous les Jours is a French-inspired — its name literally means “Every Day” in French) — Korean-owned chain of bakeries with 1,700 locations around the world, including more than 100 (and growing) in the U.S.
The Wesley Chapel Tous les Jours is open every day from 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and although the menu doesn’t include some of the freshly made sandwich items other Tous les Jours stores carry, the hope here is that they’ll add some of those items in the future.
For more info, call (813) 388-5612 or visit tljus.com. — GN
(l.-r.) Jordan Kornberg of Mast Capital, Pasco County Comm. Jack Mariano & Florida Sports Coast exec. director Adam Thomas were among those who took the first swings on the new driving range at Saddlebrook Resort on Dec. 11. (Photos by Charmaine George & Gary Nager)
Since Mast Capital purchased Saddlebrook Resort & Spa from the resort’s late founder and owner Tom Dempsey back in 2022, the Wesley Chapel community has been anxiously waiting to see what Mast was going to do to update and upgrade what was once the jewel of Wesley Chapel.
To that end, on Dec. 11, Saddlebrook and Mast unveiled the resort’s newly relocated golf driving range with a “first drive” ceremony, a champagne toast and a great party that thunder, lightning and the possibility of heavy rain cut short.
With Saddlebrook’s former driving range along S.R. 54 being replaced with apartments, the range was relocated to a portion of the former Palmer Course, one of two Arnold Palmer-designed 18-hole courses at the resort. But, Mast decided to do away with nine of the Palmer Course’s 18 holes and the new driving range takes up about six of the other nine holes.
When the renovations are complete, Saddlebrook will be left with 27 holes of championship golf.
(Above, l.-r.) Saddlebrook managing director Raj Mohan, Kornberg & Mariano all spoke at the event.
Mast Capital chief investment officer Jordan Kornberg promised that the new driving range “is just the beginning. We will be returning Saddlebrook to its former glory.”
Among those joining Kornberg for the ceremonial first drive (complete with exploding golf balls) were the resort’s managing director Raj Mohan, District 1 Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano and Florida Sports Coast executive director Adam Thomas.
Mohan said he was looking forward to the community seeing the changes now in motion at Saddlebrook and Mariano also expressed excitement for the future of the resort.
Attendees were treated to a picnic-style lunch with fried chicken, beef brisket and curried pork with all the trimmings, as well as enough umbrellas for everyone in attendance, as heavy showers were a looming possibility.
For more information about Saddlebrook Resort, visit Saddlebrook.com or call (813) 973-1111.
Commercial lender Vanessa Ng (photos) knows that busy entrepreneurs who want to grow their businesses don’t have time to call a bank, apply for a loan, wait to hear back and then call a different bank if they’re turned down by, or just not sure they like, the first option.
That’s why she works for CommLoan, a company that allows her to help business owners apply for a loan through a streamlined process that provides many options to meets their needs quickly.
“CommLoan is really efficient and can provide a quote to the borrower within minutes,” Vanessa explains. “We have a database of 750 lenders we work with through a proprietary system called CUPID, and, in some cases, it will give us back 300 options.”
CUPID, which stands for Commercial Underwriting Pricing Index Data, is an innovative platform developed by CommLoan, a company that was founded in 2014 in Scottsdale, AZ, by long-time mortgage banker Mitch Ginsberg. CommLoan lends nationwide, except in Nevada and North and South Dakota.
Vanessa joined CommLoan about a year ago, adding commercial lending to her 12-year career as a residential lender.
She currently works with business owners all over the country and says she is hoping to increase awareness of CommLoan locally in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel areas.
Vanessa is originally from South Tampa and graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Finance in 2012. She went straight into the mortgage business out of college and first moved to New Tampa for five years, and then, to Wesley Chapel, where she now lives in Estancia at Wiregrass Ranch.
“There is a lot of expansion and growing businesses in Wesley Chapel, Dade City and Zephyrhills,” she says, “and I’m trying to help out those entrepreneurs.”
She says she often provides loans for new commercial properties, such as gas stations or car washes, multifamily properties and single-tenant-use buildings, such as medical offices.
Vanessa also helps business owners who have equity in their current properties refinance their existing loans to get cash out, or help those who have a maturing loan and want to refinance.
Vanessa says her loans are for a minimum of $300,000 and can go up to as much as $100 million. She notes that some of these loans are as low as zero percent down.
“CommLoan provides tailored solutions,” Vanessa explains. “So, whether a buyer is looking for no prepayment penalty, a non-recourse loan, or some other specific criteria, I’m able to filter the search for that. Within seconds, I can get the best rates and the best programs for my buyer.”
CommLoan’s hundreds of lenders include everything from large national, commercial and regional banks to midsize banks, credit unions and debt funds.
Easing Frustrations
Vanessa explains that, sometimes, clients come to her feeling frustrated and overwhelmed.
“If someone goes to a bank for a loan, but then gets turned down, it can leave them scrambling if they’re already under contract to buy a property,” Vanessa explains. “Once I understand the scenario, I can send it to a dozen lenders at the same time and, sometimes, I’ll get offers the same day. It’s very different from waiting a week to just get turned down by one bank. These are busy entrepreneurs who don’t have time to waste hours or days trying to get a loan.”
She says her job is to remove the frustration from the process. “I do all of the legwork so you can keep running your business.”
Steven Sockwell and his wife, Lindy, have several investment properties near Rockville, IL. A few months ago, they were working with a Realtor® to purchase a new rental property and the Realtor recommended Vanessa and CommLoan as a lender. Even though Vanessa was far away in Florida, Steven decided to reach out to her.
“Ever since then, she’s been great to work with,” Steven says. “We’ve had several things she’s helped us with, including two transactions from start to finish. She’s very helpful and the transactions have been smooth.”
He adds that Vanessa has, “a wealth of knowledge” and credits her experience with helping them get the properties they wanted.
“She’s a very hard worker,” Steven adds. “Anything I have questions about, she’s able to answer them.”
He says he’s in the process of buying another rental property and that he will continue to work with Vanessa and CommLoan because it’s been such an easy process.
“One thing I’ve noticed about CommLoan is that everything is very streamlined,” he says. “The information in documentation is very straightforward and to the point. It’s so different than going to a local bank here where everything is so convoluted and you have to read, re-read, and re-read again to understand it. Instead, everything is very orderly and tells you want to do next, step-by-step. And, anything we don’t understand, we ask and Vanessa answers quickly.”
Steven says Vanessa also helped him look at his current portfolio of properties and figured out how to use the equity in those properties to, “seize the moment” to buy other properties.
“I didn’t know how to go about doing that and she walked us through it,” Steven says.
He also says working with Vanessa has been so easy, even if he wasn’t in the process of purchasing a property and needing a loan, he would still feel comfortable reaching out to ask her questions.
“She would answer,” he says. “I’m sure of it. She’s a great person to work with.”
For more information, contact Vanessa Ng via email at vng@commloan.com, call or text her at (561) 310-4720 or visit VanessaNg.CommLoan.com.
Esplanade At Wiregrass Ranch, Valencia Ridge & Amberlin Apartments Are Adding ‘Curb Appeal’ For Active Seniors!
Introduction By Gary Nager
Why is this woman smiling? Fran Lott, who signed her lease to move into the 55+ rental apartment community on Bruce B. Downs Blvd., opposite BayCare Wesley Chapel known as Amberlin nearly two years ago, is thrilled to finally have been able to move into her cozy one-bedroom apartment on Dec. 10. A number of factors contributed to Amberlin’s opening being delayed by nearly a full year. (Photo by Charmaine George)
Wesley Chapel is one of the fastest-growing communities in the U.S. and even though it is primarily known for being a haven for young families, portions of the community are being built to accommodate older adults, too.
After nearly a one-year delay, Amberlin Apartments, a 55+ rental community located on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. across from BayCare Wesley Chapel hospital, finally welcomed its first residents on Dec. 10. In addition, two large single-family 55+ communities are taking shape along the extension of Chancey Rd. — one also in Wiregrass Ranch and the other just east of it.
Esplanade at Wiregrass is actually the second 55+ community with a Wesley Chapel address (the built-out Anand Vihar in Meadow Pointe was the first), and the Taylor Morrison Homes community already has homes on 600 of its 800 total lots.
Further to the east on the Chancey Rd. extension is Valencia Ridge, the GL Homes community we told you about months ago but which is just now coming on line with model homes, to the north of its “sister” GL Homes community — Winding Ridge.
Esplanade At Wiregrass Ranch
This time of year is especially busy for a certain sector of real estate in Florida — the age 55+ community. Florida prides itself on noteworthy 55+ communities like Sun City Center, one of the first master planned retirement communities in the U.S., and The Villages, the largest such 55+ community in the world, with more than 80,000 residents sprawled across multiple Florida counties (and still growing).
Wesley Chapel has recently been getting in on this growing trend, and for good reason — location, location, location! And, were not talking about just the weather, but more like what Wesley Chapel has to offer in regards to extensive access to world-class health care options (including two, and soon to be three, hospitals and a huge variety of medical specialists) and lots of local dining, shopping, entertainment and leisure activities.
Surprisingly, most of these new residents in Wesley Chapel are not seasonal — many just come down “in season” to buy or rent and become permanent residents, and many of them are retired.
(photo by Joel Provenzano) The extension of Chancey Rd. will provide access to Phases 5A & 5B of Esplanade (map below right).
Three of the newest communities where builders are still rushing to get a foothold in this age 55+ market are Esplanade at Wiregrass Ranch (by Taylor Morrison), Valencia Ridge (by GL Homes), and the rental apartment community Amberlin at Wiregrass Ranch (by Sparrow Living), although more are on the way.
Esplanade, touted as, “One of Taylor Morrison’s beautiful, 55+ resort lifestyle communities,” has been open for a couple of years now and is being built in phases, with about 600 homes built in four phases so far. With those first phases nearing build-out, the community’s last two phases — 5a and 5b — will add around another 200 lots.
A source familiar with the project, but who asked not to be named, said that Phase 4 took a little longer than expected, due to the project having to extend the main road through the community — Provincale Pkwy. — further to the south, where it will soon intersect with the Chancey Rd. extension at a second gated entry for the Esplanade community.
As you travel north along Wiregrass Ranch Blvd. past the many roundabouts, you come to an all-way stop intersection with Chancey Rd., which serves the communities of Estancia, the Arbors at Wiregrass and Persimmon Park.
Now heading east from that intersection is the new Chancey Rd. extension, which began building in 2023 and “appeared” to be completed earlier this year. But, anyone who has driven past it has noticed the “Road Closed” and “Sidewalk Closed” barriers that have been sitting there for a couple of months now, blocking access to that new 0.7-mile stretch of road.
At the other end of that Chancey Rd. extension is the location for that future second gated entry for Esplanade, which will provide direct access to Phases 5A and 5B, which is why dump trucks have been going down there day after day — they’ve been using it as a construction entrance so as not to drive through the rest of the community.
That part of Chancey Rd. will likely be opened once the new gate is constructed and functional, but it might not be until after all passes are completed, and it is no longer being used as a construction entrance. It’s too early to tell and those details were not yet available at our press time.
At some point in the future, Chancey Rd. will be extended even further east to intersect with Meadow Pointe Blvd, tying in at the existing signal that serves Double Branch Elementary and the Haven at Meadow Pointe subdivision.
(Map source: TaylorMorrison.com; Please note that the Phase 5A & 5B label locations are approximate & are not to scale)
Our source told us that some other details are not available yet, such as when sales of the lots in Phases 5A and 5B will begin (or what the pricing for those homes will be), but we were told that the 75’-wide lot option is no longer going to be offered. According to the community sales map, that means that only 45’-, 52’- and 62’-wide lots would be available in these new phases.
The same person told us that one big difference between Esplanade and the planned Valencia Ridge community (see below) are the lot sizes — noting that while the width options are the same, the lot depths in Esplanade are significantly deeper — with 135’-, 145’- and 155’-ft. depths in Esplanade vs. 110’-, 125’- and 135’-ft. depths at Valencia Ridge (as shown in the Valencia Ridge FAQ sheet) for similar-width lots.
While this may not sound like that big of a deal, the depth differences can mean the difference between having a pool and no yard vs. having a pool and some usable yard left over, or having a pool with an extended patio option, which is a fantastic option Taylor Morrison offers with homes in Esplanade, and with some patios as large as 570 sq ft. (Note-Valencia Ridge does offer similar size patio extensions on some floor plans).
However, our review of the plat for Valencia Ridge on the Pasco property appraiser’s website showed multiple premium oversized lots with depths up to 155’. But, it appears the most common lot depth in Valencia Ridge is 135’.
We also noticed that the lots the future model homes are located on are 145’ or 155’ deep and 63’ wide, which is not typical in Valencia Ridge, so potential buyers always need to be fully aware of the lot size of the model they looked at vs. the lot size of any lot they are interested in purchasing.
Our source with Esplanade said that it’s likely that a total of eight floor plans will be offered in the community, going all the way up to around 3,000 sq. ft., with 3-car garages, 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. The planned designs are a great blend between traditional and modern looks with fantastic exterior detailing. Current base prices in the existing phases in Esplanade (but it’s unknown if this pricing will translate to the new phases) range from $400,000+ to $800,000+.
Esplanade, which was named the 2023 Single-Family Community of the Year by the Tampa Bay Builders Assn., includes a beautiful clubhouse, known as The Venue, with fitness and aerobics, meeting and gathering spaces, a catering kitchen, billiards and multi-purpose rooms. Outside, there’s a heated resort-style pool and spa, resistance pool and outdoor BBQ grill, walking trails, event and fitness lawn, fenced “bark park” and tot lot playground.
Valencia Ridge Update
Meanwhile, the Valencia brand claims to be “Experts in 55+ Living Since 1996,” with Valencia Ridge being the 20th Valencia community since the developer began building, with the others being located all up and down the east and west coasts of Florida.
(Above, photo by Joel Provenzano) The Valencia Ridge “Elena” model is 3,493 sq. ft. & starts at $634,900.
Although it’s not quite as centrally located in Wesley Chapel as Esplanade (as it is located 3.5 miles further east on (and north of) S.R. 56, Valencia Ridge’s location is still good, nestled on the property just north of Winding Ridge, which also is a GL Homes community, but which is not age-restricted. Valencia Ridge will be built in three phases, totaling 517 lots, with the initial first and second phases (being built together) having 395 homesites between them.
The Valencia Ridge sales team members, like Tim Nelson, have been operating out of a model in the built-out Winding Ridge community, but are getting very close to moving to the north in an actual Valencia Ridge model. These planned models can be seen as renderings in the packet that’s available at the Valencia Ridge sales office in Winding Ridge. The move won’t happen until the portion of Two Ridges Rd from S.R. 56 to Valencia Ridge has been completed. Tim says they were hopeful the road would have been done in time to move the sales office into the Valencia property last month, with the models opening after the holidays, ideally around or on January 18. He says that all depends upon when the road can be opened to traffic, something he is eagerly awaiting.
In our article about Wyndfields Blvd. (the road with many names) in July 2024, we mentioned that Two Ridges Rd. would be aligning with Wyndfields Blvd at S.R. 56 (and will be signalized in the near future) as it builds north 1.7 miles to the entrance of Valencia Ridge.
That portion of Two Ridges Rd. has been under construction since 2019, but is getting very close to finally receiving pavement.
Even more exciting is that we had previously mentioned that the northern 0.4 miles to connect to S.R. 54 (at the signal with River Glen Blvd) would be done at a later date, but that appears to be happening now! We saw earth movers and excavators in full force between the entrance of Valencia Ridge and S.R. 54, making way for the rest of Two Ridges Rd. to be completed from S.R. 56 all the way to SR 54.
In the portion of this story about Esplanade, we discussed the difference in lot sizes and how that (according to our source) could affect the ability to have pools and usable yards.
(map from GLHomes.com) The Valencia Ridge community extends north from the extension of Chancey Rd.
We wanted to mention here that the FAQs for Valencia Ridge state that pools are being offered, “as an available option for purchase, and many home sites can accommodate a pool. However, our Signature Collection Homes [with 110’ lot depths] will not accommodate pools.”
When the models do open early next year, there will be at least one model for each of the available nine floor plans, ranging from the 1,674- sq.-ft. Camelia model, with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a 2-car garage, to the 3,139-sq.-ft. Emerald model, with 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms and a 3-car garage. Like Esplanade, current pricing in Valencia Ridge is within the $400,000+-$800,000+ range.
Tim also said that one important difference between Valencia Ridge and Esplanade is that, of all things, Valencia Ridge will allow all yards to be fully fenced-in with black metal bar fences, but that Esplanade does not allow that, which could be a potential deal killer, especially for some pet owners.
When we asked our unnamed source with Esplanade if this was true, we were told, “Yes…. at least partially true. We won’t allow rear fences on lots that are on ponds, but if your lot backs up to conservation [or something other than a pond] it can be fully fenced-in.” This was due, they said, to wanting to fully preserve the water views for all residents who pay lot premiums for those views.
According to its website, Valencia Ridge will boast a world-class clubhouse with multiple pools, pickleball courts, tennis courts, an expansive gym, restaurant and bar, sports lounge and large event hall. These amenities are the hallmark of the Valencia communities throughout Florida.
So, we guess it’s going to be up to each future owner’s preference as to which amenities and restrictions are more important, among all the other things each community offers. — These updates written by Joel Provenzano
Amberlin Apartments Now Open!
Of course, not everyone wants to own a home and have to deal with the headaches that come with home ownership, even when you’re talking about brand new homes.
That’s why “maintenance-free” 55+ rental communities like Amberlin at Wiregrass Ranch by Sparrow Living also are popping up across Florida.
As Wesley Chapel’s only 55+ rental community, Amberlin had been hotly anticipated in Wesley Chapel, but numerous construction delays caused a lot of people who had applications in and deposits down with plans to move in (including the Nagers) to decide they couldn’t wait any longer, especially with the huge proliferation of rental apartments in and around the three Wesley Chapel zip codes — even though none of those other communities are restricted to ages 55+.
Jannah and I were among the group of Amberlin renters originally told that the apartments would become available sometime in January 2024. But, we kept receiving news of delay upon delay that caused us to look elsewhere and eventually (in June of this year) move into another rental community that started building after Amberlin.
(Amberlin photos by Charmaine George)
However, Amberlin’s management continued to host its future residents at various locations for wine tastings, coffee socials and other events (there’s even a packed monthly events calendar for residents) and a core group of those future residents waited patiently for the news that they could finally move into their respective apartments.
That news finally came earlier this month, when dozens of Amberlin renters were finally given access to their apartments on Dec. 10, although only one building was ready for move-ins at our press time. And, although the Amberlin clubhouse was completed (above photo), its interior furnishings and amenities, including what looks like it will be a beautiful resort-style pool and the much-anticipated pickleball court, were not yet completed.
Amberlin sales specialist Kylie Ward, who Jannah and I call “Smiley Kylie,” and her co-workers have somehow kept their wits about them amidst a growing chorus of concern among Amberlin’s current and future residents.
“It hasn’t been easy,” Kylie admitted to us on Dec. 12, “but we are excited to finally have residents moving in and getting settled. We hope to have the interior of the clubhouse, the pool and even the furnished model unit (the photo below is the kitchen in a two-bedroom + office unit) completed by sometime in January.”
In the meantime, Amberlin tenants like Fran Lott (see top photo), who has been living in a local hotel for the last few months because she had already sold her villa in Seven Oaks, says that what Amberlin has to offer has been worth the wait.
“I’ve already met and become friends with so many wonderful fellow tenants here,” Fran told us while directing her movers where to place her furniture, art and books. “Amberlin already has been providing me with a wonderful social life and that’s really the main reason I wanted to move in here in the first place.”
So, even though most of the 204 total units are not yet complete and the entire community is still something of a construction site, it does appear that Amberlin at Wiregrass Ranch has at least turned the corner.
For more information about Amberlin at Wiregrass Ranch and its free Open House on Thursday, January 16, 2 p.m.-5 p.m., call (813) 669-0391 or visit SparrowLiving.com. — GN
