Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes

Spa Moritz’s Elegant Grand Opening!

If you missed our ‘222’ Speakeasy Party on Jan. 14, I at least hope you got to attend perhaps the most elegant Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) ribbon-cutting event ever — when new Spa Moritz (located on Commerce Park Blvd. in Tampa Palms) owners Martin and Patricia Anello (at left in photo below) decided to not only cut a ribbon with the WCCC but also open the doors of their spectacular, European-style salon to more than 100 Chamber members and other friends and existing clients.

With truly delicious all-vegetarian food that Martin prepared himself, imported chocolates and great wine and cocktails served by Martin and the Spa Moritz staff, the highlights of the evening were still the dozens of free spa services and the great raffle prizes given away, including beautiful “real stone” jewelry by Erika Williner, who sells her original jewelry designs at the spa.

For more info about Spa Moritz, visit SpaMoritz.com or cal 813-971-4772.

Green Grocers & More Coming To WC In 2016

In our last issue, we had an article about some of the new “stuff” that’s coming on and around S.R. 56. Well, for those of you who live in New Tampa who have been waiting for a “green” grocer to come to the property located across from the main entrance to Hunter’s Green on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., Wesley Chapel may beat New Tampa to the punch.

There are no fewer than four supermarkets planned and all but one of them would have access to S.R. 56 — and at least three of them are being touted as possible “green” grocery chains such as Whole Foods, Fresh Market, Trader Joe’s and Sprouts.

Stage Left & Sprinkles Close

All of us at the Neighborhood News were truly saddened by the sudden closing following the close of regular business on Jan. 16 of Stage Left Bar & Kitchen on S.R. 54 in Lutz. Those who enjoyed (as we always did) visiting Stage Left for the Tuesday Open Mic night on Jan. 19 were notified by Stage Left’s Open Mic “host” Cal Olivier in a Facebook message on Jan. 18 that the popular restaurant and night spot, which featured live music every Tuesday-Saturday, would not be open the following evening.

Later that same day, co-owner Isabelle Dunleavy posted this message on Facebook:

“Yes kids, the buzz is true……. The restaurant is officially closed. ?

Thanks for reaching out but please understand & respect that it was a difficult decision to make and no, we don’t want to talk about the details…It hurts. But we know that God is good and His voice was very clear that it was time to pull the plug…

Thanks for the love & support and know that we will be ok.

We will miss our amazing employees (those that stayed loyal to us) and our nice customers and our awesome musicians!!!”

I consider Isabelle and her husband and co-owner Brian to be dear friends and I loved living so close to such a vibrant night spot with great food in the middle of Lutz.

A few weeks earlier, shortly after we went to press with our Jan. 1 New Tampa issue, where I named it as my third favorite ice cream or dessert place in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel in 2015, I was saddened to learn that Sprinkles Ice Cream Parlor, in the Northwood Plaza between the SuperTarget and Marshall’s, also had closed.

A note (photo) posted in the shop’s door shortly after Christmas said, “We have made the difficult decision to close Sprinkles effective immediately. We appreciate your support and will treasure the friendships we have made.”