Two key intersections are moving forward in Pasco County’s short-range efforts to improve traffic flow and safety, with one signal now under construction and another entering its design phase.
Cypress Creek Rd. & County Line Rd. (photo above): Signal Construction Begins
As previously reported in March, in connection with the Mater Academy signal project in front of Grand Hampton, Pasco County had placed the long-anticipated signal at the dangerous intersection of Cypress Creek Rd. and County Line Rd. in its 2026 work plan. Construction officially began in April.
The start of work followed completion of a key roadway improvement: the southbound approach on Cypress Creek Rd. was widened to include a dedicated right-turn lane onto County Line Rd. Before formal improvements began, that approach had become an informal, dirt-and-pothole right turn path created by steady driver use.
This intersection serves as an important connector between County Line Rd. and S.R. 54 (just west of where it becomes S.R. 56), supporting traffic from Oak Grove, Carpenter’s Run and the Lantower at Cypress Creek apartments.
It is especially congested during peak hours, with drivers often struggling to find safe gaps in both directions of traffic before entering.
According to the latest plans, the new signal will feature a single diagonal span wire mounted between two steel poles, and pedestrian crosswalks across both roadways.
Once complete, it is expected to significantly improve both safety and traffic flow at this heavily used junction.
The project is anticipated to be finished and operational by this summer.
Meadow Pointe Blvd. & Country Point Blvd.: Signal Moves Into Design Phase
More than two decades after the Country Walk community first started taking shape, a traffic signal is finally moving forward at Meadow Pointe Blvd. and Country Point Blvd. (rendering, right).
Pasco County officially approved the signal’s design funding during the March 24 Board of County Commissioners (BOC) meeting.
This intersection serves as the only entrance and exit for the Country Walk community.
Although the roadway currently includes dedicated left- and right-turn exit lanes, residents have long experienced challenging conditions, particularly during morning peak hours when outbound traffic competes with commuters heading toward S.R. 54 and nearby schools.
The project was first formally shared with residents at the Country Walk CDD meeting in June 2025, where it was noted that the county also would make modifications to the median nose to accommodate an updated crosswalk location.
At this time, construction is shown to take place sometime in the county’s 2027 adopted work plan.
Both projects reflect continued efforts by Pasco County to address long-standing congestion points in the rapidly growing communities of Wesley Chapel and Lutz, although residents in Meadow Pointe and Country Walk will need to wait longer for relief compared with the soon-to-be-finished Cypress Creek improvements.
It was only a few years ago when TrebleMakers Dueling Piano Bar & Restaurant at The Grove was mine and Jannah’s favorite place to eat in Wesley Chapel. And, even though we always enjoyed the dueling piano shows, most of the time, we just wanted our fresh grouper or wahoo or a great steak that we couldn’t get at the local chains.
But, over the last couple of years, many of our favorite items either fell off the menu or the recipes for them were changed, so even though we kept trying for a while, we eventually pretty much stopped going altogether.
But now, original owner Jamie Hess is back partnering with Jason James, there’s a new chef and the place itself has become TrebleMakers Sports Bar & Dueling Pianos, with additional TVs, pool tables, dart boards and Golden Tee Golf, plus some type of entertainment every night of the week and a whole new menu and vibe.
The best thing, however — at least for Jannah and me — is that the restaurant’s new menu has a whole slew of new items and the few we sampled on our first visit were all excellent and will definitely bring us back for more — especially with all the other new “stuff” to enjoy.
Our meal started with a unique bruschetta (left photo), which added a base of creamy goat cheese spread to the usual crispy crostinis, house-made bruschetta and aged balsamic drizzle. I’m not usually a big goat cheese guy, but this was yum!
For our main course, Jannah opted for the Chicken Pesto Bowl (below right), which had a creamy parmesan risotto base, grilled chicken, house-made pesto and garlic lemon butter broccoli and fresh tomatoes, also topped with a balsamic glaze. She loved the risotto and we both appreciated that the broccoli was tender, but not mushy.
I chose one of my old TrebleMakers favorites — the (half) Rack of Lamb, which was four tender grilled chops (I don’t eat lamb rare or even medium rare, as I do steak; my lamb was properly medium for me), with a honey bourbon gastrique (a caramelized sugar & vinegar reduction), crispy fried buttermilk onion rings (Jannah loved those!) and a side of that same delish broccoli.
Other appetizers on the menu include “Boom-Boom” Shrimp, Spinach Artichoke Dip, a Pub Pretzel, Fried Brussels Sprouts and wings (bone-in or boneless).
There also are three salads on the menu, including a Treble Wedge, Chicken Caesar and Mandarin Chicken.
For sandwiches, there are four different Smash Burgers, plus a Blackened Salmon BLT, French Dip, Philly Cheesesteak and The Jolene (fried chicken breast with pimento cheese and bourbon bacon onion jam). Other Bowls include a Steak Chimichurri, Mediterranean and a panko fried Chicken Katsu.
And yes, you can still get Entrée Favorites an 8-oz. filet mignon, orange basil glazed salmon, honey bourbon glazed chicken and fish & chips.
Feel like a lighter bite for lunch? Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-4 p.m., the lunch menu includes smaller portions of many of your TrebleMakers favorites, all just $10-$12, although it costs $2 more to add fries to any of the items. There’s a Chopped Cheeseburger Hoagie, a Shrimp Rice Bowl, Chicken Bacon Caesar Tacos, Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese and more!
If you like to day drink with your lunch, draft beers are either $4 or $5, with $6 glasses of house wine and well drinks, $7 for all Tito’s cocktails and $8 red or white sangria glasses.
Happy Hours are Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-6 p.m. & Sat.-Sun, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., with the same draft beer prices, plus bottles or cans of beer just $4-$6 and $6 seltzers. All Happy Hour “Bar Bites” menu items are just $10 and include Buffalo Dip & Chips, Loaded Treble Fries, Arancini Risotto Balls w/Marinara, 5 Bone-In or Boneless Wings & more!
More Than Just The Food!
But, TrebleMakers is now also a great place to have fun every day! Check out this different-each-day entertainment:
Congratulations to Cindy Bray (front right in left photo), the founder & CEO of Hope Services, for the success of the nonprofit’s fifth annual “Dance Your Dream” event held Apr. 16, at the Wesley Chapel District Park’s Recreation Complex.
Dance Your Dream is an inclusive, high-energy evening designed for individuals with special needs ages 14 and older. This year’s theme was “A Night at the Circus” and included dancing, food, games, entertainment, a raffle area, and a newly added Community Resource Room, offering access to representatives from local organizations that provide valuable assistance and support.
Happy to make an appearance at this year’s event was published author Chris Angilella (right), who hasn’t let Asperger’s Syndrome stop him from self-publishing (and co-illustrating at least six books, including Oakley’s Sanctuary Friends and Speckle Delivery, which he was signing copies of at this year’s Dance Your Dream.
Angilella’s books feature characters with special needs, which made him a great addition to this year’s event, which also included appearances by Elsa from “Frozen,” stilt walkers and multiple Chick-fil-A cows, since Chick-fil-A was again a major sponsor of the event..
All proceeds from Dance Your Dream benefit Hope Services’ Life Skills & Vocational Training Center, which provides hands-on, nationally recognized certification programs, including Culinary Arts, Construction, Customer Service, and more. To support Hope Services, visit HopeGetsJobs.com. — All photos by Charmaine George
If you still think The Hub at Lexington will be just like every other development in Wesley Chapel, you haven’t been paying enough attention to what’s already happening at this 40,000-sq.- ft., six-building center that is being developed by Courtney Bissett-Hayes and her brother Paul Bissett of Center Connect Development.
With several of the first businesses now open at The Hub at Lexington and more opening this month (and others soon), you and your family will soon be able to “Sip, Savor and Socialize” at more than a dozen restaurants and retail shops. There will be a number of events — including a Grand Opening sometime in September of this year — some with live music, centered around The Hub at Lexington’s shade-providing artificial trees.
So, what’s open now and what’s coming soon to The Hub? Here’s a quick rundown:
Now Open!
Headlines Barber Shop — The first tenant to actually open its doors (at 27053 Halter Loop) at The Hub was Headlines Barber Shop, a local chain which has about a dozen Tampa Bay-area locations (and 7,000+ 5-star reviews).
Favian, the barber in the right photo on this page, is clearly a popular guy, as our Facebook post about the attractive-looking barbershop back on Mar. 19 had received more than 11,500 views by our press time. Fellow barbers Luis, Max and Martha also are available for bookings at Headlines’ Hub at Lexington location. For more info, call (813) 428-5034 or visit HeadlinesBarbersTampaBay.com!
La Creacion Bistro — The first restaurant to open at The Hub.
The Clubhouse Golf Simulator — Only open for a couple of weeks at our press time, The Clubhouse (above) is owned by Wesley Chapel High grads (and brothers) Mark and Tyler Ward. Tyler says that he and Mark have been thrilled with the response to their new business so far, as more than 200 people had already come in to give it a try and several of those have already signed up for memberships.
The Clubhouse, which allows you to “play” everything from Augusta National (home of The Masters) to local courses like Heritage Isles Country Club (the course in the photo), also will have local PGA teaching pros available to provide lessons. “Plus, it’s better than playing four hours in this Florida heat,” Mark says.
In addition, although The Clubhouse doesn’t yet have its beer and wine license, Tyler says it is “coming very soon” and there also are snacks and soft drinks available for purchase, “and you can bring your own beer and even food in the meantime.” For more info, call (813) 904-2867 or visit Clubhouse.golf.
Pet Wants — Pet Wants, which just opened at our press time, promises “Nutrition You Can Trust,” with fresh dog and cat food and treats, bones and natural chews, pet health and wellness products (like Nootie ear and dental wipes), toys and Pet Wants-created “Natural Spaw” products and more. The Hub Pet Wants franchise owner Nickole Davis, who previously owned All Good Things Gifts in the KRATEs, says that the chain is around 20 years old and today has about 100 locations, including either four or five in Florida.
“It’s a really cool, fun place to shop for and with your pets,” Nickole says. “Come check us out!” For more info, call (813) 586-1440 or visit PetWantsWesleyChapel.com.
Opening In May!
Bonchon Korean Fried Chicken — (below)
Cinnaholic Gourmet Cinnamon Rolls — This gourmet cinnamon bun chain (photo, left), which was founded in Berkeley, CA, in 2010, today has 85 locations in 26 U.S. states (four in Florida, including a location on S. Howard Ave. in Tampa) and could open around the same time as Bonchon. With 20 frosting flavors and lots of unique toppings, you can design your own Cinnaholic creation or choose from one of the chain’s bes-sellers, like “Cookie Monster” and “Campfire S’Mores.” For more info, visit Cinnaholic.com.
Lexington Nail Lab — Although it had the first sign up (right) at The Hub several months ago, this upscale nail salon is finally getting ready to open (at 27105 Halter Lp., next to Bonchon) this month. According to its website, Lexington Nail Lab will offer “beautiful, long-lasting nails and a relaxing salon experience,” plus a personalized attention, professional service, a modern setting, cleanliness and hygiene. For more info, visit LexingtonNailLab.com or call (352) 691-6073.
Still To Come!
Saigon Pho Restaurant — Although the sign (left) only saying “Vietnamese Restaurant,” we spoke with the owners of the successful (and tasty!) Banh Mi restaurant at The Hub at Bexley, who confirmed both the name and that they also own the upcoming Saigon Pho, which they hope will open by sometime in July.
And…Urban Crunch Creamery Café, Brew Bar Self Pour, Island Grill, Farmer’s Milk Gourmet Bakery, The Monks Desi-Chinese Indian Fusion Cuisine & Suncoast Charging.
Bonchon Korean Fried Chicken To Open May 20!
Whether you already love crunchy Korean fried chicken or you’ve never tried it before, you have to try Bonchon Korean Fried Chicken when it opens at The Hub on Wednesday, May 20.
I stopped in at the Bonchon location on E. Fletcher Ave., where owner and general manager Sam Takla was interviewing prospective employees for both stores and Sam was so excited that we were giving him some publicity that he not only refunded what I had already paid for two items but also brought out several other dishes, so photographer Charmaine George and I “would know just how delicious our food is.”
He’s right. Even though I always order any kind of fried chicken without sauce on it (above), there are six different sauces (from Korean BBQ to spicy Yangnyeom) to choose from and our six-piece combo (four wings and two jumbo drumsticks) came with our choice of side. We chose cole slaw, but there’s also pickled radish.
The chicken was crispy and juicy, the pork gyoza dumplings were excellent, too, and the Bulgogi beef bowl (left), sautéed with mushrooms, scallions, onions and sesame seeds, had just the right hint of sweetness. Sam also turned us onto the Japchae (glass noodles, red bell pepper, onions, spinach, mushrooms and bulgogi stir fried with soy garlic sauce), which Charmaine said was her favorite dish, plus a unique Mopo “corn dog,” which is actually mozzarella cheese wrapped in crispy breading, potato cubes and soy garlic on a stick, but no hot dog. We both loved the two-piece Korean donuts and their sweet cream dipping sauce. There are many more items on the menu I can’t wait to try, too!
To the likely delight of many residents — and to the dismay of others — in Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills and eastern New Tampa, plans for a second Walmart in Wesley Chapel are continuing to move forward, with construction expected to begin later this year. Here’s everything you need to know.
First reported in these pages in July 2025 as part of a Two Rivers development update, the new Walmart is planned for the southwest corner of S.R. 56 and Morris Bridge Rd., just inside the boundary of the River Landing Master Planned Unit Development (MPUD) and across Morris Bridge Rd. from the burgeoning Two Rivers community.
Early rumors had suggested the site might become a Lowe’s Home Improvement store, but those plans have since been replaced — and all signs now point clearly to Walmart — despite a lack of markings on the county-approved renderings — and those approvals are helping it along.
A Slightly Smaller — But Fully Equipped — Walmart Store
According to the latest site plan (left), the new Walmart will be slightly smaller than others in the area, totaling approximately 183,000 sq. ft.
By comparison, most nearby Walmart Supercenters easily exceed 200,000 sq. ft. Despite the reduced footprint, the store is expected to include a full range of features, including a full liquor store, a drive-through pharmacy, a dedicated curbside pickup area, an auto care center and a large gas station with a 1,600-square-foot convenience store and up to 20 fueling positions located near the signal (as shown in plans from April).
Notably, aside from the gas station, there will be no additional outparcels or standalone businesses on the Walmart site.
How Do We ‘Know’ It’s A Walmart?
Interestingly, none of the official permits or early plans explicitly state that the store will be a Walmart and no renderings were initially released — prompting some skepticism, even from us.
Furthermore, the project is being developed by Stiles Corporation, a Ft. Lauderdale-based firm better known for building Publix-anchored centers and Costco developments, with no clear history of Walmart projects. That alone raised eyebrows. So we dug deeper.
The confirmation came in an unexpected way: the curbside pickup parking signage shown in the plans (right) matched exactly with newly installed signage around the New Tampa Walmart — right down to the color specification labeled “Walmart Blue” (under “Pickup & Pharmacy”).
That detail, combined with the overall site layout and operational features, provided the “smoking gun.”
In other words, while the official “Walmart” storefront signage and announcement from corporate may come later, the parking lot plans already gave it away.
Why This Location?
Some residents have questioned the need for another Walmart in our area, but the reasoning largely comes down to spacing and demand.
This new store will sit approximately:
• 8 miles from the Walmart on S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel
• 9 miles from the Bruce B. Downs location in New Tampa
• 9 miles from the Zephyrhills Walmart on Gall Blvd. (U.S. Hwy. 301)
This creates a fairly typical “coverage triangle,” with an average spacing of about 8 miles between stores — a pattern Walmart has replicated across Florida.
Equally important, this location will serve the southern portion of Zephyrhills, an area that currently relies heavily on the northern Zephyrhills store — and a store that many shoppers know can be overcrowded, with frequent inventory shortages and parking challenges.
The new Walmart is clearly expected to help relieve that pressure while supporting the overall region’s continued population growth.
The River Landing Connection
The Walmart site falls within the 801-acre River Landing MPUD, which also includes the communities known as River’s Edge and Summerstone. River Landing has long-held entitlements for 250,000 sq. ft. of commercial/retail space and 150,000 sq. ft. of office space — and, to date, none of that commercial square footage has been developed, despite the residential portions of the MPUD being largely built out. The vacant corners at S.R. 56 and Morris Bridge Rd. — where the Walmart is planned — were always intended for this type of use.
The only remaining residential component currently under construction (on the north side of S.R. 56) within River Landing is a 266-unit townhome development.
Morris Bridge Rd. Improvements
As the Walmart project advances, so do plans to address traffic concerns along Morris Bridge Rd. On April 21, 2026, the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners approved a development agreement (DA) tied to the project that includes significant roadway upgrades:
• Widening Morris Bridge Rd. from two lanes to four lanes between Colston Ave./Oldwoods Ave. and S.R. 56
• Construction of a four-lane roundabout on Morris Bridge Rd. at the main southern development entrance
• New turn lanes at the S.R. 56 intersection
• Installation of 10-foot multi-use paths on both sides of Morris Bridge Rd.
The Walmart developer will fund the design and construction of these improvements, with the county providing approximately $4.7 million in reimbursement because of the regional nature of the improvements..
While some residents voiced concerns about traffic and noise — particularly related to the Walmart — county officials emphasized that this DA strictly addressed roadway infrastructure, with commercial development details handled separately.
Looking Ahead
With approvals in place and infrastructure planning under way, the long-anticipated Walmart appears to be on track to break ground soon.
For an area experiencing rapid growth, the addition represents both a response to increasing demand and a continuation of the broader buildout of Two Rivers and surrounding communities.
As always, the Neighborhood News will continue to follow updates as this project moves from planning to construction.
