I’ll admit that the first time I ever bought anything from the Pastelitos Papichy’s food truck — which has been located in the same plaza as LA Fitness and Five Guys Burgers & Fries south of County Line Rd. and west of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in New Tampa for about two years — was a few months ago, when I first heard that owners Ruben Caridad and his son, Ruben, Jr., were opening their first brick-&-mortar location in the Grand Oaks Plaza at 26242 Wesley Chapel Blvd. in Lutz (photo below).
But now, I’m definitely a fan. And, considering that one of my daughters-in-law is from Venezuela, as are the Caridads, I probably should have tried Papichy’s sooner. The entire menu is a variety of fried Venezuelan items, from savory to more dessert-oriented. Open for a few weeks at our press time, the new location is the seventh Papichy’s for the Caridads, who also have their food trucks off Waters Ave. in Tampa and in Odessa (FL) and Orlando.
Since “Pastelitos” is part of the place’s full name, I first tried a guava and cheese pastelito, which was crispy and delicious, but be warned that the guava jelly is molten-hot, but worth it! A box of 25 assorted (there also are chicken, pizza, potato-&-cheese, ground and shredded beef varieties) mini-pastelitos is shown at the top of the page.
Since then, I also have sampled the mini-empanadas (available in many of the same savory varieties, as well as filled with ham & cheese, fish, black beans, bacon, seafood & more), as well as tequeños (cheese sticks) and my surprise favorite — the mandocas (cornmeal doughnuts shaped like teardrops). They’re all just so good.
I was so impressed that I brought 100 assorted Papichy’s treats to the Volunteer Day at the future home of Sgt. Quincy Lopez in Wesley Chapel and they were all quickly gobbled up. You definitely should try Papichy’s if you haven’t already!
(Above, l.-r.) Skye, Sgt. Quincy Lopez & his son Warren take a moment for a photo in front of their Kent Custom Homes/HFOT home. (All photos by Charmaine George)
Two weeks after Homes for our Troops (HFOT) held its Volunteer Day for former Marine Sgt. Christopher Lawrence (as we told you last issue), as many as 150 volunteers showed up to help lay sod and plant dozens more plants at the future home of former Army Sgt. Quincy Lopez in a different part of Wesley Chapel.
Sgt. Lopez also lost his right leg to an improvised explosive device (IED) blast while on patrol in Iraq in 2006. And, like Sgt. Lawrence, Sgt. Lopez, who is a native New Yorker, chose to live in Wesley Chapel because of the weather and the area’s proximity to the Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa.
You think Skye is excited about her new yard?
Sgt. Lopez, his son Warren and their dog Skye (photos on this page) are excited to move into their specially-designed home by Kent Custom Homes on Country Club Rd., which will happen on Saturday, September 6, 9 a.m., in a joint “Key Ceremony” that will begin at Sgt. Lawrence’s home on Steeplechase Rd. Although both injured home recipients already raised an HFOT flag at their homes, those will be joined by an American flag-raising ceremony on Sept. 6.
After being introduced by HFOT community engagement coordinator Krystina Goroshko, Retired Army Brigadier General Tom Landwermeyer, the president & CEO of HFOT, first talked about HFOT’s mission to help severely injured veterans rebuild their lives with custom-designed homes — which will approach 500 in 46 states by next year — and thanked all of the volunteers for coming out to help before turning over the mic to Sgt. Lopez.
“This gives me a lot of independence back,” Sgt. Lopez said. “Having a home that’s adaptable allows me to cook and clean, move around and take a shower without assistance. It helps me to be a better father, a better community member and I’m so excited to be a part of this community. A lot of people say their communities are the best, but as welcoming as Wesley Chapel has been, I think you guys outrank a lot. You’ve accepted a lot of us [injured vets] into your community and you’re the reason why we sacrificed. I’m just extremely honored and thankful to all of you. I really appreciate you guys.”
Nathan Pratt, the same partner from Kent Custom Homes who spoke at Sgt. Lawrence’s Volunteer Day two weeks earlier, also gave the instructions to the volunteers doing the landscaping at this home and also thanked Sgt. Lopez for his service. To make a donation or for more info about HFOT, visit hfotusa.org or call (866) 787-6877. — GN
Future HFOT home recipient & injured Army SPC Adam Morris helps out by carrying a big load of mulch.HFOT community engagement coordinator Krystina Goroshko (Below) & HFOT president & CEO Gen. Ton Landwermeyer (above) both had words of praise for Sgt. Lopez.They say it takes a village to raise a child, but sometimes, it takes an army of volunteers to lay sod & landscape a custom-designed home for a severely injured veteran.
The Hub At Lexington Now Has 13 Confirmed Tenants, With Just A Couple Of Spaces Still Available. Here’s The List!
Remember how excited you were when The KRATE at The Grove container park opened? Get ready for a similar feeling, as The Hub at Lexington — which is being developed by the same group that built The Hub at Bexley off S.R. 54 in Land O’Lakes — is bringing something “far beyond” the usual strip retail plaza, according to Courtney Bissett-Hayes of Center Connect Development.
“We currently have thirteen tenants confirmed for The Hub at Lexington,” Bissett-Hayes says, “and we have just a couple of spaces still available.”
Nine of the confirmed tenants are restaurants and/or beverage providers, along with one golf simulation business called The Clubhouse, a barber shop called Headlines, the Lexington Nail Lab and Suncoast Charging, an Electric Vehicle charging “experience.”
On this page is a collage of the logos of eleven of the 13 tenants, with two of the restaurants (both marked with an [*] in the collage) — La Creacion Bistro and Island Grill — not having logos available at our press time.
“The Hub at Lexington will be a great, upscale place for families to dine and enjoy,” Bissett-Hayes says. “With nine artificial trees providing a large shaded area.”
Yes, the wait is finally almost over. The Hub At Lexington, which we first told you about nearly two years ago, is finally almost ready (photo) to unveil this 40,000-sq.-ft. Hub where you can “Sip, Savor & Socialize” on the southwest corner of Wesley Chapel Blvd. and Lexington Oaks Blvd., in front of the Sentosa apartments.
The brother-&-sister partners of Center Connect Development — Paul Bissett and Courtney Bissett-Hayes — expect the first of the 13 announced tenants to begin opening sometime early next year, as the six buildings are now being turned over to those tenants for build-out. Those tenants include nine local and regional restaurants in six buildings and The Clubhouse golf simulation experience and more.
“We don’t like to announce who’s coming to our developments until the tenants are all finalized,” says Bissett-Hayes. “We don’t like having premature announcements or misinformation getting out there until the tenants are committed and we like to keep it fresh in the minds of those in the area since they should be opening within the next several months.”
And, like the super-successful Hub at Bexley, Bissett-Hayes says, “There will be live music Friday and Saturday nights, pop-up markets twice a month and seasonal holiday events that will begin when tenants open for business.”
The Hub at Bexley is anchored by the popular BellaBrava Italian restaurant and will soon add BellaBrava’s sister restaurant, Stillwaters Tavern, on an outparcel of that Hub.
But, despite rumors that either BellaBrava or Stillwaters was coming to The Hub at Lexington, neither one is part of our area’s equally exciting new lineup of food & beverage providers — a couple of which are familiar names to fans of the KRATE at The Grove container park.
The first of those is La Creacion Bistro, which is a sister restaurant to La Creacion Express in the KRATEs, but Bissett-Hayes says the new restaurant will be serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with a completely different menu than what they serve at the KRATEs..
The other locally familiar name is the Brew Bar Self Pour, which will share a space with Urban Crunch Creamery Café.
The Brew Bar/Urban Crunch combo will offer self-pour beer and wine, similar to what the Brew Bar offers at the KRATEs, plus ice cream, açai, coffee and perhaps most important of all, frozen drinks like daiquiris. “It was very important for us to hit this category and Urban Crunch was selected over two others in this category.”
Urban Crunch has a sister location in nearby Odessa that also serves breakfast and brunch items, but the Urban Crunch at The Hub will not be serving those items.
Another exciting option, with a sister location in the River Hills Plaza in Valrico, is The Landing Bar & Grill, which is where you’ll want to watch all your favorite sports. The Landing in Valrico has a huge menu, with unique appetizer options like Aztec chowder (white bean chicken chili), traditional pierogies, Cajun fish bites and even pizza fries (a large order of fries topped with mozzarella and pepperoni, served with marinara.
Sandwiches include a meatball hoagie, Philly cheesesteak and even a California chicken sandwich. Or, sample entrées like grilled, fried or blackened grouper, salmon or jumbo shrimp dinners, a low-carb grilled chicken dinner with broccoli, plus great salads, wings, pizzas, flatbreads, pastas and much more.
Again, we haven’t seen The Landing’s Hub menu yet, but you know we’ll keep you posted!
Also coming to The Hub at Lexington is The Monk’s Indian Fusion Cuisine, which has a dozen locations in Indiana, Colorado and nine in Texas. This “Desi-Chinese” eatery combines the different flavors of India and China in one location, with a huge variety of samosas, dosas, naan breads and Indian entrées like paneer or chicken tikka masala, butter chicken, a variety of biryanis and vindaloo options and much more.
Among the Chinese entrées are Sichuan, chilli garlic and Manchurian sauces with gobi (cauliflower), paneer, chicken or shrimp. The other Monk’s locations even have my favorite Indo-Chinese dish — wok-tossed hakka noodles and fried rice with your choice of meat or veggies.
Speaking of Asian cuisine, The Hub at Lexington’s lineup also will include Saigon Pho Wesley Chapel, which has a location called Banh Mi & Boba at The Hub at Bexley. Like Banh Mi, Saigon Pho will feature Vietnamese fare featuring pho noodle soups, grilled plates and banh mi sandwiches.
Still another interesting option is Farmer’s Milk, which is a café and bakery with a sister location in Hollywood, FL, that sells everything from whole cakes, French croissants and Russian sourdough rye breads called borodinsky, plus breakfast items, including syrniki, which are small, pan-fried pancakes made from mild tvorog (aka “Farmer’s”) cheese that are sweet enough to enjoy as a dessert. There also are eggs Benedict and other options. Farmer’s Milk’s website says its menu is “packed with wholesome dishes emphasizing healthy eating and high-quality products.”
But wait, there’s still more! You cinnamon roll fans will flip for Cinnaholic Gourmet Cinnamon Rolls, which started in California and today has more than 100 locations across the U.S. and Canada, including one on S. Howard Ave. in South Tampa. The 100% plant-based rolls, plus brownies, cookies and more, are “all made with the highest quality ingredients” and you can custom-design your own rolls with everything from “Old Skool” vanilla frosting to caramel apple pie frosting and one I will have to try — the “Shake, Rattle & Roll,” with peanut butter frosting, pretzels, banana slices and homemade peanut butter cups. Are you kidding me?
The final restaurant on the list is Island Grill, which is billed as a Caribbean fusion restaurant, but we don’t have any additional info or a logo to show you yet. “They are still finalizing their menu,” Bissett-Hayes says. “But, it will be very authentic because the principal is from the islands.” The hope here is that there will lots of fresh fish and seafood on that menu.
And then there’s the “golf simulation experience” known as The Clubhouse. Although there are multiple such businesses across the country by the same name — some of which are also restaurants and/or sports bars — Bissett-Hayes says this incarnation of The Clubhouse is a start-up entertainment venue unrelated to any others I found online and will not serve its own food or beverages.
“It will have six golf simulators and a putting green,” she says. “Customers will be able to order food and drink from our restaurants to be delivered or brought in while at The Clubhouse.”
The Clubhouse will have some PGA teaching pros who will be offering lessons. So far, it has commitments from local pros at courses like Lake Jovita and Hunter’s Green Country Clubs.
Bissett-Hayes says that The Clubhouse also will be sampling some small merchandise items like balls, gloves and some branded clothing items like golf polos. These are mainly just for fun and if someone needs some balls (although all of the bays will come with balls). Another possible service would be club fittings with whatever club partner they end up using. But, she says, “that probably only be once or twice a year and would be more of a partnership with the club maker and the orders would go directly to them.”
The final three tenants already signed up to join The Hub at Lexington are the Lexington Nail Lab and Headlines Barber Shop, both of which have related locations at The Hub At Bexley, and Suncoast Charging. Headlines also has nearby locations on County Line Rd. in New Tampa and in The Pointe at Tampa Palms.
Meanwhile, co-founder Wesley Sima of Suncoast Charging says, “We’re building more than just an EV charging network — we’re shaping the future of electric mobility to improve the EV charging experience: making it faster, more reliable, and accessible for all drivers. We believe charging should fit seamlessly into your journey and lifestyle. That’s why our stations are designed not only with cutting-edge, high-speed and dependable charging technology, but also with premium amenities that turn every stop into a comfortable and convenient experience. Whether you’re commuting, running errands, road-tripping, or managing a fleet, we’re committed to delivering the gold standard of EV charging.” Suncoast Charging at The Hub will be open 24 hours a day and customers can use a variety of different payment methods including credit card (not just a phone app). Customers also can navigate to the charging station through the Tesla app or through other in-car navigation apps like Google Maps, PlugShare, and many others.
For more info about the remaining spaces at The Hub at Lexington, call Courtney Bissett-Hayes at (813) 340-7936.
The rendering above, provided by Center Connect Development, shows what The Hub at Lexington will look like when it is completed and open for business.
Chris Tomko of Senior Helpers (left) explains how the Virtual Dementia Tour works to Christopher Dobard at Blue Heron Senior Living in Wesley Chapel.
Although my mom isn’t suffering from any of the 180 different forms of dementia, I was happy to attend the “Virtual Dementia Tour” put on by Senior Helpers at Blue Heron Senior Living in Wesley Chapel on July 16.
I honestly believe that whether you know or think someone you love has Alzheimer’s disease or any other type of dementia, the Virtual Dementia Tour will give you a new perspective on the diverse variety of problems most of us will deal with as we age, regardless of our whether or not our mental faculties ever diminish (more on this event below).
I also know that Blue Heron, owned and managed by TLC Management, is the only assisted living and memory care facility in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel that also offers skilled nursing for rehab or long-term care. Hosting events like the Virtual Dementia Tour just adds to the appeal of this 159,000-sq.-ft. residence where the opportunity to “age in place” has kept it near capacity since it first opened in 2021.
The new dining area in the newly expanded skilled nursing wing at Blue Heron.
“Our current occupancy is 100% in both long-term care and memory care and 90% in rehab,” says Blue Heron’s executive director Meagan Kopstad, “but we do have a couple of rooms available right now on the assisted living side.”
Blue Heron’s skilled nursing area added a new wing last year, “with 37 additional patient beds, bringing us up to 141 total,” says community relations director Lilly Gonzalez. “Those new beds are divided between the first and second floor — 18 on the first floor (for rehab) and 19 on the second floor (for long-term care).”
She adds, “We couldn’t hold our planned Grand Opening of the new wing last October because of the hurricanes that hit the area. In other words, your readers have never seen the new wing in print before.”
The new wing also includes a new dining area (photo above), a new patient lounge and a new nurses’ station.
With the expansion, Blue Heron Wesley Chapel now has a total of 248 residential units — 95 assisted living, 22 private memory care and the 141 skilled nursing units.
About The Virtual Dementia Tour
Neighborhood News editor Gary Nager admits that he failed the VDT miserably & got a better understanding of the lives of our elderly.
Blue Heron brought in Senior Helpers, the nation’s leading provider of in-home senior care, with more than 400 locations across the U.S., including a local location serving New Tampa and Wesley Chapel, to host the Virtual Dementia Tour (VDT). Senior Helpers is certified to bring the VDT to Blue Heron and other assisted living facilities and, in just a few minutes, the tour definitely gave me new insight into the lives of the elderly.
VDT participants put provided inserts in their shoes with plastic pegs that push into your feet to simulate painful neuropathies.
You also put on glasses that blur your vision, similar to how cataracts affect your eyes. You also have to put on thick, heavy work gloves that significantly reduce your manual dexterity. And finally, you put on headphones that make it a lot more difficult to hear. Anyone you know have any of these issues?
You are then led into a room and given two tasks to do that would be simple for the average person to complete, but you are only given the instructions once, all while wearing the headphones. Pretty much everyone, including yours truly, fails the VDT miserably. But in doing so, you can clearly see (once you take off the glasses, that is) how difficult the most mundane tasks can become.
This five-minute test is pretty much guaranteed to help you become more empathetic to your elderly loved ones — I know it’s helped me better understand some of the things my mom is dealing with — and the VDT is just one of many free programs Blue Heron brings in for both its residents and members of the community.
One of the spacious private bathrooms in the newly expanded skilled nursing wing at Blue Heron.
The next such free event is being held on Wednesday, August 27, 10:30 a.m.- noon, and is called “Charting Your Course: Protecting Yourself, Your Loved Ones & Your Legacy.” Board-Certified Elder Law attorney Ed Spinks, a partner with Florida Elder Law & Legacy Planning, will lead the discussion so you can learn how to legally protect yourself, your family and your assets. “This is an essential first step in the estate-planning process and will help you take control of your future with confidence.”
Blue Heron also offers amazing amenities for all of its residents, like beautiful, enclosed courtyards and gardens, lounges, family rooms & dining rooms with delicious meals, a pub, a theater, a salon/spa, computers, internet and cable TV, a private dining room for family gatherings, an art studio and a wonderful life enrichment center with fun programs.
There’s always something to do for Blue Heron residents, where your loved ones can find compassion, companionship and care.
For more information about Blue Heron Senior Living (5071 Eagleston Blvd., Wesley Chapel), call (813) 454-0513, or visit SeniorLivingAtBlueHeron.com.
Jaime Bryant (in white shirt) & his friendly staff at the GEICO local office on BBD Blvd. in Wesley Chapel can help you with many types of insurance without having to call a 1-800 number. (Photos by Charmaine George)
If you’re like most people, you probably know GEICO Insurance from the company’s countless television commercials offering low rates with a 1-800 phone number.
What you might not know is that you can get the same GEICO products — and much more personalized service — by calling the local GEICO office, where real people who live and work in our community answer the phone. You can work with an agent who knows your name, understands local insurance issues and wants to help you navigate the complicated world of insurance to find what’s best for you.
The Wesley Chapel local office of GEICO is owned by Jaime Bryant and is located in the Northwoods shopping center, which is anchored by Super Target just north of County Line Rd., on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd.
While GEICO is mostly known for its auto insurance — insuring close to 30 million vehicles — the company also offers insurance for homes, condos, rental apartments, boats/watercrafts, jewelry, floods, mobile homes/RVs, motorcycles and umbrella policies, which provide extended liability coverage for people with a lot of assets.
With hurricane season fast approaching, Jaime says it’s important to be prepared.
“Last year was a busy year, and this season is expected to be slightly above average,” he says.
Jaime also says that one thing many people are unaware of is that if their home is damaged by a hurricane or tropical storm, the policy has different terms than if the damage is caused by wind unrelated to a named storm.
“People don’t realize it’s a higher deductible,” he explains. “Ideally before storm season, but definitely before you contact anyone to repair the damage at your home, be sure you know what your out-of-pocket cost will be.”
After a storm, you may have companies offering to replace your roof. To know whether or not you should move forward with the replacement, you need to know how much of that cost will be your responsibility.
“For example,” Jaime says, “a roofer will file a claim, the insured will get paid, but insurance only covers half because of the deductible. It’s really important to know what your deductible is and make sure you can pay that deductible before moving forward with those repairs.”
And, he says, now is the time to shop for new homeowner’s insurance. If you’re thinking of changing policies, or if your policy renews during hurricane season, sometimes a storm comes through and companies pause writing new policies for 30 to 45 days. In that case, you can’t get immediate coverage. “You need to be proactive with homeowner’s insurance during hurricane season,” Jaime says. “Time is not your friend.”
He adds that right now is a good time to shop for new auto insurance, too.
“Rates have stabilized and a lot of people are finding lower prices now,” Jaime says.
Jaime’s office has 10 agents, all of whom are experienced and trained to help you get the right insurance for you and your needs. Each person’s situation is unique, so a local agent can be sure to ask you the right questions to get the right policies in place.
Jaime has lived in the Tampa Bay area for more than 20 years and is a University of South Florida graduate with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. He worked for GEICO in Lakeland for 16 years, prior to opening the Wesley Chapel office.
He says calling his office, instead of the 1-800 number, ensures that you’re talking with someone who understands Florida and the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area specifically.
“We want to make sure you don’t have too much or too little insurance for your situation,” he says. “Nothing’s ever one-size-fits-all.”
Andrea Shank is a long-time GEICO customer who was comfortable using GEICO’s online tools and never considered working with a local agent. When her brother recently passed away, her mom was dealing with a probate process and needed to insure vehicles that weren’t registered in her name yet. Andrea’s mom had previously worked with someone in the Wesley Chapel office, so they reached out and connected with George, one of Jaime’s local agents.
Andrea says George spent most of that entire day serving them — answering questions, getting verification on complicated questions, researching answers, calling back, sending forms for them to fill out, etc. – but she says that what stood out was the compassionate way George treated her mom during the difficult loss of her son, which was completely unexpected.
“He was so patient with her,” Andrea says. “He was funny, and made my mom laugh, which was pretty wonderful in that circumstance.”
Andrea adds that he also took the time to share a personal recommendation for a company that could help her mom modify the vehicles to adjust the pedals, even emailing her contact information after business hours.
“He went so far above and beyond, it was amazing to me,” Andrea says. “The level of customer service he provided is a startling contrast from what we’ve come to expect.”
In fact, she says, she’s already referred her nephew, sister and best friend to the office.
“No doubt,” she says, “I will not go back to an online situation. We all get used to what we buy and don’t think about making changes, even when our circumstances change. That’s something we should look at. I will definitely continue to call George, because it was such a nice experience.”
The GEICO-Wesley Chapel local office is located at 1227 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. It is open Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m., and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sat. For more information, visit GEICO.com/Wesley-Chapel-Bryant or call (813) 953-4200.
