When popular chains like Red Lobster tart closing, there is definitely cause for some concern.
When I lived in New York City in the 1980s, I was told by someone I looked up to in the advertising industry that unlike the real estate business — where the three most important words are “Location, Location, Location” — the rule of thumb for doing business with restaurants was “Get your money up front, Get your money up front, Get your money up front.”
It didn’t take me long to figure out why that was true — at least in Manhattan, where some of my favorite restaurants would get one bad review in any of the major New York media and be out of business in a week. And, this was decades before the advent of online reviews, when anyone with a beef against a restaurant owner could anonymously go online and turn a restaurant’s (especially a new one’s) Google or Yelp rating (or both) to garbage in a heartbeat.
But, in New York, almost every restaurant on every street was an individually owned mom-&- pop, which has always been more of a gamble than opening another link in a well-funded, regional or national, mass-marketed chain.
However, as evidenced by the recent rash of restaurant closings in our area, it’s no longer just mom-&-pop, non-chain restaurants that are being affected by everything from rising food costs and salaries, plus ever-increasing rents/interest rates, as well as the cost of things like building materials to even open a new place.
Case in point: When you see beloved (perhaps not by me, but still by many), well-established chains like Red Lobster (photo), Tijuana Flats and Beef O’Brady’s shuttering multiple locations, that is definitely a cause for concern.
In Wesley Chapel, it seems like 80% of the eateries are chains — whether national or regional — and almost every new place that is popping up (like Rodizio Grill) is at least a small chain. The only exception seems to be Asian restaurants — from Japanese to Indian — which are more often single-location or just 2-3 total family-owned units.
In other words, for every solo Via Italia or Falabella Family Bistro hanging in there you have a 201st location of Fazoli’s (see pg. 49) opening. For every one-off Chick’n Fun that attracts an audience, you’re surrounded by one of nearly 200 Slim Chickens and one of 20+ Chicken Guy! (which is coming soon to the north side of S.R. 56) locations.
Of course, the cost to buy a piece of land and build a new restaurant in Wesley Chapel is becoming prohibitive for anyone other than a chain, but even shuttered fast food places like Wendy’s on S.R. 56 are simply being replaced by another chain — such as Shake Shack, which has nearly 400 locations.
If you visit local online communities, you’ll always see people bemoaning all of the chain restaurants we have and all of the mom-&-pops we don’t have in our area and yet, every year, hundreds of our readers vote mainly for chains and don’t seem to even know about many of the really good mom-&-pop places available to them. Here are some reasons why:
Marketing — Even chains with food that I personally refuse to eat — like Taco Bell and Subway — spend millions of dollars every year on ads that magically make their food look absolutely edible. But, while many new local restaurants intend to spend money to promote themselves, the first thing most cut back on when their build-out inevitably takes longer than they ever expected is that advertising money.
Labor — It seemed like the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated a dangerous new attitude towards work among young people — the very labor source most restaurants have to look at to fill their employee rosters. And, while the height of the pandemic has been in the rear view for at least three years now — and many fewer people are being paid more to not work than if they have a job — that attitude still seems to be pervasive.
And, since the trend towards higher pandemic-era tipping for waiters and bartenders seemed to settle down somewhat, many restaurants have added service charges (that, unfortunately, aren’t always fairly shared with the employees), charges for using a credit card to pay and other extras that have created higher costs to dine (or take) out and turned off many regular customers.
Food Quality — I still feel that this is the biggest issue of all. Jannah and I believe that an expensive meal is always still worth it if the portions and prices are fair, the service is good and the quality of the food is high. However, overpaying for lower-quality food and/or bad service is never OK with us and I honestly think that many chains — and some mom-&-pops — have cut back on quality while charging more for the same meals, often with smaller portions for a higher price.
I see a lot of people warning that many more restaurant closings are still coming, but I, for one, hope that won’t prove to be true.
The May 14 groundbreaking for the local Rodizio Grill. (Groundbreaking photos by Charmaine George, food pics by GN & exterior rendering (below) from Ashlee Hille of Rodizio Grill).
When the new Rodizio Grill® — America’s First Brazilian Steakhouse® — broke ground on May 14, I’m pretty sure I was the only member of the local media — and perhaps the only one of the nearly 100 people who waited on line for a coupon for a free meal at the new location when it is expected to open in about nine months (or sometime in early 2025) — who had already dined at the Rodizio Grill location on Fruitville Rd. in Sarasota. More on my experience at that location appears below.
Rodizio Grill founder and president, Ivan Utrera, and local owner Charlie Haney invited the community to join the groundbreaking celebration (next to the At Home store off S.R. 56, behind Costco) on May 14.
Local franchise owner Charlie Haney at the groundbreaking event.
Established in 1995, Rodizio Grill was the first Brazilian “churrasco” steakhouse in the United States. Since then, Rodizio Grill has grown into an esteemed national franchise, with nearly 25 locations across the country.
The Wesley Chapel location will mark the brand’s sixth in Florida. At the groundbreaking, Haney echoed the sentiments of Utrera, who said in a news release, “I am beyond thrilled to break ground on our newest Florida location. Wesley Chapel is experiencing tremendous growth and is a coveted destination for residents and tourists alike. We are thrilled to become part of this thriving community.”
Haney added, “I was drawn to the Wesley Chapel area for a multitude of reasons. The area is the perfect fusion of suburban serenity and urban accessibility. However, what captivated me was the community: the people are warm and welcoming, neighborly, and joyful. As ambassadors of Brazil, we aim to welcome the community into Rodizio Grill — our home — and celebrate the ‘alegria,’ or joy, that is the Rodizio Grill experience. I believe our concept and the community will be a natural fit for one another.”
Locally and nationally, Rodizio Grill is known for its playful Brazilian spirit, authentic menu offerings and family-friendly atmosphere. The unique concept features rotisserie-grilled meats, expertly seasoned and carved tableside by traditionally dressed Gauchos. While the meats are the main attraction, they are complemented with an award-winning gourmet salad bar, authentic hot side dishes, fresh-pressed juices, homemade Brazilian limeades, signature (full-liquor) cocktails and a selection of exclusive, homemade Brazilian desserts. The whole experience comes at a competitive, affordable price so the whole family can celebrate together.
Brazil native Thiago Navarro will be the general manager of Rodizio Grill’s newest location, bringing with him close to a decade of experience with the brand.
“Having grown up in Brazil, many of my cherished childhood memories took place at our local “churrascaria” — whether it was celebrating a special occasion or simply spending quality time with my loved ones,” said Navarro. “Rodizio Grill is truly the embodiment of these memories — the traditional fare, the experience with the Gauchos and the fun atmosphere. I am thrilled to represent Brazil here in Wesley Chapel and am excited to share my passion for our culture and our signature Rodizio Grill experience with the community.”
Our area’s Rodizio Grill will be located at 2082 Grand Cypress Drive in Lutz. The 9,250-square-foot restaurant — with room for about 300 diners — will feature several private and semi-private event spaces. The restaurant also will create upwards of 60 jobs.
About My First-Visit Experience
Knowing that the groundbreaking was coming up, I decided to bring my mom to the Rodizio Grill location in Sarasota on Mother’s Day. There was a $10-per-person upcharge for the event, but there also were additional food items included for that higher price: a beef tenderloin carving station, plus two items I couldn’t sample because of my accursed shellfish allergy — large shrimp in garlic sauce (which my mom enjoyed) and a creamy lobster bisque.
We also sampled a number of items from the clearly fresh, 30-item salad bar, as well as a few of the hot side dishes, including the seasoned white rice and feijoada (black bean stew), plus pasta Alfredo, a savory shredded roast pork dish that I somehow didn’t take pictures of and the creamy Estrogonofe de Frango (or chicken stroganoff), which was probably my favorite of the hot sides. Trying to save room for the “main event,” we didn’t sample the couve (sautéed collared greens and bacon), the creamy whipped potatoes or the Pao de Queijo (homemade Brazilian cheese bread), but they all looked really good — and different from anything you’ll find anywhere in our area.
Speaking of the main event, my mom and I agreed that the Maminha (tri-tip steak; photo of it being sliced left) was our favorite of the steak options sliced at our table, although we also enjoyed the Picanha (top sirloin) and Bife com Alho (steak basted with Rodizio’s traditional house garlic rub).
My personal favorite of all of the tableside options was the Presunto (ham grilled and basted in a raw sugar glaze), although I did also enjoy the Pernil (roast pork) served with fresh lime wedges.
We definitely didn’t save anywhere near enough room, so we only sampled two chicken dishes — the Coraçao de Franco (chicken hearts) Temperado and the Frango Agri-Doce (white meat chicken with a sweet and spicy sauce, like a slightly spicier version of Chinese orange chicken).
We filled up pretty quickly on all of these options — I hope, the next time I visit, I will do a better job of pacing myself — so we didn’t try the two different kinds of sausages available, nor did we see any lamb or fresh fish options before we were ready for dessert.
Rodizio Grill offers a nice selection of five Brazilian desserts, of which we sampled the Romeo e Julieta-style cheesecake and the Torta Brigadeiro (a rich chocolate mousse torte served with sliced bananas and fresh whipped cream). Please note, because we didn’t, that the desserts cost extra — they are not included with your fixed-price meal.
Overall, my mom and I enjoyed our first experience at Rodizio Grill and I am definitely looking forward to the opening of the Wesley Chapel/Lutz location. For more info, visit Rodizio.com.
The Placery’s revamped bar area. (Photos by Charmaine George)
Congratulations go out to the management of the Hyatt Place Tampa Wesley Chapel (26000 Sierra Center Blvd.), which rolled out the new menu at the hotel’s revamped “The Placery” restaurant and bar on May 1.
The invitation-only event was attended by about 100 people, who got to not only sample some of the new food items and craft cocktails at The Placery, but also tour the 132-room hotel and some of its bookable meeting rooms, all of which also can include a variety of catering options.
The main ballroom at the Hyatt Place’s Sierra Conference Center.
The final stop of the tour was the hotel’s 4,000-sq.-ft. Sierra Conference Center & Ballroom, where director of sales Lorna Petchey thanked everyone for coming and introduced both Kish Kanji, the executive VP of Impact Properties (which owns the hotel), and Beau Benton, the president of LBA Hospitality, which now manages it.
“We opened right before Covid hit,” Kanji said. “So, we felt the time was right to re-introduce the hotel to the community.”
For the event, The Placery provided four different varieties of its crispy chicken wings and tasty parmesan French fries, as well as an impressive charcuterie board, a decadent dessert display and more.
“We want the community to know we’re here,” Petchey said. “We’re proud of our hotel and our food.”
For reservations & more info, visit Hyatt.com, call (813) 803-5600 or stop in and please tell them I sent you!
Kish Kanji The May 1 event featured four different varieties of The Placery’s crispy chicken wings, plus its tasty parmesan fries. and more Beau Benton Lorna Petchey
Owner Edgar Acavedo will come to your home anywhere in Wesley Chapel to provide your small-to-medium-sized dogs (and cats) with complete, professional grooming services. (Photos provided by Edgar Acevedo)
Pet parents in Wesley Chapel have a new option for grooming their little Fido or Fluffy, thanks to A LA MODE CANINE mobile dog and cat grooming, which moved into the Wesley Chapel area last fall.
Owner Edgar Acevedo started his pet grooming business in 2015 in Fort Lauderdale and surrounding areas. In November 2023, Edgar brought A LA MODE to Wesley Chapel to offer the same convenience and personalized attention his customers in South Florida have grown to love.
Prior to launching A LA MODE, Edgar spent 15 years working in the liquor industry for companies such as V Suarez & Co., Molson Coors and Pernod Ricard. He was a commercial on-premise and trade marketing manager in his native Puerto Rico and throughout Latin America.
Edgar and his wife, a family nurse practitioner who has a Ph.D. degree in family nutrition education, moved to Florida in 2014. They have two children, a son who is now a CPA with a Master’s degree in finance, and a daughter who is in the biology department at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, studying to be a dermatologist.
When the family moved to Florida, they also brought with them Manolo, a Shih Tzu they had rescued in Puerto Rico.
In the Fort Lauderdale area, Edgar says he would call for grooming appointments for Manolo and was repeatedly told the groomers were not available.
As a long-time marketing guy, Edgar realized there was a need for a business that would cater to the needs of pet owners, so he took a pet grooming course and launched A LA MODE CANINE, naming it after the French phrase that means “in fashion” in English. He chose it because he thought it would be easy to pronounce, but also because the name wasn’t already being used in the pet grooming industry. He also figured that many people want their dogs and cats to look fashionable.
A LA MODE offers full dog grooming for small and medium-sized dogs, “up to 40 or 45 pounds,” Edgar says. The typical service includes brushing, bathing, deshedding, drying, nail trim, ear clean, expressing anal glands, sani-trim (to keep fur away from private areas, which keeps pets cleaner when they relieve themselves), cutting around pads and a fur cut.
If your pooch doesn’t need a cut, A LA MODE offers full dog baths for small and medium-sized dogs, again usually up to 40-45 lbs., but Edgar says he can provide bathing, deshedding and ear, nail and pad trimming for short-haired dogs that are larger than 45 lbs. if they are well-behaved while being groomed.
Edgar says that part of the reason for the size and weight restrictions is that the business model of a mobile groomer is based upon how long it takes to groom each pet and larger, longer-haired dogs can take up to twice the amount of time to groom as a smaller dog.
A LA MODE also offers grooming services for cats, which includes brushing, bathing, drying, nail trim, ear clean, sani-trim, cutting around pads, and fur cut.
And, every dog and cat also receives a bit of fragrance and goes home with a bow, bandana or other accessory.
“Our work team has years of experience in the industry and is highly trained and certified in Florida,” Edgar explains. He says he does not allow anyone to work for the business who does not hold a valid pet groomer certification.
All services are performed inside A LA MODE’s grooming van, which comes to you at your home. This saves time for customers who don’t want to have to travel to any other location to have their pets groomed.
“It also can be less stressful for pets who may not enjoy car rides or being in a new environment,” Edgar says. “Plus, some people prefer the personalized attention and one-on-one service that mobile groomers can provide.”
With no other cats or dogs waiting, your pet will get the groomer’s full attention as soon as he or she arrives at your home.
Emily Egip recently left one of many 5-star Google reviews for A LA MODE CANINE, which has an overall 5-out-of- 5-star rating for its Wesley Chapel location.
“Edgar was so nice and loving towards both my dogs,” said Emily. “[He] made them feel comfortable and provided exceptional services. I will be keeping him as my groomer. If you’re seeking a trustworthy, reliable and loving groomer with your pets, contact Edgar. He’s very professional and on time. Went above and beyond. Thank you so much for helping me with my fur babies.”
When the A LA MODE CANINE mobile van shows up at your home, you know your dog or cat will be returned to you clean, refreshed, fully-groomed and happy!
A LA MODE CANINE currently has two fully-equipped vans that travel to homes throughout Wesley Chapel and some surrounding areas in Pasco County, including San Antonio/Mirada and Zephyrhills.
“Our Wag’nTails brand vans are top-of-the-line,” explains Edgar, “they are made for the needs of the mobile grooming business.”
Edgar adds that he hopes to expand the business into the New Tampa area in the future.
He says his pup Manolo has been “on every adventure” with his family, from Puerto Rico to South Florida, and now to Wesley Chapel, where they have moved into the River Landing community on S.R. 56.
While Edgar also still maintains his established South Florida business, he is excited for the opportunity to grow in Wesley Chapel.
He says he enjoys what he does and the challenges of grooming dogs and cats.
“The diversity of clients we visit each day ensures that this job will never be boring,” he says.
A LA MODE CANINE offers readers of Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News a coupon for $5 off a full grooming service for first-time customers. Be sure to see the ad below.
“We don’t usually offer coupons or discounts,” Edgar says. “But we really want the Wesley Chapel community to try us out because we know that once you experience our service, your pets will become regular A LA MODE customers.”
For more information about A LA MODE CANINE, call Edgar at (813) 812-1850 or visit ALaModeCanine.com.
Licensed mental health counselor Jolene Lantz (right) leads the team of nine mental health professionals available to Wesley Chapel residents at Boundless Hope Christian Clinical Counseling in the Summergate Professional Park behind Sam’s Club off S.R. 56. (Photo by Charmaine George)
Jolene Lantz, M.A., is a licensed mental health counselor who is passionate about providing excellent, professional therapeutic interventions. She also happens to be a Christian who is equally passionate about her faith.
Before she founded Boundless Hope Christian Clinical Counseling, Jolene saw that many Christians who sought Biblical, pastoral counseling from their church didn’t have access to clinical interventions. She also saw that, sometimes, when some Christians went to a clinician, they felt that their faith was not welcomed in therapy, or that the counseling did not align with their own beliefs.
“Why can’t we have both?,” Jolene says she asked herself.
In 2019, Boundless Hope was just Jolene and a couple of part-time clinicians in the Summergate Professional Center in Seven Oaks. She and her team worked to provide a safe place where the latest research and best clinical practices are incorporated, but where faith is prioritized, too.
“We focus on clinical intervention that works,” says Jolene, “and working with clinicians who know the Bible if the client wants to incorporate that (into their therapy).”
But, she says, Boundless Hope also has many clinical relationships with people who do not identify as Christian.
“We are so grateful for those who aren’t Christian who trust us,” Jolene says. “It’s so important for us to treat and love people well, which is in alignment with our theology that recognizes that people are created in the image of God and deserve respect. We want everyone to feel safe and respected in our office, and we don’t have to share the same faith to treat someone clinically — and treat them well.”
Since the practice opened, Boundless Hope has expanded to a second location on N. Dale Mabry Hwy. in Lutz, and now has a total of 17 clinicians seeing patients. Nine of those are based in Wesley Chapel, but Jolene says that virtually all 17 are available to see clients at either location.
“We’re pretty eclectic as far as our preferred places of worship,” says Jolene, “We’re a denominationally, ethnically and racially diverse group of clinicians of all different ages. We work hard, play hard, and have a great sense of community among our staff. It’s a really great place to work with pretty awesome people.”
Jolene says she started out as a full-time homeschool mom doing some clinical work on the side.
She and her husband Jim have three children. Maxwell, now 16, is the youngest. Samuel, 20, is studying sports management at Florida State University in Tallahassee, and Abigail, 23, is at the University of South Florida (USF) Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa studying to be a physician.
Jolene graduated from USF in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Psychology with minors in Chemistry and Sociology. She then earned her Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Counseling Psychology from Saint Xavier University in Chicago, IL.
She says that, like her daughter, she also started out on a pre-med track, but got ill and had to withdraw from school.
Dealing with that experience caused her to change her major to focus on helping others to heal and become emotionally healthier.
She says the team at Boundless Hope focuses on training and collaboration, and that the training they all do far exceeds what’s required by the state.
“We’re a learning bunch, an academic bunch,” she says. “We’re always reading, sharing, and training. When I’m interviewing clinicians, I look for people who enjoy that. If you don’t want to continue to learn and train, you’re not going to be happy here.”
Jolene says that post-Covid, there’s more awareness and acknowledgement than ever that people need to pay more attention to their mental health.
She says she sees evidence of this when people purchase counseling sessions for high school graduates or engaged couples. “Counseling is not just for ‘that’ person anymore,” she says. “(More) people now realize that it’s for all of us.”
Boundless Hope provides therapy for many reasons, including children struggling with behavioral issues, impulse control, or hyperactivity.
“We offer play therapy for children,” Jolene says. “We have a beautiful play therapy room in our Lutz office and also do play therapy in the Wesley Chapel office. Play is the language of children. They will play out emotions and memories held within them quite easily when traditional ‘talk’ therapy isn’t developmentally appropriate or effective.”
Also available are therapy for individuals and couples, for those with relationship struggles, as well as divorce counseling and divorce recovery, including recovery for the children of parents who divorce.
Boundless Hope clinicians also offer premarital counseling and treat people who are suffering from anxiety and depression, and help those who self-harm.
Jolene says some people come in because they are wrestling with their faith and are trying to work out what they once believed and what they still believe.
Some clinicians counsel elite athletes who work through “imposter syndrome,” stress management and perfectionism.
Boundless Hope also receives referrals from law enforcement and the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) to help victims of sexual violence and abuse. Some of these people have been through heinous experiences, Jolene says, and there are several clinicians who specialize in complex trauma and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.
Boundless Hope also offers intensive weekend therapy where an individual or couple can do four, six, or eight hours over a single weekend. This is for patients who are looking for immediate relief or want to gain momentum in their therapy, rather than waiting a week or two for their next single hour-long session.
Unique Therapies
Boundless Hope clinician Karrissa Manchester teaches about supporting children with acute PTSD at an event at the Lutz office. (Photo provided by Jolene Lantz)
In addition, Jolene says a couple of the counselors are very highly skilled in specific types of training that some people may be seeking. For example, Boundless Hope has counselors who are trained and certified in EMDR (eye movement desensitization & reprocessing), which she explains is a neurobiological modality of treatment that is federally recognized as effective for helping veterans heal from PTSD and relieve anxiety, depression and phobias.
One counselor is a certified practitioner in “brainspotting,” which is a different neurobiological intervention, although Jolene says, “it shares similar roots in neuro science as EMDR. Brainspotting is a brain- and body-based modality of lasting healing.”
“We certainly still do talk therapy,” says Jolene, “but we also offer brain-based treatments. Because old trauma is stored in the body, we’ve seen successes where some autoimmune disorders actually go into remission or migraines go away. It’s pretty phenomenal.”
Jolene also notes that Boundless Hope is fully credentialed by Focus on the Family, which is a global Christian ministry dedicated to helping families thrive.
“Focus on the Family has a series of doctrinal questions, as well as clinical vignettes, that a clinician must submit for review and acceptance,” she says. “There are not many credentialed in our area. There were fewer than ten within 25 miles of here the last time I looked.”
Beyond the more trauma-heavy situations, Jolene says, “We also have beautiful grief counselors, and counselors serving the neurodivergent and those with chronic pain and end of life/terminal diagnoses. We also would love to normalize that life has day-to- day challenges and anyone and everyone can enjoy investing in themselves in a place to be disinhibited and talk through life with someone who is objective and not involved in your personal life.”
While not all clinicians at Boundless Hope accept insurance, Jolene says 25-30% do accept it. The practice also has a graduate intern on staff. Interns are fully educated and have completed all of their coursework, but have to complete supervised clinical hours, so they can offer fees to patients on a sliding scale, based on what people can afford.
Jolene also recently started a nonprofit called “One Another” that allows Boundless Hope to serve more people. She says it began because people were coming back after completing treatment to provide gifts so that other people could experience the healing they did through counseling at Boundless Hope.
To start counseling with one of the Boundless Hope clinicians, call the office or visit BoundlessHope.net. On the website, there are boxes that say, “Start Here” or “Hopes Starts Here” that you can click to go to a HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act)-compliant form that will allow you to send a secure message, and someone will get back with you.
Jolene says she also is careful to have adequate administrative staff to respond to inquiries. “Unfortunately, our industry is known for horrible administrative care where no one answers the phone or gets a call back,” she says. “I believe that’s because very few clinicians have administrative staff.”
She says it’s important to her personally that phones get answered and that people are heard. Emails are even answered over the weekend.
“I recognize how long it can take for some people to make the decision to enter into counseling,” Jolene says. “There’s effort and work and sometimes a lot of emotional turmoil and pain to get to the point of making that call.”
Boundless Hope’s Wesley Chapel office is located at 27551 Cashford Cir., Suite #102. To learn more about the Boundless Hope clinical team, including each clinician’s credentials, visit BoundlessHope.net or call (813) 219-8844.
