Advent Health Meadow Pointe Emergency Room Opens!
By Gary Nager
With Wesley Chapel already known as the largest health care “hub” in Pasco County — with two hospitals open, two or three more (one pediatric) on the way, two major cancer centers, a mental health facility, an assisted living facility with an on-site rehab center and another rehab center under construction — one of the few facilities Wesley Chapel didn’t have was a freestanding emergency room (ER).
Well, you can scratch that one off your list, too, as the AdventHealth Meadow Pointe ER (AHMP ER) celebrated its Grand Opening with a free community event on Apr. 27. The 13,000-sq.ft. ER opened to the public two days later.
I wondered why an ER in Wesley Chapel is a service of AdventHealth Zephyrhills and not the Wesley Chapel hospital, but I was told, “AdventHealth recognizes the growth happening in East Pasco, and while [AHMP ER] is a department of AdventHealth Zephyrhills, patients will have access to our large network of care in Pasco County and beyond.”
News About Restaurant Openings & Closings Continue To Increase Our Readership
An Editorial by GARY NAGER
Anyone who actually knows me will tell you that even though I don’t love the term, I am a genuine “foodie.” Whenever I’m out and about, whether in New Tampa, Wesley Chapel or elsewhere, I’m always on the lookout for signs that new restaurants — whether chains or mom-&-pops — are opening, as well as, of course, those that are closing or have already gone out of business.
And, I’m obviously not alone in my quest to keep up with openings and closings of places to eat. Jannah and I get recognized a lot when we go anyplace local to eat and people often ask me things like, “What new restaurants are opening?,” “Did you hear about this new place?” and “Whatever happened to such and such place?”
In this issue ‘s dining section alone, there are stories about the new management and direction of Café Zorba at the KRATEs (see pg. 42), the opening of the new Rudraksh Indian Cuisine in Downtown Avalon Park (pg. 44), the new chef at The Grill at Morris Bridge (pg. 46), the coming-soon Remington’s Steak & Seafood (pg. 48) just south of Tampa Palms, the reopening of the super-popular Bagels Plus just west of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. on E. Fletcher Ave. (pg. 50), the addition of Breakfast Kitchen & More to the Kabob Café in Highwoods Preserve (pg. 52) and the soon-to-open latest entry into our local fried chicken wars — Kay’s Kitchen Authentic Chicago-Style Fried Chicken (which, I’ll admit, I didn’t know was a thing; pg. 53).
And yet, there is so much more dining news to tell you about, I couldn’t fit it all at the everpopular back section of this issue. Hold on tight!
Kraziness At The KRATEs
County Line Rd.) of Little Caesar’s Pizza was just about ready to open (at 5450 Post Oak Blvd., next to Jimmy John’s), and could be open by the time (or soon after) this issue reaches your mailbox.
Rodizio Grill To Open May 28!
Just around the interior road from the former MOD Pizza location is the long-awaited firstever Brazilian steakhouse in our area — Rodizio Grill, which franchise owner Charlie Haney has announced is expected to open on Wednesday, May 28. Until then, visit Rodizio Grill-Wesley Chapel on Facebook by May 20 to win free Rodizio for you and a guest once a month for a year (photo).
Nice Move, Einstein (Bros.)?
I was alerted by readers Marisa and Theo Panopoulos to the sign on BBD (in the same plaza as Nutrition Smart) that Einstein Bros. Bagels is getting ready to open. So, I had a nice chat with
Kurt, a Wesley Chapel resident who is the general manager of the closest currently open Einstein Bros. location, on E. Fowler Ave., near USF. Kurt told me that although the Einstein Bros. corporate entity (both of these locations are corporate-owned, not franchises) was hoping to have the Wesley Chapel location open by the end of May, “It looks like sometime in late July or early August is more likely.” Kurt also said he believes he will end up moving to become the GM at the new store.
Los Chapos Tacos To Open Soon?
We have not yet heard of the opening date for the Los Chapos Tacos Wesley Chapel on S.R. 54 in Lutz (in the same plaza as Fazoli’s) but the last announcement we saw had it opening sometime last month, so it should be soon.
Check our Facebook page every day for updates on these stories and more! Bon appetit!
Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News
WE HAVE MOVED OUR OFFICE AGAIN! 27251 Wesley Chapel Blvd., #426 Wesley Chapel, FL 33544
OFFICE HOURS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY!
The container park continues to be tough to keep up with as, in addition to the new management (and Bosnian cuisine?) at Café Zorba, the nearly adjacent Tutti Frutti Café, owned by the same owner (Eddie Nasr), has closed, as has the Indian Street Kitchen, which is owned by the same owners as Persis Indian Grill. This comes on the heels of the two changes we told you about last issue — PeppaJak (see ad on pg. 43) replacing the Bacon Boss HQ and Grilltopia opening in the former Yummy Tablas spot.
365 Woodfired Pizza?
As far back as October of 2024, 365 Café Italiano owner (at both the KRATEs and the Shops at Wiregrass) Tarek Yordi had announced that 365 Woodfired Pizza was going to “open soon” in the plaza anchored by Abdoney Orthodontics behind the Jammin’ Car Wash on Windcrest Dr., off BBD Blvd. There’s no word yet on when 365 Pizza will open, but someone at the location said “maybe next month” a few weeks ago.
Even further back, an adjacent spot in that same building also was supposed to be home to a new location of Provisions Coffee &Wine Bar, but not only hasn’t Provisions opened, the space still has a dirt floor and the door is always propped open, with no progress. We were told that Provisions is no longer going in the space. Little Caesars In, MOD Pizza Out
Speaking of pizza, just as the location of MOD Pizza closed in front of the Tampa Premium Outlets, the second Wesley Chapel location (the other is in front of the Super Target on BBD at
Advertising & Editorial E-mail: Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com
Publisher & Editor Gary Nager
Correspondents
Celeste McLaughlin • Iris Vitelli Joel Provenzano
Editorial Research by Joel Provenzano
Ad Sales & Marketing Director Jannah Nager
Video Producer/Multimedia Specialist Charmaine George
Graphic Designers Georgia Carmichael • Valerie Wegener
Nothing that appears in Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the publisher’s opinion. The deadline for outside editorial submissions & advertisement reservations for Volume 33, Issue 12, of Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is Thursday, May 29, 2025.
Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials.
Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit &/or reject any advertising. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, nor for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers. © 2025 JM2 Communications, Inc.
Jannah, photographer Charmaine George and I were proud to be on-hand for the VIP preview, attended by about 100 people, of the new AdventHealth Meadow Pointe Emergency Room (AHMP ER) on Apr. 24, three days before the community Grand Opening event and five days before the AHMP ER actually opened on Apr. 29.
With beautiful food provided by CBK Catering & Events, the VIP preview was hosted by AdventHealth Zephyrhills (AHZ) president and chief executive officer (CEO) Mike Murrill, who first thanked everyone involved with the planning, building and opening of the new ER, including his AHZ chief operating officer William Villegas, as well as the AdventHealth Office of Design & Construction, HuntonBrady Architects, Kimley-Horn Civil Engineering, the project’s general contractor Robins & Morton, as well as the AdventHealth West Florida division executive team, “including my boss, Jennifer Wandersleben (regional CEO for the West Florida Division).”
Murrill also noted that, “Pasco County is growing very rapidly and this is just a testament to our commitment at AdventHealth to grow alongside East Pasco County. This ER is a step in that direction to provide convenient, high-quality clinical care to emergency care to our communities. This freestanding ER is 13,000-sq.-ft., with 12 patient beds, two triage rooms, plus imaging and lab services, as well as a pediatric-friendly room “designed to take care of our littlest of patients. All of these elements help us meet the needs of the expanding community we call home.”
Murrill also introduced Dr. Javier Gonzalez, the Meadow Pointe ER medical director and chief of staff at AHZ.
“The new Meadow Pointe ER joins our eight other freestanding ERs in the Tampa Bay area and our fifth such location in Pasco County,” Dr. Gonzalez said. “This magnificent medical facility is another testimony to AdventHealth’s unwavering commitment to health services, coverage and quality in our communities. Our ER consists of highly skilled and experienced health care professionals dedicated to providing exceptional medical care. We also have an extensive and dedicated EMS fleet of 25 ambulances and th AdventHealth Air Star One medical helicopter dedicated to critical patient transport across the region.”
Dr. Gonzalez then introduced Shawn Whited, the operations chief of Pasco County Fire Rescue (PCFR), who said, “For us in the fire service, this is more than just a new building. It’s a symbol of something deeper — a partnership,
progress and purpose. Our job as firefighters and paramedics often begins in the most critical moments. Our goal is always the same — preserve life, provide care, and get them safely to the next level of treatment. That’s where AdventHealth comes in. This hospital is more than just a destination as an extension of the care we give in the field. The relationship we have with AdventHealth is one built on trust, coordination, and a shared mission to serve our community with compassion and excellence. We train together, plan together and starting today, we will continue to respond together with greater speed, better tools and renewed commitment to every life that depends on us.”
Whited closed with, “On behalf of the men and women of Pascal County Fire Rescue, I want to say thank you to Advent Health, to the leadership and the staff of this fine hospital and everyone who made this facility reality.
We look forward to working side by side with you, strengthening in the partnership and
delivering the best emergency care possible to our community. Congratulations on this incredible milestone. And welcome to the neighborhood.”
The final two speakers before the tour of the AHMP ER began were Mallory Davis, the director of emergency services for AHZ and Andres Sequera, AHZ’s director of mission & ministry, who led those in attendance in a prayer for the new ER and those who are now working there.
Davis said, “Over the past several months, our staff has undergone extensive training to prepare for the opening of this new location, and we are excited to officially begin starting our community next week. AdventHealth has invested $26 million into this off-site ER. We will open on Tuesday (Apr. 290 with 30 full-time employees. We are grateful the opportunity for to broaden our footprint in Paso County and bring a higher level of care. I’m so proud to work alongside great colleagues, including my CEO colleagues in Pasco County, Shane Bedward from Dade City
and Ryan Quattlebaum at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel. We work well together to serve Pasco County as a team and as a network of care.”
Three days after the VIP Preview event, AHMP ER hosted an amazing, free event to show off the new ER to the local community.
Michael Butash
(Above) AdventHealth Zephyrhills CEO Mike Murrill (Below) AHMP ER medical director Dr. Javier Gonzalez
(Above) The crowd at the VIP Preview of the AHMP ER on Apr. 24 (Below) Attendees of the VIP Preview event check out the lab at the new AHMP ER. (Bottom) Pasco County Fire Rescue operations chief Shawn Whited. (All photos on this page by Charmaine George)
Despite temperatures that soared well above 90º, an estimated crowd of more than 1,000 people came to enjoy free food and beverages, provided by four hard-working food trucks, free pickyour-own bouquets of absolutely gorgeous flowers from Tampa Bay Posies (top right), free fresh fruits and veggies from the AdventHealth “Farm-acy” (which Murrill himself helped give out), face painting, music provided by Miles DJ Productions, and of course, tours of the new AHMP ER.
It was clear that even though AdventHealth did its usual great job of engaging the community, the organizers of the event seriously underestimated the number of people who would show up.
During the celebration’s check-in (photo above), attendees were each given a punch card that entitled them to one free entrée with side dishes and a drink from either The Taco Boss (right) or the Tampa Burger Company, one free dessert item from either Nikki’s Sweet Shop or Pineapple Express and a free bucket of lemonade, plus the flowers and the produce.
“We printed 450 cards,” said Katie Duncan, the senior marketing manager for AHZ and AdventHealth Dade City (AHDC). “And we ran out of the cards by 2 p.m. (an hour after the threehour event began).” Attendees could still get the items promised without the cards, but both The Taco Boss and especially, Tampa Burger Co., had long lines throughout the afternoon and ran out of some of their food items.
Those lines probably also prevented folks (including yours truly) from getting off them to participate in the public ribbon-cutting, which ended up including only Murrill, Davis, AHZ COO William Villegas and Stephen Drake, director of business development for AHZ & AHDC.
“The place is beautiful,” one attendee told me after taking the tour. “But I gotta go get some ice cream and lemonade.”
The AHMP ER is located at 5170 Chapel Commerce Dr. For more info, see the ad on pg. 17 of this issue or visit MeadowPointeER.com. But, of course, in any emergency, call 9-1-1.
Meadow Pointe II & III Residents Sound Off On Proposed Wrencrest Dr. Gate
By Gary Nager
The residents of Meadow Pointe II (MPII) and Meadow Pointe III (MPIII) have been down this road before. A gate went up on Wrencrest Dr., the main thoroughfare through the Wrencrest communities which exist in both MPII and MPIII back in 2020 and Pasco County ended up telling MPII that the gate had to come down because it wasn’t properly permitted.
The residents of MPIII thought that the discussion of a gate at the entrance to MPII on Wrencrest Dr. from the MPIII side was over, but it clearly was not.
On Apr. 23, the MPII Community Development District (CDD) hosted a “Neighborhood Meeting” at the MPI clubhouse on County Line Rd. — “a neutral location with a much larger meeting room than the rooms at either MPII or MPIII,” according to MPII CDD district manager
Jayna Cooper of Inframark Community Management (at microphone in photo above) — where the idea of erecting a new gate, similar to the one where Kinnan St. in New Tampa meets Mansfield Blvd., also in MPII, was again the main topic of discussion.
“This is not a CDD meeting,” Cooper told those in attendance as she read the following statement, “Meadow Pointe II’s goal in going through this process is fully focused on safety enhancement and the security of all residents, including in both MPII and MPIII. The goal in submitting an application to the county is to receive approval to construct an emergency gate on Wrencrest Dr. between Blanchard Ct. and Rensselaer Dr. (see photo, right) to cut down on the excessive traffic and the speedway this road has become. The road was never intended as a regional framework roadway for regional transportation uses. The policy goal is instead to return its use to as a neighborhood internal roadway we are all paying for as residents while still allowing for emergency access
for emergency services.”
Cooper then introduced Jerry Whited of BDI Engineering, who said, “We did do a traffic study that confirms our findings and proposal that a large volume of the traffic that is coming to the west side of Wrencrest is traffic coming from the MPIII side but also from traffic that is accessing MPIII from outside of the community. It’s being used as a major cut-through for residents who are coming from MPIII who should be accessing Mansfield Blvd. via Beardsley Dr., which is a much more pertinent roadway to be using for this type of vehicular traffic. It is a larger roadway, less narrow and has less pedestrian traffic and no driveways, while there are hundreds of driveways on Wrencrest Dr.”
Roughly two dozen speakers, mostly from MPII but some from MPIII, were given three minutes each to speak.
And, while there were a couple of MPII speakers who acknowledged that speeding is happening in both neighborhoods and agreed that installing strategically-spaced speed tables along the full length of Wrencrest Dr. might be just as, if not more effective, most of the MPII speakers mentioned the two MPII Wrencrest residents who were seriously injured and had to be airlifted because of
speeders and said that installing the gate was the only real solution to the problem.
MPII Wrencrest resident Kathy Jimenez read a moving statement written by her neighbor Ray Quinones, who was one of those airlifted after being hit by a car that had passed fellow neighbor Marla Mitchell “doing at least 45 mph” and both expressed sadness over how Quinones had suffered since the accident, writing, “The worst part is the memory loss. Chunks of my life are gone.”
But, almost all of the MPIII residents who spoke at the meeting said that adding speed tables, narrowing the road and even adding trees along the portions of Wrencrest Dr. with no homes would be a much more effective way to slow down the traffic in both communities.
In fact, MPIII Wrencrest resident Michael Jenkins said, “It makes no sense to think that the best way to solve the problem is to cut off the community from the main thoroughfare. We can
do better than this. The members of the boards of both MPII and MPIII have allowed this to become a spiteful, back-and-forth match between the two CDDs.”
Updates from the MPII legal counsel were expected to be provided at the MPII CDD Board meeting scheduled for May 7, or two days after this issue went to press, but our phone call to Cooper to ask if the MPII CDD Board would actually vote on the issue at that meeting was not returned before we went to press.
Even if the MPII CDD Board voted to move forward with approving the gate, the final decision would still be in the hands of the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners (BCC), which would have to add the vote to a BCC agenda at a future date, so even if the CDD does approve installing the gate at the May 7 meeting, we will still have an opportunity to update this story in a future issue.
By Gary Nager
If you missed the official Grand Opening event of Bay Paws Pet Resort in Wiregrass Ranch (the company’s fourth location) on Apr. 19, you missed something to truly bark about.
First of all, the Pet Resort itself is immacu late and has fun, fenced-in areas outside (like the splash pad in the center photo below, which we borrowed from the Bay Paws webpage because the picture is so much cooler than the ones I took at the Grand Opening), as well as lots of room inside to keep your fur babies happy.
But, the Grand Opening, which was attended by hun dreds of people, also featured a variety of ven dors — includ ing Bark Busters dog training, Poo Patrol and several other vendors selling pet-related prod ucts, everything from collars and pet-friendly vacations to greeting cards from our friend (and Meadow Pointe resident) Colleen Passardi of Colleen’s Creations.
There also was free food and beverages, an Easter egg hunt, photos with the Easter Bunny (who must’ve arrived after Jannah and I left) and, best of all, some too-cute puppies for adoption — like the two snuggle bugs shown here, from and I walked away without the black one), as well as some equally adorable
Business Briefs — Bay Paws Pet Resort Hosts A Super-Cute Grand Opening
(4501 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.). Celebrate the groundbreaking for the new Wesley Chapel Family YMCA. Please arrive by 9:45 a.m. The ceremony will be outside, so please wear appropriate clothing and footwear for your comfort. Free to attend.
Wednesday, May 28, 7 p.m. – New Tampa Democratic Club Monthly Meeting. At New Tampa Regional Library (10001 Cross Creek Blvd.). Join the New Tampa Democratic Club for its monthly meeting. Free to attend.
For more information, visit NewTampaDemocrats.com or Facebook.com/ NewTampaDemocrats.
Friday, May 30, 4 p.m.-6 p.m. –North Tampa Bay Chamber Final Friday. At PopStroke (25297 Sierra Center Blvd.). Come out, engage and network with fellow Chamber members in a relaxed environment. Free to attend. For more information, call (813)994-8534 or visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com/Events.
Sunday, June 1, 3 p.m.-5 p.m. –“The Splendid Table” Live Taping. At the New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). Join WUSFFM (89.7)’s celebration of National Public Radio’s “The Splendid Table” program’s 30th anniversary. This nationally syndicated culinary, culture and lifestyle program will be taping live. Tickets cost $35. For more info, call (813) 829-2760.
To purchase tickets visit NewTampaArtsCenter.org/events.
Wednesday, June 4, 5:30 p.m. – Premier Community HealthCare’s 2nd annual “Runway For Hope” Ladies Night & Fashion Show. At Silverthorn Country Club (4550 Golf Club Ln, Spring Hill). Enjoy a complimentary glass of champagne and be pampered while you watch fashions from Dillard’s modeled by local community leaders. Tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door.
To purchase tickets, visit bit.ly/3FDtelC or for more info, contact Katerina Hantzis at (352) 518-2000, ext. 9765, or email khantzis@hcnetwork.org.
If You Want Your Ad To Reach The Most Potential Customers In New Tampa & Wesley Chapel... CALL OR EMAIL JANNAH!
813.910.2575 Ads@NT NeighborhoodNews.com
Your ad in the Neighborhood News can be seen by more than 160,000 people every four weeks! Find out how!
The next WCTG performances will be “A Night of One Acts,” also at the Zephyrhills Lions Club, the weekend of July 12-13.
WCTG, which does not have a permanent home of its own, would love to find one in Wesley
Chapel and will definitely need to raise more money to be able to afford one.
To make a donation, volunteer to join the group or for tickets to “A Night of One Acts,” visit WesleyChapelTheaterGroup.org. — GN
CMK Construction — Building Excellence In Tampa Bay For Two+ Decades
By Iris Vitelli
Neighborhood News Correspondent
When Land O’Lakes residents Manny and Courtney Kavouklis met at the University of Florida, they likely didn’t realize their journey together would someday change the face of home remodeling in Tampa Bay. After finishing college, the pair returned to the Tampa Bay area and, in 2004, launched CMK Construction, Inc.
Their goal was clear from the beginning, “We wanted to use only high-end materials and provide excellent workmanship,” Manny says. That vision has stayed strong through the company’s steady growth over the last 20+ years. Today, CMK Construction’s reputation is as one of Tampa Bay’s most trusted names in kitchen and bathroom remodeling — and the company recently expanded its services to also provide roof replacements (more on this below).
Using advanced technology, CMK designers will visit your home to scan the space with specialized cameras, producing detailed layouts. The scan is then brought back to the CMK showroom on W.Hillsborough Ave., where the designer begins developing ideas based on the space. At the heart of CMK’s customer experience is its showroom on W.Hillsborough Ave. in Tampa, a 4,000-squarefoot space where you will meet with the professional designer who visited your home and who will work with you on your dream project. The scans are transformed into 3D renderings that you can explore at the showroom, offering a lifelike preview of the final result.
Samples of tiles, fixtures, countertops and cabinetry are available on-site, so you can touch and compare materials as your designer brings your vision to life. Every project is customized from these real materials and components available in the showroom, ensuring that the final product matches the original plan.
From initial demolition of your interior space to be remodeled to the final polish, CMK oversees every stage of the project internally. “To see the final pictures is always very satisfying,” says Manny. “Things can go from a not-so-pleasant space to something stunning and beautiful.”
Manny holds a General Contractor’s license, but CMK Construction prides itself on being a true residential remodeling specialist — a rarity in an industry dominated by general contractors who often outsource many tasks. With more than 7,000 completed projects in the Tampa area, the company’s experience speaks for itself. CMK is licensed not only for general contracting but also for plumbing and electrical work, ensuring that the majority of services are handled by the company’s own in-house teams.
This commitment to internal quality control distinguishes CMK from many of its competitors. Each customer is assigned a dedicated project manager, and a detailed job book outlining every component of your project is created. This book remains at the home for all the workers to reference whenever necessary.
A unique aspect of CMK’s process is its unique warehouse system, where materials are inspected, sorted into “job pallets” and checked for damage before a single tool touches your home. Unlike many companies that start projects before all of the materials arrive, CMK will wait until every piece is in hand to ensure a smooth construction process.
Permitting is another area that sets CMK
(Above) Courtney & Manny Kavouklis of CMK Con struction made a $5,000 donation to WFTS-TV’s “If You Give A Child A Book” initiative & CMK remodeled the kitchen on the station’s “Tampa Bay’s Morning Blend” set with hosts Roxanne Wilder (far left in right photo) & Natalie Taylor (far right).
(Both photos are screenshots from WFTS-TV)
apart in this industry, securing all necessary permits before any work begins. As Manny puts it, “We don’t cut corners. Period.”
The Tampa Bay community has repeatedly recognized CMK’s commitment to quality. The company has earned the “Best of the Best Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeler” award from Tampa Bay Times readers five years in a row (2020–24). CMK also won first place for “Best Residential Bathroom” ($75,000–$100,000 category) from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI)’s Tampa Bay chapter.
Further endorsements from platforms like Home Advisor, Thumbtack and the Better Busi ness Bureau, plus an overall 4.8-star (out of 5) rating on Google (on more than 350 reviews) add to CMK’s sterling reputation.
For example, Bob Raichle said in his 5-star review, “Bob Raichle says “CMK completed a ma jor home renovation for us, including new floor ing and a completely redesigned kitchen. We were extremely happy with the quality of the work; the timeliness of completion; and the professionalism of everyone who came into our home. Our project manager, Carlos, was 100% responsive to all of our requests. CMK previously completed a bathroom renovation for us, and we will surely use them again, if needed.”
Manny says that operating in the remodeling industry these days does have its challenges. Over the past several years, price increases and material shortages, including due to tariffs, have tested many businesses. Thanks to his company’s strong supplier relationships and large buying power, CMK has been able to control costs better than many of its competitors.
The company also stays ahead by actively participating in industry conferences and staying current with the latest technologies. One example is CMK’s use of Schluter Shower Systems behind bathroom tiles, which offer a lifetime warranty. The Schluter System is a fully bonded, watertight assembly for tiled showers, consisting of water proof membranes, drains and components like shower trays and sealing strips. It works by creating a complete barrier that prevents moisture from penetrating the shower structure, thus preventing leaks, efflorescence and mold growth.
In addition to the Schluter Systems, CMK also uses high-end tiles quality fixtures and other products chosen not just for their beauty, but for their long-lasting performance.
“Very few companies put the quality into projects that we do,” Manny says.
With about 65 employees, plus independent contractors, CMK believes in fostering a work-
place where people can grow. Many employees have moved up through the ranks. Promoting from within is a core part of the company’s culture. “You have to take care of people, is the philosophy I was taught by my dad,” says Manny. It’s a philosophy that has helped CMK maintain a loyal and motivated workforce, another key ingredient in its long-term success.
Manny recalls going to construction sites with his dad, who was a painting contractor.
“It was on those job sites that I learned my father’s philosophy — and where I fell in love with the construction industry.”
Roofing, Too!
CMK Construction very recently added full roof replacements, offering homeowners top-quality roofing solutions. Manny says the company is using GAF architectural shingles, which come backed by an impressive 50-year warranty, providing long-term protection and peace of mind. After the initial consultation, the client can go to the showroom where they can explore available shingle options and find the right fit for their home. This new service aligns with CMK’s reputation for excellence and ensures homeowners receive durable, high-
Manny says that he and Courtney aren’t focused on profits or accolades. Instead, he talks about the moments that matter most — like standing at the company’s annual holiday party and hearing how the team collectively completed more than 500 projects in a single year.
“That’s 500 plumbing jobs, 500 electrical jobs, 500 deliveries,” he says proudly. “And the team always wants to do better and better.”
For homeowners considering a remodel, Manny’s advice is simple but crucial:
“Research every company’s longevity and check what products they use.” He warns that while cheaper contractors may offer more attractive pricing, the cost of poor materials and disappearing companies often catches up later.
Courtney and Manny also are about giving back. CMK participates in local programs such as WFTS-TV/ABC Action News’ “If You Give a Child a Book” initiative and annual Toys for Tots drives. And, when hurricanes strike the
residents, offering water mitigation services and helping to minimize damage quickly.
“Sometimes people just need guidance,” says Manny. “Whether it’s answering questions or helping with emergency repairs, CMK will support the community during difficult times.”
Currently, CMK Construction is offering $2,000 off any bathroom remodel and $3,000 off any kitchen remodel, as well as 12 months of same-as-cash financing. For roof replacements, receive 50% off on labor or no money down and no-interest financing. These offers change from time to time, so visit the company’s website (see below) or call for current promotions.
For more information, call CMK Construction at (813) 544-8836 (for kitchens & bathrooms) or (813) 531-7734 (for roofs), visit the showroom at 13329 W. Hillsborough Ave., or CMKConstructionInc.com. Or, see the ads on pgs. 37 (for roofing) & 41 (for kitchens & bathrooms) of this issue.
Congratulations To The Top Seniors At Every Wesley Chapel High School!
By Celeste McLaughlin Neighborhood News Correspondent
Congratulations to the graduating classes of 2025! For those in our community graduating from college, high school, or even kindergarten or preschool, it’s an exciting time to look forward and chase your dreams. At Wesley Chapel’s four public high schools, hundreds of students are anticipating tossing their caps and moving on to the next phase of life, whether it’s further education or starting their careers. This includes the first-ever graduating class at the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, which opened for the 2022-23 school year with just freshman and sophomores. We salute these top students at each of our Wesley Chapel public high schools and say congratulations to you and all of the graduates!
Cypress Creek High
1. Anastasia Herzek
GPA: 4.7143
Clubs/Activities: National Honor Society (NHS), American Sign Language Honor Society, National Science Honor Society, Clemson Summer Scholars, Game Master at Arcanum Escape Room College planning to attend: University of Florida
Planned major or future career: Chemistry
Best thing about high school: Making connections with friends and staff at Cypress Creek.
GPA: 4.7000
Clubs/Activities: Science National Honor Society, NHS, Custodial Service with Robotics team, Volunteer at pharmacy, Work at Kohls & Publix College planning to attend: University of Central Florida
Planned major or future career: Mechanical Engineering
Best thing about high school: Being able to see my friends!
GPA: 4.6780
Clubs/Activities: NHS, McDonald’s, Raising Cane’s, Martial Arts (black belt), Model UN, Crochet Club, National Merit Scholarship Finalist College planning to attend: University of North Florida
Planned major or future career: Marine Biology
Best thing about high school: Being done!
4. Keira Lefebvre
5. Marisa Morales
GPA: 4.6275
Clubs/Activities: Volunteered at Pasco County Animal shelter, Volunteer at Pasco Schools, Clemson summer scholar, NHS, NSHS, HOSA College planning to attend: University of Florida
Planned major or future career: Biochemistry Best thing about high school: My friends
6. Cristina Dima
GPA: 4.6885
Clubs/Activities: Track, Cross Country, NHS, Science National Honor Society, Volunteer at AdventHealth, Insurance Marketing Associate, Crochet Club, Chick-Fil-A Leadership Academy
College planning to attend: University of Florida
Planned major or future career: Chemistry
Best thing about high school: Hanging out with my friends.
Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation
1. Diana Bisekeeva
GPA: 4.6146
Clubs/Activities: Author & illustrator of a children’s book, Elem. school volunteer at library, Bioengineering research program (Clemson Summer Scholars), NHS, HOSA, Hillsborough State Park Halloween Event Volunteer
College planning to Attend: Univ. of Florida
Planned major or future career: Biological Sci. Best thing about high school: My friends
7. Hannah Hershey
GPA: 4.6019
Clubs/Activities: Student Government, Treasurer of Spirit Club, Chick-Fil-A Leadership Academy, National Honor Society, Volleyball, Job at Chicken Salad Chick & Pack Leader College planning to attend: Univ. of Central Florida
Planned major or future career: Accounting
Best thing about high school: Meeting new people and making connections.
8. Diana Le
GPA: 4.5673
Clubs/Activities: Lady Coyote Engineering, Vietnamese language tutor, part-time retail job College planning to attend: University of Florida
Planned major or future career: Accounting Best thing about high school: The community.
9. Camryn Paradise
GPA: 4.5600
Clubs/Activities: NHS, National English Honor Society, spirit club, Science NHS, Spanish NHS, Club volleyball, Volleyball College planning to attend: Clemson University
Planned major or future career: Business; minor in Biology
Best thing about high school: Being involved with clubs and organizations and putting events together especially (my favorite) pep rallies!
10. Jacob Sheldon
GPA: 4.5510
Clubs/Activities: National English Honor Society, Book Club, Art Club, Reading/Writing, Poetry, Volleyball, Soccer, Basketball, Weightlifting College planning to attend: University of Central Florida
Planned major or future career: Neuroscience
Best thing about high school: The unique personalities and people that I got to know over the years. My friends mean so much to me.
GPA: 4.59
Clubs/Activities: GPS Robotics (VEX & FIRST Team), Founder & Pres. of ResuPrep, Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer, GPS Connect Outreach Founder & Pres., R:ED Robotics Education Software Engineer Intern, Mediacube UI/UX Designer Intern, The TCK Times Founder & Editor-in-Chief, NHS President, Science NHS, Women of Tomorrow, Math Peer Tutor, Varsity Tennis College planning to attend: Univ. of Florida
Planned major or future career: Industrial & Systems Engineering
Best thing about high school: The connections you build with your peers.
2. Sarah Streeter
GPA: 4.34
Clubs/Activities: Editorin-Chief of yearbook, Officer of FFA, SGA representative, Dual Enrollment Student College planning to attend: Georgia State University
Planned major or future career: Neurology (pre-med)
Best thing about high school: The opportunity to connect with your peers and enjoy your youth together in one place.
3. Nolan Correa
GPA: 4.46
Clubs/Activities: Volunteer at Star Academy College planning to attend: Pasco Hernando State College Planned major or future career: Radiology
Best thing about high school: The overall freedom that you have.
4. Rudra Patel
GPA: 4.40
Clubs/Activities: Chess Club, math tutor, Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation News College planning to attend: Florida Polytechnic University Planned major or future career: Computer or Cybersecurity Engineering
Best thing about high school: The people you meet.
5. Giovanni Ventilato
GPA: 4.40
Clubs/Activities: Health & Fitness Club, Church activities College planning to attend: University of South Florida Planned major or future career: Aerospace engineering
Best thing about high school: Having a good amount of freedom.
6. Donovan Arteaga
7. Alexi Sanchez
GPA: 4.49
Clubs/Activities: NHS, Volunteer at Marine Corps League & Special Olympics, initiated a program to promote oral health to underprivileged children, participated in World Stride Educational Travel-STEM & Cultural Immersion program, dual enrollment student at Pasco Hernando State College, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society College planning to attend: Univ. of Florida Planned major or future career: Biology (pre-med) Best thing about high school: Hanging out with friends.
8. Jansen Warren
GPA: 4.34
Clubs/Activities: Volunteering at Kirkland Ranch K-8 College planning to attend: Pasco Hernando State College Planned major or future career: Computer Science
Best thing about high school: Spending time with friends.
9. Camden Chase
GPA: 4.42
Clubs/Activities: Soccer, Student Government Vice President, NHS Officer, Health and Fitness Club Member, Dual Enrollment Student College planning to attend: University of Florida Planned major or future career: Finance Best thing about high school: Figuring out what you want to do in the future.
10. Emersyn Mullis
GPA: 4.46
Clubs/Activities: Dual Enrollment student, Employed student College planning to attend: Pasco Hernando State College Planned major or future career: Business Best thing about high school: The ability to branch off and learn more about yourself.
11. Dalyn Brown
GPA: 4.54
Clubs/Activities: Dual Enrollment Student at Pasco Hernando State College, earned Associate of Arts, Track & Field Athlete, Volunteer: AdventHealth, Employed Student, National Future Medical Leaders Conference, National Society of High Scholars College planning to attend: Univ. of Florida Planned major or future career: Pre-Med/ Biomedical Sciences
GPA: 4.55
Clubs/Activities: National Honor Society member, Flower power club member College planning to attend: University of South Florida Planned major or future career: Chemical engineering
Best thing about high school: The friends you make and the people you meet.
Best thing about high school: The friendships and company you keep, along with the memories you make, define your journey through these four years.
12. Alessa Gonzalez
GPA: 4.42
Clubs/Activities: Dual Enrollment Student, Tennis, Soccer, Johns Hopkins Summer Program Participant, Pepin Family USF Summer Nursing Pathway Program, HERricane Summer
2. Daniel Garcia
3. Nico Gust
‘Graduating Seniors’
Wesley Chapel High School
1.Sean Donahue, Valedictorian GPA: 4.7213
Clubs/Activities: Eagle Scout, Debate Club Co-founder, IPPF Policy Debate, Lacrosse, SAT & Elementary Tutor, NHS Vice President, AP Capstone Diploma
College planning to attend: Yale University
Planned major or future career: Computer Sci. Best thing about high school: Away games with the lacrosse team
2. Pierre-Etienne Boisvert, Salutatorian GPA: 4.71
Clubs/Activities: Taught myself how to program and make video games, AP Capstone Diploma College planning to attend: Univ. of Florida
Planned major or future career: Physics
Best thing about high school: How much I was able to test my own skills and limits, pushing myself further and further every day to accomplish goals.
3.Luanna Mineiro De Souza GPA: 4.68
Clubs/Activities: Associate of Arts degree at PHSC through Dual Enrollment College planning to attend: Pasco Hernando State College’s Nursing Program
Planned major/future career: Nurse Anesthetist Best thing about high school: Going to volleyball and football games with my friends and enjoying the school spirit!
4. Filipp Ramsey
GPA: 4.67
Clubs/Activities: Programming/Game development, AP Capstone Diploma College planning to attend: USF
Planned major or future career: Computer sci. Best thing about high school: Opportunity to learn alongside some of the smartest and hardestworking students I have met.
5. Caique Santos-Silva
GPA: 4.65
Clubs/Activities: VP of WCHS Business & Finance Club, Secretary of NHS, Secretary of Science NHS, FCA Member, Varsity Lacrosse, AP Capstone Diploma, Associate of Arts degree at PHSC through Dual Enrollment College planning to attend: University of Florida Honors
Planned major or future career: Business Administration or Accounting
Best thing about high school: Meeting all my friends and the staff. I continuously grew as a person, and so did those around me. I found people who pushed me to improve and held me accountable in all the things I do. I doubt that I would be who I am now without all those who kept me laughing, smiling and working hard.
6. Maya Almodovar
GPA: 4.63
Clubs/Activities: Dance teacher, tutor, receptionist, barista, Rho Kappa (president), NEHS (vice president) & NEHS (member), Earned my Associate of Arts degree at PHSC through Dual Enrollment
College planning to attend: University of Florida
Planned major or future career: Civil Rights Lawyer
Best thing about high school: Having the opportunity to attend USF my senior year.
7. Nikki Watson
GPA: 4.62
Clubs/Activities: Golf (First Tee team and players club), Band, including marching band as drum major and playing flute, wind ensemble playing flute and piccolo, and concert band playing trumpet, NHS, Associate of Arts degree at PHSC through Dual Enrollment
College planning to attend: Univ. of Florida
Planned major or future career: Biology with a specialization in Biotechnology
Best thing about high school: Finding a ‘family’ in the band and also finding who I really am through all of my experiences. Making it as drum major in my senior year, and making friends with everyone. Everyone is growing in life just like you, so you can always find people that you connect with.
8. Ming Yang
GPA: 4.62
Clubs/Activities: Clean Earth Club, National Honors Society, Tennis AP Capstone Diploma
College planning to attend: University of Pennsylvania or Brown University
Planned major or future career: Physics
Best Thing About High School: The amazing people I met, both peers and teachers, that made school enjoyable.
9.Erin McDermott
GPA: 4.608
Clubs/Activities: Club Gymnastics, NHS, Wesley Chapel Dance Program, AP Capstone Diploma, Anne Frank Humanitarian Award
College planning to attend: United States Air Force Academy
Planned major or future career: Biology/PreHealth Professions. I plan to become a Flight Surgeon. Best thing about high school: Meeting all of my best friends.
10.Luiza Guryeva
GPA: UW: 3.98/ W: 4.56
Clubs/Activities: ResuPrep Startup Founder & CEO, Florida Founder & Executive of Active Hearts Association, GPS Robotics Business Lead for FIRST Competition, author of Comparative Case Study on Immigrant Entrepreneurship, Market Research Website & Analysis Report Creator, Founder and President of Business & Finance Club, Team Leader & Strategy Coordinator for Wharton Global Investment Competition, Calaton Systems Business Development Manager Trainee, Varsity Tennis, AP Capstone Diploma
College planning to attend: Georgetown University
Planned major or future career: Finance
Best thing about high school: Hospital visits with the Active Hearts Association club.
Wiregrass Ranch High School
1. Austin McCallister, Valedictorian GPA: 4.75
Clubs/Activities: Science Olympiad College planning to attend: Georgia Institute of Technology
Planned major or future career: Computer Engineering
Best thing about high school: Mr. Cuviello’s and Mr. Cordero’s science labs.
2. Nicholas Kovacs, Salutatorian GPA: 4.7302
Clubs/Activities: Studying, focusing on academics College planning to attend: USF
Planned major or future career: Mechanical Engineering
Best thing about high school: Meeting people. If I hadn’t attended high school, I wouldn’t have met all these other bright students. I am hoping we can all stay in contact.
3. Ian Kim
GPA: 4.69
Clubs/Activities: Science Fair, Science Olympiad, Orchestra, Mu Alpha Theta, FBLA, Tri-M, Science National Honor Society College planning to attend: California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
Planned major or future career: Electrical Engineering
Best thing about high school: Hanging out with friends and Mr. Cordero in AP Physics every day.
4. Daniel Cheng GPA: 4.6897
Clubs/Activities: Future Business Leaders of America, Cybersecurity Club, Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, Students Against Destructive Decisions, Piano, Volunteer at MD Oriental Market College Planning to Attend: Univ. of Florida
Planned major or future career: Computer Science or Computer Engineering
Best Thing about High School: Collecting memories, not just homework.
5. Vishnu Araveeti
GPA: 4.6639
Clubs/Activities: FBLA, Science Olympiad; I also ran a commerce business.
College planning to attend: Univ. of Florida
Planned major or future career: Data science/ Computer Science
Best thing about high school: Having great teachers to learn from and creating many friends.
6. Aubrey McKeon
GPA: 4.6591
Clubs/Activities: Tutored for math & science honors societies, leadership in music honors society, 9 years of choir, FMEA’s All-State Chorus, member of the Science Olympiad team
College planning to attend: University of Central Florida
Planned major or future career: Aerospace Engineering
Best thing about high school: Friends and relationships you create along the way.
7. Rohit Naras
GPA: 4.6604
Clubs/Activities: FBLA, Science Olympiad, Varsity Tennis, Research
College planning to attend: Georgia Institute of Technology
Planned major or future career: Computer engineering, hopes to start my own tech company Best thing about high school: Having genuine fun with my friends inside & outside of the classroom.
8. Darren Lin
GPA: 4.6346
Clubs/Activities: Mu Alpha Theta, Key Club, FBLA, Asian Association &Allies, Amnesty Int’l. College planning to attend: Univ. of Florida
Planned major or future career: Mechanical Engineering
Best thing about high school: It’s a great place to meet good people who share your values
9. Vera Zheng
GPA: 4.6296
Clubs/Activities: Mu Alpha Theta, Key Club, FBLA, Asian Association & Allies, Amnesty Int’l. College planning to attend: Univ. of Florida Planned major or future career: Computer Science
Best thing about high school: Getting to find new friends and hanging out with them.
10. Krish Patel
GPA: 4.6207
Clubs/Activities: SHNS tutoring, FBLA, HOSA & Key Club, Passion project to showcase the benefits of vegetarianism for the body & the environment, helped coordinate the first-ever fire ritual for youths to honor the largest Hindu temple outside of India.
College planning to attend: University of Florida
Planned major or future career: Microbiology and Cell Science (Medical Career) Best thing about high school: All the friends and memories that you can make before heading to college.
Wesley Chapel High’s Top-10 Graduating Seniors are (l.-r.) Caique Santos-Silva, Sean Donahue, Luiza Guryeva, Maya Almodovar, Pierre-Etienne Boisvert, Erin McDermott, Filipp Ramsey, Nikki Watson and Ming Yang. Not pictured here: Luanna Mineiro De Souza. (Group photo provided by Wesley Chapel High)
Wiregrass Ranch High’s High’s Top-16 Graduating Seniors are (l.-r.) L to R: Vedanti Patel, Sydney Ficks, Nicholas Kovacs, Vishnu Araveeti, Daniel Cheng, Rohit Naras, Tristan Pasquale, Ian Kim, Austin McCallister, Jack Flanary, Aubrey McKeon, Nicollette Watson, Brenden Brewer, Vera Zheng, Darren Lin & Hunter Paladio. (Group photo provided by Wiregrass Ranch
GEICO Wesley Chapel — Where You Can ‘Shop Local’ For Insurance!
By Celeste McLaughlin Neighborhood News Correspondent
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 know 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 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 differ-
ent 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 it’s 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 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 Wesley Chapel/New Tampa 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 con-
The friendly staff at the GEICO local office on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in Wesley Chapel can help you with many types of insurance without having to call a 1-800 number. (Photos by Charmaine George)
Decorating Den Interiors Brings Experience & Expertise To Your Home
By Celeste McLaughlin Neighborhood News Correspondent
For 10 years, Sara Nelson and Debbie Demboski have used their unique skills and expertise together to create beautiful spaces for their Decorating Den Interiors clients in New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, and surrounding areas.
Debbie has owned the franchise since 1990, serving local clients for 35 years. Over the past decade, however, Sara has pursued professional certifications and training that have elevated the team’s ability to help a variety of homeown ers update their furniture, lighting, window treatments, bedding, artwork, or flooring. Their service can breathe new life into everything from a single room or office to an entire home.
Thanks to Sara’s pursuit of ongoing educa tion, she has now earned the company’s highest design professional certification — as a Decorat ing Den Certified Designer — joining only 25 other active franchisees who have earned this certification, which includes significant course work and exams.
“Things are always evolving, so it’s always a learning process,” Sara says. “I take classes every time they’re offered. You can never have enough knowledge, and I like to do it all.”
Established in 1969, Decorating Den Interiors today has nearly 300 franchises across the U.S. and Canada. Debbie serves as Regional Director for the 13 franchises in Central Florida, from St. Pete to Melbourne. In 35 years with the company, Debbie has earned awards such as the Lifetime Century Society, President’s Club Sales Award, Franchise of the Year, Positive Thinker, and Region of the Year. She says her region is consistently in the top five in the country.
“The good news is we can do anything from high-end to budget friendly, with every type of vendor, and every type of idea,” says Debbie, “and work around anyone’s budget.”
The process starts with a free, no-obligation, in-home consultation, where Sara or Debbie will bring their design studio to you. They each travel in a Decorating Den van filled with thousands of design samples — wallpaper books, color swatches, fabrics, blinds and sample designs from other successful projects, such as the two rooms shown on these pages.
There are no hourly fees – which Sara says would add up quickly, due to the amount of time it takes to find specific pieces for people’s homes. Instead, the cost of working with them is
built into the design budget. With the backing of Decorating Den, Sara and Debbie purchase items at a deep discount, allowing them to sell them to clients at a reasonable cost. They say this is the biggest benefit of working with Decorating Den.
Client Kay Morgan agrees. After she retired in 2019 and moved into a home in Arbor Greene with her husband Ron, Kay began interviewing several decorators in 2021 before undertaking a complete overhaul of their home — and she chose Decorating Den.
“With Decorating Den, you have a corporation standing behind your investment,” Kay says. “If you’re working with independent contractors and they go bankrupt, you’re out of your money.”
“It was now post-Covid,” Kay explains, “and I wanted to get the whole house the way we wanted it so we could just enjoy it.”
She says they did a lot of remodeling, and that Debbie and Sara handled dealing with all of the contractors, taking that burden off of her. While they were thrilled with the entire remodel, Kay says that it was the personal touches that remain remarkable to her.
“I have an eight-year-old grandson who adores Debbie,” Kay explains. “She redid his room with a camping theme that he loves, complete with pillows that look like sections of a tree trunk and campfires. When she suggested a picture over the bed, he was afraid it might fall
down, so she found stickers instead and let him help her put them up.”
Kay says she continues to work with Debbie on everything from small touches — like when that same grandson suggested the house needed more Christmas pillows — to renovations that included an outdoor kitchen.
“Her creativity amazes me,” Kay says. “You can tell her what you want to keep and she’ll work around it. She never criticizes you or encourages you to get rid of something so that she can sell you something else.”
Debbie and Sara agree, however, that it’s actually rare for someone to call them to decorate a whole house.
“More often, they ask us to help with one piece — such as updating furniture — but then one thing leads to another and we refresh the whole room,” Debbie explains.
While Debbie still works with many clients, her time these days is divided between local decorating, running the entire Central Florida Region of Decorating Den franchises, and slowing down to enjoy travel and more personal time.
Debbie says that’s no problem now, since Sara is serving both new and long-time clients with such excellence.
“For me,” she says, “the greatest compliment is when Sara works with a past client and they tell me how great she is.”
That’s the case with Sheila and Joe Mer-
chant, who first hired Decorating Den about 10 years ago, working with Debbie and then working with Sara, too.
“Their work is top notch,” Sheila says. “They’re absolutely the best in town and I wouldn’t go anywhere else. At this point, Sara has done every room in our house.”
Sheila says their home needed to be refreshed after living in it for more than 15 years, so Sara updated their drapes, curtains and shades, recovered furniture, and even had special custom bed spreads made.
“They listen to what you want,” Sheila explains. “They got us out of our rut and made us think out of the box a bit.”
Three Generations
Debbie earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Fashion Merchandising and Business from West Virginia University (WVU) in Morgantown in 1976, and worked for several retail companies, including Montgomery Ward, before starting the local Decorating Den franchise in 1990.
When Sara joined the company in 2014, the business became a three-generation affair.
That’s because Sara is not only Debbie’s daughter, but their office manager, Phyllis, is Debbie’s mom and Sara’s grandma.
The 94-year-old has been an essential part of the business since Debbie launched the company — when Sara was just a baby — and seems
If this living room (above left) isn’t exactly what you’d choose for your home, the mother-&-daughter team of Debbie Demboski (seated) and Sara Nelson can create any (All photos on these pages provided by Decorating Den Interiors)
Palms Pharmacy — The Independent Neighborhood Pharmacy That’s Here To Stay
By Celeste McLaughlin Neighborhood News Correspondent
On a recent Friday evening, Shahida Choudhry, Pharm.D., threw a party, complete with goodie bags and free ice cream (provided by the Ice Dreammm Shop in Wesley Chapel), to celebrate the nine years since she first opened (in 2016) Palms Pharmacy in The Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms.
The annual event is a way for Dr. Choudhry and her staff to mark the impact they have on Tampa Palms, New Tampa and the surrounding areas (including Wesley Chapel) by offering an alternative to big box stores and corporate chains.
“When you walk through the door, we greet you,” Dr. Choudhry says. “When you call the pharmacy, someone picks up the phone.”
Grace Dimalanta followed her to Palms Pharmacy from a local Publix, where Dr. Choudhry had previously served as the pharmacist for ten years.
“Everyone is so personable and friendly at Palms Pharmacy,” Grace says. “It’s a different feel than anywhere else. They’re like family. When I leave, they’re calling out, ‘Bye, Grace, see you later! Have a good day!’”
From its much more humble beginnings, the staff — and the amount of space it occupies in the plaza — has grown to a total of 16 people, including four pharmacists, three interns, plus six others who work in roles such as pharmacy technicians and support staff. They are all committed to providing a personal experience
and truly care about their patients, with that bar being set high by Dr. Choudhry herself.
“I’ve been her customer for a long time,” Grace says. “She knows me so well. She’s even called my doctor to say a medicine that I was prescribed wasn’t good for me.”
The large staff stays busy shipping orders throughout the whole state of Florida, offering next day delivery on prescriptions, compounded medications, specialty products and supplements.
The pharmacy’s shelves are stocked with over-the-counter medications and high-quality
supplements, including private label supplements made specifically for Palms Pharmacy.
Dr. Choudhry says that a popular supplement, especially among those with ADHD, is a magnesium blend called Palms NeuroFocus.
Other Palms Pharmacy supplements include a daily multi-vitamin and iron.
And, she says, a new private label is coming soon, called Thrive Plus by Palms Pharmacy.
“I’ve converted many of my favorite supplements to gummies,” Dr. Choudhry says. “We want to provide top-quality products to be cost
effective so people can afford them.” She adds that she has found that she can produce some supplements locally to reduce the cost for her customers.
This includes magnesium glycinate to help with sleep and nighttime carb cravings, a probiotic gummy, a creatine gummy, a greens gummy and NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) capsules, which are known as the “fountain of youth” and help with energy and visible signs of aging.
“These [Thrive Plus] supplements had to go through FDA (U.S. Food & Drug Administration) clearance and are being produced in a facility in Tampa,” Dr. Choudhry explains. “They will be on our shelves by the end of June.”
The best part about purchasing supplements from Palms Pharmacy is having access to experts who can explain them and help you get the best products for you. Whether you come in the store and talk with the pharmacist, or call and speak with someone on the phone, they are always happy to answer all of your questions.
Supplements also can be purchased online at Shop.ThePalmsPharmacy.com.
In addition to vitamins and supplements, Palms Pharmacy carries a variety of unique gift items, skin care products, and sweets and snacks.
The Latest & Greatest Skin Care
“Korean skin care currently is our biggest thing,” Dr. Choudhry says, adding that, unlike some other stores, “Everything we have is under $15, including rice oil, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, vitamin D and retinoids.”
Doctor of Pharmacy Shahida Choudhry (left) and Angie Pares, Palms Pharmacy’s director of operations, celebrated the local independent pharmacy’s ninth anniversary in The Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms on Apr. 11. (All photos on these pages by Charmaine George)
coming into the store to see what’s new.
“There’s so much unique stuff,” Grace says, “like little soaps. I also buy supplements like vitamin D and calcium pills.”
Grace says she doesn’t know anything about the quality of supplements, but her daughter-in-law, who does, pointed out that the brand she bought from Palms Pharmacy is a good one that doesn’t use fillers like a lot of companies do.
“That makes me feel great because I know the store is stocked with stuff that’s good for you,” Grace says.
She also appreciates that she can get vaccines at Palms Pharmacy, such as the flu shot.
“I just make an appointment and it’s a nice experience,” Grace says. “I’m always happy to go there.”
And, Dr. Choudhry says, when you shop at Palms Pharmacy, you’re supporting a small business where the money you spend actually stays
you support your local people and your money goes into the local economy,” Dr. Choudhry says. “While other pharmacies are sold to private equity firms or are closing locations, we’re here to help and give back.”
In addition to caring for the store’s customers, the staff schedules team-building events every quarter, and often pair their days together with opportunities to serve the community, such as a recent beach cleanup.
Dr. Choudhry, who earned both her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degrees from Long Island University in Brooklyn, NY, was recently named the 2024 Independent Pharmacist of the Year by Pharmacist Moms, a national professional organization of more than 35,000 women pharmacists.
Palms Pharmacy also has been nominated for the 2025 Health Mart Pharmacy of the Year. There are more than 5,000 independent and
locally owned neighborhood pharmacies allied together under the Health Mart banner. To win the award, which will be announced in June, the pharmacy has to have best-in-class clinical practices, be a community leader and exhibit excellent financial performance.
“We enjoy what we do and really appreci ate our customers,” Dr. Choudhry says. “We know you can go anywhere, so if you’re willing to park your car and come through our doors, we’re going to try to do a little bit extra to make you feel welcome.”
Palms Pharmacy is located at 17008 Palm Pointe Dr. and is open Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. You can call the store at (813) 252-9063 or text the secure text-only line at (727)513-3210. For more info, see the ad on page 41 or visit ThePalmsPharmacy.com.
Accounting & Consulting Services
Outsource Your Small Business Bookkeeping Needs Today! Let our QuickBooks® Online experts balance your books, Giving you piece of mind to focus on what you love — Growing Your Business!
Call Donna Ray at 813.391.6980 or Email Donna@themiddleplace.com today! www.TheMiddlePlace.com
Worry-Free Property Management
impact for them.”
Then, an installer will come out to take precise measurements, before everything is custom built for you. Brian says that, typically, it takes about 6-8 weeks for the drawers and organizers to be built. Then, everything is installed in one day.
And, all work done by Art of Drawers comes with a lifetime warranty.
“We hardly ever have repairs,” Brian says. “We use high-end products and high-end rails, so when we do have repairs, they’re typically that a screw came loose or debris got into a rail slider. In nearly every case, the installer comes out and tightens or cleans something up, and that’s all that’s needed. We stand behind the quality of our products and installation.”
He says Art of Drawers can be especially
helpful for anyone who is looking to make their existing kitchen more functional if it becomes more challenging for people to bend down or lift heavy things, due to aging or other factors.
He says Art of Drawers is continually innovating, coming up with new products and constantly testing to make kitchens more func tional and accessible.
“We are always looking for new ways to deal with the lost, dead space no one can figure out what to do with,” he says. “We have multi ple pull-outs to provide access to those dreaded blind corners.”
For example, he says, a popular solution is a drawer that pulls out of the main cabinet, and other drawers that then slide over into the main cabinet.
“It’s been really exciting to see the demand for our solutions,” Brian says. “We work with people who have been in their homes for 20 years and are looking for an upgrade, and we also work with people who are moving into new construction and are looking for a higher-end finish out of their kitchen.”
A custom-built Art of Drawers system can transform the most frustrating space in your home into something much more convenient and useful. (Photos provided by Art of Drawers).
Drawers did a great job with the makeover of our existing cabinets! Everything is now way more functional and convenient! We waited far too long to get this done! The best part is that it is designed around the way we use our kitchen. I highly recommend them.”
Matt Dzierbun gave Art of Drawers a fivestar (out of five) rating on Google, saying he highly recommends the company and that the team is “very professional and creative in making any kitchen more functional and organized.”
Najja Banks also gave Art of Drawers a five-star Google rating (the company’s overall rating is 4.9 out of 5 stars). Najja said, “Art of
Right now, Art of Drawers is offering FREE installation for any jobs that have a signed agreement by June 30, which will generally save customers about 20 percent of the total price. To get started with a free in-home estimate, fill out the online form at ArtofDrawers.com or call (813) 548-6866. For more information, see the ad on page 44.
More Than Law: The Heart & Humanity Behind Compton & Smith, P.A
By Iris Vitelli Neighborhood News Correspondent
At first glance, Compton & Smith, P.A. may appear to be just a small, local law firm tucked in the New Tampa Professional Park (on Regents Park Dr., off Bruce B. Downs Blvd.,) in Pebble Creek. But, for the clients who have leaned on them during their most trying times — and for the community they serve — the firm is so much more. It’s a family, a lifeline and a place where compassion meets competence.
Founded by attorneys RaeAnn Compton and Todd Smith, the firm of Compton & Smith has become a pillar of the New Tampa and Wes ley Chapel legal community over the past eight years. What started as a professional rivalry between two strong-willed legal minds turned into a lasting partnership — built not only on mutual respect but on shared values, complementary skills and a deep commitment to their clients.
esty, compassion and strategic legal insight.
“We used to face off in court all the time,” Todd recalls with a smile. “Eventually, we got tired of roughing each other up and decided to sit down for lunch. That’s when we realized how well we’d work together.”
Both attorneys bring decades of experience to the table — along with deep roots in the local area. RaeAnn, who grew up in Dade City, earned her B.S. degree in political science from St. Leo University and her Juris Doctor (J.D., or Law) degree from Stetson University College of Law in DeLand. She passed the Florida Bar in 2000. After three years as an assistant state attorney, RaeAnn opened her private practice in Pebble Creek, where she’s been ever since.
Todd’s path started in Jacksonville, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) degree in History from the University of North Florida and his J.D. degree from the Florida Coastal School of Law, also in Jacksonville. He passed the Bar in 2001. Like RaeAnn, he began his career as an assistant state attorney before branching into private practice and, eventually, to partnering with RaeAnn.
While Compton & Smith, P.A. offers legal services in a few key areas, RaeAnn says the largest portion of the firm’s caseload is focused on family law — guiding people through deeply personal challenges such as divorce, custody battles and child support disputes. These clients, who come to them during some of the most emotional times in their lives, are met with hon-
Still, the partners’ expertise extends beyond just family law. They also handle select cases in criminal defense and personal injury, offering the same level of dedication and professionalism.
Practice Areas:
•Family Law: Divorce, Custody, Visitation, Child Support, Modifications, Paternity
•Criminal Law: Misdemeanors, Felonies & DUIs
•Personal Injury: Auto Accidents
RaeAnn and Todd’s commitment to serving the community with integrity and personal attention has earned them a loyal following and a strong reputation, not only among clients, but also among their peers.
Their personal ties to the community make their work all the more meaningful.
This isn’t just where we work,” RaeAnn says. “It’s where we live, where we raised our families and where we’re deeply invested.”
RaeAnn has lived in Wesley Chapel since 2007 with her husband Jeff and their two children, Jessica and Hunter.
Todd, who lives in Dade City with his wife Lisa, also emphasizes their local connection.
“We’ve both lived in the area for years,” he says. “RaeAnn was from Dade City and is now in Wesley Chapel and I was from Wesley Chapel and am now in Dade City. We have deep roots in the area and care about what happens to the families around us — because our families are among them.”
One of the firm’s greatest strengths is its
team-oriented culture. While some firms operate with strict individual caseloads, Compton & Smith handles things differently.
“Todd and I work on almost every case together,” RaeAnn explains. “Clients might meet with one of us at first, but behind the scenes, we’re both looking at everything. We challenge each other, play devil’s advocate and walk into court with multiple perspectives.”
This collaborative model means clients benefit from the combined expertise of both attorneys — and the steady support of a dedicated team, which includes RaeAnn’s daughter and paralegal Jessica Compton, who plays an essential role in the firm’s success. “Jessica is really the
backbone of our office,” says RaeAnn proudly. “She’s been with us for 15 years, and our clients adore her. She’ll take a call at 7 a.m. or answer an email on a Sunday if that’s what someone needs.”
Todd agrees: “Jessica has this incredible ability to ease a client’s anxiety. She’s savvy, compassionate and goes above and beyond every single day. She’s not just our paralegal — she’s our anchor.”
Although all areas of law require knowledge and expertise, when it comes to family law, the dynamic is very different.
“In family law, “ Todd says, “it’s not just about winning. It’s about helping people get to a better place. It’s a challenging and emotional area, one that requires both legal knowledge and emotional intelligence. It also requires thinking outside the box.”
That thoughtful approach was evident in a recent case where a contentious custody hearing was scheduled to proceed.
“We were able to talk with both sides, come to an agreement, and cancel the hearing,” says RaeAnn. “It avoided what could have been an emotionally draining day for everyone involved — especially the child.”
RaeAnn is known as a patient negotiator, someone who seeks common ground without compromising strength. “She has a way of finding solutions people can actually live with,” Todd says. It’s a philosophy grounded in the firm’s core values: empathy, diligence and transparency.
“We take this work personally,” RaeAnn says. “It’s not nine to five for us. We do whatever it
Pebble Creek. (Photos by Charmaine George)
takes to be there for our clients.”
Jenny, a current Compton & Smith client, says, “One of the things I love about them is that they don’t need to be microman aged. They are very good at taking care of things behind the scenes. In a terrible time of life, they have been the most supportive, still telling me how it is even when its not pretty. They treat you and take care of you like family.”
Compton & Smith also has embraced technology to better serve their clients. For example, since the pandemic, the use of Zoom for hearings and mediations has become a game-changer.
“Zoom has made things so much more efficient,” says Todd. “Before, you might spend half the day just traveling for one hearing. Now, we can do so much more in less time — and save our clients money in the process.”
Both attorneys continue to stay on top of changing laws, particularly in family law. “It’s constantly evolving, so we make sure to take continuing education courses every year,” says RaeAnn. “We owe it to our clients to stay informed.”
Beyond the courtroom, the firm supports a variety of community causes — from local children’s sports teams to domestic violence shelters and animal charities. “If someone’s raising money for a good cause, we try to be there,” RaeAnn says. “I’m a sucker for animals,” she adds with a laugh. “And we both have a soft spot for anything that helps kids.”
While some firms focus on scaling and expanding, Compton & Smith values consist-
thought about adding associates, but our biggest concern is whether someone would treat the cases with the same care we do. Both of our names are on the door, and that means everything.”
With most of their clients coming from word-of-mouth referrals — and even a few former opposing parties sending others their way — it’s clear that their reputation speaks for itself.
“We’re not here to churn through cases,” says Todd. “We’re here to help people. Sometimes that means finding the best legal argument, and sometimes it means just listening and being there.”
As RaeAnn puts it, “It’s never too late to hire a lawyer. No matter your situation, we’ll give you an honest assessment and help you stop the bleeding. That’s what we’re here for.”
Compton & Smith, P.A., is located at 8905 Regents Park Dr., Suite 210. To schedule a free consultation, call (813) 994-2026 or visit ComptonAndSmith.com. Or, see the ad on pg. 53 of this issue.
New Management Celebrates Its
The day I drove up to and found out that the Tutti Frutti Café in the KRATE at The Grove container park had closed (see story on pg. 44), a gentleman sitting in front of the nearby Café Zorba (5804 Grand Oro Ln. #102) told me that he and his friend sitting with him were now the new management team at Café Zorba, which previously was only a Greek/Mediterranean restaurant but now also is serving traditional Bosnian/Balkan food, in addition to the usual gyros, Greek salads, stuffed grape leaves (dolmades) and souvlakis (below left).
The two men — Fotios (he goes by Frank) Geivelis and Sabani Ferhatovic — invited me to attend the Grand Reopening of Café Zorba, which was held on May 3 and was going to feature an almost-40-lb. lamb roasted outside on a rotating spit grill (see photos on next page).
Well, as a true lamb lover who had never sampled Bosnian food before, I brought along photographer Charmaine George to sample and take pictures of some of Café Zorba’s new tradi tional Bosnian/Balkan cuisine.
We started with an order of cevapi — small sausages made of lamb and beef served with ajvar (red pepper sauce) inside a tasty flatbread. Cevapi is a popular Balkan street food that tasted a little like lamb-infused, well-grilled breakfast sausages.
We also saw Sabani’s wife Ferzeta Omerovic take the foil wrap off a pot of the most beau tiful-looking stuffed peppers (called punjene paprike; far right photo), so we asked her for a sample. Now, I honestly have never even liked stuffed peppers, but the mild red bell peppers were cooked to soft perfection and stuffed with ground beef, rice, tomato sauce and a variety of spices so
tasty that Charmaine and I were both hooked.
We also got a sample of Ferzeta’s Bosnian stuffed “sour” cabbage rolls known as sarma, which are fermented (pickled in some kind of vinegar base) cabbage leaves stuffed with ground meat (I forgot to ask if it was veal, lamb or beef), minced onion, beef stock and paprika. Sour is correct. Charmaine actually preferred the sarma to the punjene paprike.
I then returned alone four hours later to check out the roast lamb, which Sabani was busy getting properly spiced when Charmaine and I first arrived. He definitely loved cooking the lamb, as he was handing out freshly carved samples of the most tender, garlicky delicious sliced lamb I had ever tast ed — better than the lamb chops at most high-level restaurants! And, Ferzeta’s creamy tomato and
Our D’Oro Margarita with Monte Alban Reposado Tequila finished off with Gran Gala liqueur. Flavors: Strawberry, Mango, Raspberry & Passion Fruit.
Photos on this page by Gary Nager
Rudraksh Indian Cuisine Is Now Open In Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel!
Although Rita’s Italian Ice has been open for a few months now, the first full-service restaurant to open in Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel is Rudraksh (pronounced “Rude-rosh”) Indian Cuisine (4424 Friendly Way, Suite 115), which has really impressed me with its tasty, not overly spicy, different-than-other-local-Indian-places food.
First of all, while I didn’t leave room on these pages for photos of the restaurant, which primarily specializes in Northern Indian cuisine, the place is beautiful, bigger than it looks from the outside and has a spacious, elegant bar area with craft cocktails like a chai tea martini. There’s even a very solid Varchas bourbon-style Indian whiskey.
Rudraksh owners Amit Ghorpade and Manashi Boruah, who also own Rasoi Indian Cuisine in Ybor City, offer diners delicious, authentic food at very fair prices.
For starters, Jannah and I got to sample the first cheese naan bread (at left in top picture) ever served at Rudraksh. It was thicker than some naans we’ve had and the best compliment I can give it is that Jannah wanted me to bring more of it home when photog rapher Charmaine George and I went back for a second visit. The potato-&-green-pea-filled samosas (next to the naan) have a spicy kick. And, Charmaine says the Mumbai coastal-style fried Shrimp Koliwada (right) was excellent and not as spicy as she expected. Mine and Jannah’s favorite appetizer so far is the Lehsoni Gobi (far right)
— amazing crispy cauliflower with garlic sauce.
For you vegetarians, Rudraksh manager Dee, who isn’t from India, recommended we try the Malai Kofta (top of next page), which are chewy cheese-&-veggie dumplings in a creamy, light tomato-soup-like sauce. Good choice, Dee!
But of course, I couldn’t walk away from Rudraksh without sampling the perfectly spiced rack of lamb-style lamb chops (lower photo on next page), which are marinated in fresh ginger, yogurt and Masala and cooked in a clay Tandoori oven. So good. We’ll all definitely be back!
Rudraksh is open every day for lunch (at 11:30 a.m.) & dinner, but closes every day from 2:30 p.m.-5 p.m. For more info, call (813) 3553914 or visit RudrakshIndianCuisine.com.
We’re also excited that the Latin Tallo
Discover a sa nct ua ry in the hea rt of New T a mp a a nd emba rk on a journey to unwind, rejuvena te, a nd redefine your na tur a bea uty.
Mother's Day Baskets
Bigger ba sket, bigger sa vings! 20- 30% off.
• HYDRAFACIAL/FACIALS
• BOTOX, DYSPORT, XE OMIN
• FILLERS, THREADS, & PR PFILLERS
• MOR PHEUS 8, SECRET DUO
• AER OLASE, FO TONA
• BODY CONTOU RING
• OBAGI MEDICAL, ZO SKIN HEALTH
• LASER HA IR REMOVAL
Chef Michael Touranjoe Is Redefining The Grill At Morris Bridge’s Menu!
By Gary Nager
When someone like Frank Gouveia — the owner of The Grill at Morris Bridge, one of the most popular independent restaurants in New Tampa — tells you that he found a new chef he thinks is the “best I’ve had yet. Please come by and check him out!,” it’s almost impossible for someone like me to resist.
But, Frank is right. New Chef Michael Touranjoe (right) is bringing a unique creativity and panache to The Grill’s already impressive menu and he doesn’t plan to stop revamping and adding new menu items... basically ever!
“Once I create something new, I have a tendency to get bored repeating the same dishes all the time,” Chef Mike says. “I’m like, ‘I’ve done that. What’s next?’”
Still only in his 30s, Chef Mike still somehow has nearly 20 years of experience in the restaurant business. He has “worked everything from short-order to 3 Michelin star restaurants, Asian to Italian, and pizza to sushi to make myself well-rounded.”
He has been a sous chef under Chef/owner Jeannie Pierola at her Counter Culture and Edison: Food + Drank Lab restaurants in South Tampa, and an Executive Chef/trainer for Ameri can Cruise Lines.
“He walked in here to try the place,” Frank says, “and walked out as my new Head Chef!”
Among the new menu items he’s added to the regular and Bar Bites menus at The Grill include mushroom arancini (balls of crispy fried risotto topped with tomato mayo and sherry aioli); crispy grouper bites with a zesty Old Bay remoulade; pork Milanese (breaded and fried pork cutlet, topped with arugula, pickled red onions, tomatoes, shaved parmesan and grilled lemon); seared Florida grouper atop goat cheese and pea risotto and a confit of baby vegetables; plus homestyle meatloaf on a bed of cheddar whipped potatoes, haricot verts and topped with caramelized onion jus; and my current favorite — the baked rigatoni with spicy Italian sausage, sweet peas, creamy marinara, fresh mozzarella and haricot verts, button mushrooms, Marsala wine and thyme butter sauce atop mashed potatoes).
Chef Mike also is bringing a new energy to The Grill’s already-popular wine dinners. The event on Apr. 2 featured the pork loin roulade with sweet cornbread & spinach stuffing, corn basil cream and candied pecans shown in The Grill’s ad on pg. 53; as well as the mole marinated hangar steak with gorgonzola whipped potatoes, grilled asparagus, lemon zest and herb beurre blanc shown on the next page. The hangar steak had a nice exterior crusting and was super-tender and absolutely delectable. We rarely save room for dessert, but I loved the salted caramel cheesecake shown on the next page, too! We didn’t attend
friend and long-time Tampa Palms resident and The Grill regular Mike Wallace said was “Awesome”— among his new weekly Chef’s Specials.
The Wine Dinner We Did Attend! Jannah and I (and Jannah’s mom Carolyn) attended The Grill’s most recent wine dinner, which was held on Apr. 30 and featured a “reception” sparkling wine, plus three Wilson Daniels
and Craig Leslie, the North Florida area manager for Wilson Daniels, who described each of the wines as attendees sampled each course of the outstanding meal, first starting with a Bisol Jeio brut Prosecco “reception” wine, followed by a local Solena burrata with strawberries, assorted roasted beets (which I don’t usually like, but were quite tasty), rhubarb jam, crispy shallots and arugula, paired with a crisp Elena Watch Pinot
Photos by Charmaine George
Remington’s Steak & Seafood ‘Returns’ To The Palms Connection On Bearss
By Gary Nager
I have known Mark Birkin, the owner of Birkin’s Steak & Sushi restaurant on N. Florida Ave. in Lutz, for about 14 years — since he first opened PJ Dolan’s Irish Pub in the Palms Connection plaza on E. Bearss Ave. back in 2011.
Since then, Mark has changed the PJ Dolan’s name to The Wexford, but retained the Irish pub menu and feel. Before Mark bought it, PJ Dolan’s previously also was Remington’s Steakhouse, Cody’s Roadhouse and the Bullseye Saloon.
And, although Mark had some success with both PJ Dolan’s and The Wexford, neither matched the drawing power of the original Remington’s or even Cody’s.
But, Mark has had great success with Birkin’s, his upscale steak & sushi concept, and felt he could bring a more casual, popularly priced new steakhouse to just outside of New Tampa.
He did his research and found that the only active use of the Remington name — in honor of the renowned “Old West” artist Frederic Remington — were two Remington’s Grills in North Carolina, so he got permission from the owner of those “fast casual BBQ & burgers” concept locations to use the original name that so many New Tampa residents loved and renamed it “Remington’s Steak & Seafood.” The unveiling of the new name and menu could happen by the time this issue reaches your mailbox but will more likely take until at least the Mother’s Day weekend — May 10-11 — before the sign goes up and the new eatery becomes a reality.
At our press time, some of the renovations
were still being finalized, as Mark decided he was going to keep The Wexford open until the official switchover takes place.
“I’m excited about Remington’s Steak & Seafood,” Mark says. “This will be a locally owned, reasonably priced steakhouse that definitely should be able to compete with the popularly priced chain steak places in our area.”
Mark also says that, in addition to its renovated main dining areas (both inside and on the spacious patio) the new Remington’s will have two private dining rooms suitable for parties and an all-new fun “feel,” but that still leaves the one burning question...
What About The New Menu?
Mark literally let me know that he had received approval to go with the Remington’s name two days before Our Apr. 29 New Tampa issue went to press. It had been several months since Jannah and I had eaten at The Wexford and our photographer Charmaine George had never eaten there with us, so we had to move quickly.
I first asked Mark if any of The Wexford’s menu items were staying and, even though he said that all of the coming-forward items are going to be given upgrades, we sampled the potato skins, Shepherd’s pie quesadillas, fish & chips and the bacon cheeseburger & fries — and the latter two items appear on the next page.
Mark didn’t want us to use a Birkin’s steak picture for this story, so I found the generic top sirloin with baked potato picture shown on this page to give you a feel for the style of cuisine at Remington’s because, as Mark says, “The steaks
will be the stars of this new show.” And, as you can see from the extensive sampling from the menu in the ad on the next page, there will be a wide variety of what he calls “Choice +” steaks, all at a few dollars less than the local chains.
So, whether you’re craving a ribeye, NY strip, filet mignon, T-bone, top sirloin or even lol lipop lamb chops, Remington’s will satisfy you. The only steaks I see missing are a bone-in ribeye/ tomahawk and prime rib, but those could be added down the road. In the meantime, the most expensive steak on the menu is the 23-oz. T-bone with two sides for $34.95. The 14-oz. NY strip is just $24.95 with two sides!
As for the seafood side of the menu, there will be escargots and shrimp cocktail appetizers, grilled salmon, fried and grilled shrimp dinners and the aforementioned fish & chips.
Remington’s other entrées will include country fried steak or chicken fried chicken, grilled chicken breast, a boneless BBQ pork chop, Shepherd’s pie, mac n’ cheese and a limited supply each night of a half or whole rotisserie chicken. There also will be a daily Happy Hour menu (served 3 p.m.-5 p.m.), with some of the items mentioned above, plus two sides, for just $14.95!
Speaking of sides, Remington’s will offer everything from mixed veggies, green beans
French onion and a Soup of the Day, burgers, sandwiches, salads and an $8.95 kids menu (for ages 12 & under), plus decadent desserts.
In other words, once it opens and people get to sample the new Remington’s, Mark believes it will be here to stay!
Remington’s Steak & Seafood is located at 2836 E. Bearss Ave. The hours have not been officially set, nor does it have a phone number or online presence yet, but check our “Neighborhood News” Facebook page for updated info!
Bagels Plus On Fletcher Ave. Reopens Five Months After Kitchen Fire
By Gary Nager
When you’ve known someone for more than a quarter of a century, you might think you “really” know them, but sometimes, you might be wrong to make that assumption.
Case in point: I first met my friend “Steve” (right) when he first opened his Bagels Plus in a former (but already closed before he bought the building) Bruegger’s Bagels location on E. Fletcher Ave., less than a half-mile west of Bruce B.Downs (BBD) Blvd., way back in 1998.
I also thought I remembered Steve telling me that he bought an H&H Bagels location in New York not long after it was revealed that Kramer, the kooky character on the hit NBCTV show “Seinfeld,” had been on strike for years from the original H&H Bagels in Manhattan.
Well, it took a kitchen fire and the shop being closed for five months — Bagels Plus finally reopened at the end of March — for me to find out just how wrong I was on both counts.
First, although everybody still calls him Steve, my friend the bagel maker’s real name is Monsieur (yes, like “Mister” in French) Aziz.
Second, Steve never owned an H&H location, “They were my competitors when I had my first Bagels Plus in Roslyn, Long Island.”
One thing I did not get wrong, however, was that Steve did bring the ability to make true New York-style bagels with him when he moved to Florida — “to get away from the snow” — even though most New Yawkas say that there are no “real” bagels in Florida because we can’t duplicate the water in the Empire State.
Steve showed me the five special water filters he has in Bagels Plus to reduce the “hardness” of the water here, even though New York is one of the few cities in the U.S. that doesn’t filter its water because of its natural “softness” and purity.
But, he attributes the authenticity of his bagels to the way he makes them. “We use wheat flour and some vegetable flour, yeast and water to make our bagels,” he says. “That’s it. We don’t add oil, salt, malt, sugar or any of the other things you don’t need that other people use to make bagels.”
Photographer Charmaine George and I watched Steve make a batch of bagels and we agreed that he did not use any of the ingredients he mentioned that other people do use.
He says that one of the most important things is that “real New York” bagels have to be kettle-boiled before they are baked.
“And, you need the right kind of kettle,” he says. “The kettle isn’t a very expensive piece of equipment, but you really need it to make the bagels correctly.”
Whatever Steve and his happy crew have been doing to them, there’s no doubt in most local bagel lovers’ minds that Bagels Plus had the closest-to-New-York bagels anywhere near New Tampa or Wesley Chapel prior to the fire that caused Steve to not only shut his doors but basi cally rebuild the interior of his shop from scratch.
“The fire ended up being a blessing,” he says. “Because when the fire inspectors came to take a look afterwards, they said that one of the support beams in the front of the store (now re placed) was ready to fall down. Without the fire, we would never have known about it.”
Steve, who also previously owned a men’s clothing store in Manhattan, also had opened a similar men’s store in the Target-anchored Univer sity Plaza behind what is now his bagel shop.
“I was thinking about moving the clothing store to this building, but when I heard that it had already been a bagel shop, I made the owners an offer on the spot.” And the rest is history.
Oh, Those Bacon, Egg & Cheeses!
Although both of my sons now live in Lake wood Ranch, when I told them Bagels Plus reopened right before my most recent visit to them, they both insisted that I bring them Steve’s famous bacon, egg & cheese (BEC) bagel sandwiches.
“I’ve tried to make a bacon, egg and cheese like Bagels Plus at home,” my older son Jared — who wants to open a Bagels Plus franchise near him — told me. “I just can’t get the eggs the way they make them.”
Truth be told, many New York bagel shops make their bacon (or sausage or ham), egg and cheese sandwiches with fried eggs — and Bagels Plus will make yours with a fried egg, if you pre fer — but anyone who works the grill at Steve’s shop knows how to pour just the right amount of the already-cracked real eggs onto the hot flattop griddle and fold those eggs into the perfect size to just stick out on all sides of the bagel.
And, if you like your bacon crispy like I do — I know there are people who prefer their bacon “wet,” which I try to not hold against them — there is always a ready supply of perfectly crisp bacon waiting to be placed in generous amounts atop your eggs. And then, a single thick slice of yellow American cheese is gently placed atop that combo, which melts the cheese just enough.
Steve’s BEC makers, led by his manager Trista, also are happy to add salt & pepper or, for folks like me, to “scoop out” your bagel before assembling your sandwich. That not only gets rid of about 1/3 of the bagel’s calories, it also allows it to toast up extra crispy, especially when it is put through the conveyor belt toaster twice. The only time they won’t put it through the toaster is when your bagel has just come out of the oven.
Bagels Plus also offers a large variety of cream cheese options — from regular and light plain to bacon scallion, light strawberry and a salmon cream cheese that is made with real smoked salmon. You also can get a generous por tion of sliced smoked salmon with your choice of cream cheese on your favorite bagel (second bagel pic down on next page). There’s also a variety of fresh salads (tuna, egg and chicken), roasted tur key and Black Forest ham available, plus freshly baked croissants, muffins, black-&-white cookies, delicious apple or strawberry turnovers (photo below), almond horns and cinnamon rolls.
And yes, Steve still pretends to pocket new customers’ credit cards and throw an empty cof fee cup at them to make them think it’s full. He’s a character, but it’s hard to dislike a guy who has been keeping it New York real for 27 years!
Bagels Plus (2706 E. Fletcher Ave.) is open Mon.-Sat., 6 a.m.-4 p.m., and 7 a.m.-3
The Kabob Café & Grill In Highwoods Preserve Adds ‘Breakfast Kitchen’
There are quite a few Indian restaurants in New Tampa, but one thing is for certain — none of the Indian restaurants in our area also served American breakfast — until now.
The Kabob Café & Grill, located at 18101 High woods Preserve Pkwy. (in the same location that also has been Sukhothai and a couple of other restaurants) recently added Breakfast Kitchen & More, which serves American breakfast every day (except for Mondays, when the restaurant is closed), 7 a.m.-11:30 a.m. On Saturdays and Sundays, the Kabob Café & Grill offers a lunch buffet with a large variety of Indian (pre dominantly North Indian/Pakistani) items. The buffet begins at 11:30 a.m. and the restaurant’s full Indian menu is available every day for lunch and dinner (it stays open until 8:30 p.m.).
While that may seem a little confusing, owners Javed and Rabia Mubin (in bottom left photo, with members of their family) hope you will come try Chef Keith’s tasty breakfast items, including the bacon, egg & cheese croissant sandwich (top left photo) and Protein Power Bowl (lower left). Please note that because Kabob Café’s entire menu is Halal, so the bacon on the bacon, egg & cheese is beef (not pork) bacon — which I don’t believe I’d ever had before — but Jannah and I agreed it tasted very much like pork bacon. Photographer Charmaine George’s Power Bowl combined egg whites, grilled chicken, spinach, feta cheese and avocado, which also was quite tasty. The Breakfast Kitchen also serves waffles, French toast, oatmeal and Greek yogurt bowls, omelets, Benedicts, breakfast wraps and more.
We also sampled the buffet, which has many Indian favorites, like Tandoor oven-baked chicken and Naan breads, as well as chicken biryani (bottom right photo) and butter chicken, as well as some items I’d never tried before, like goat qourma (or korma), tender beef nihari (which tastes a lot like my mom’s brisket/pot roast, but slightly spicy), and vegetarian dishes like palak paneer (curry with spinach, cheese, tomato &
rose-flavored sugar syrup; bottom right photo), Rubri Kheer (Indian-style rice pudding) and more.
For more info about Kabob Café & Grill, which has a 4.9-star (out of 5) overall Google rating on 900+ reviews, and visit KabobCafeGrill.com or call — GN, all photos by Charmaine George
Coming Soon: Kay’s Kitchen Chicago-Style Fried Chicken
Jannah and I just happened to run into Kay Lee (photo), the owner of Kay’s Kitchen Authentic Chicago Style Fried Chicken, which is coming soon to the former Don Julio’s Mexican Restaurant location at 2808 E. Bearss Ave., in the Palms Connection plaza (as we reported last issue, Don Julio’s moved to the larger end cap in the same plaza).
Kay says that what sets her apart from all of the other fried chicken restaurants in our area (especially around Wesley Chapel) is her authentic Chicago-style mild sauce. Kay also operates two popular food trucks in the Riverview area, so visit KaysChickenKitchen.com to check out her menu, which also includes fried shrimp, fish and more. And, please tell Kay we sent you! — GN
N ew T ampa & w esley C hapel Classifieds
HOME IMPROVEMENT
AQUATEC POOL SERVICE has been keeping pools clear & swim safe since 1994. WE DO POOLS RIGHT! Commercial & Residential. CPO #33-303052 Licensed & Insured. Service guarantee. Call 813-312-5694 TODAY & get 1 MONTH of quality service FREE. For more info, visit AquatecPools.org.
FLOORING- Luxury Vinyl Plank Installed! Buy anywhere, we will install it!. $1.69/sq. ft. (over 300 sq.ft.). Regular-size bedroom - $399, We will haul away carpet/tack strip & move major furniture pieces. Call for free estimate 813-417-7689. Let’s save some money!
BATHROOM & KITCHEN REMODELING.
Top quality, professional, licensed, & insured contractors. Family owned & operated for over 30 years. We take the hassle out of remodeling. Call Ken of Hangliter Residential for an estimate. 813-460-4548 or see our display ad on the next page for additional info.
Flooring/Waterproof Vinyl Plank Installation! Affordable & knowledgeable service, $4.99/sq.ft, including a 20-mil Luxury vinyl plank. We’ll move appliances, heavy furniture & existing floors & haul them away as recommended. Free in-home estimates always offered. Call today: 813-804-2544.
CLEANING SERVICES
PATY CLEANING SERVICE. Comm’l or resid’l cleaning service. We have our own supplies & 10 years of experience. Free estimates. Call 813 790-8715 or email paty8624@proton.me.
ROSE’S CLEANING SERVICE. We make sure your home will be shiny & clean. Whether you need one-time, weekly, bi-weekly or monthly svcs, we will customize a plan to accommodatesyour needs. Residential/ offices/airBnB,etc. Call/text Roseli for a free estimate anytime: 813 400.4946. Or, email:rrduar@yahoo.com.
NEXT HOME CLEANING. With 20+ years of prof’l house & office cleaning services available. Trustworthy, efficient, and affordable. Transform your space into a spotless sanctuary. Eco-friendly products. Satisfaction guaranteed. Book now & enjoy a pristine home! FREE ESTIMATES! Contact us
MISCELLANEOUS
FOR SALE: Brand New, Complete Boy Scout Uniforms for Sale. Boys clothes size 10-14, shoes, plus new roller skates & ice skates. Dishes & many household articles. A 10x30 shed full of flea market items, will sell all very reasonable. Cartop carrier, professional bicycles, kayak, doggie furniture, crates feeder & much more. Call 813-297-1456.
ELECTROLYSIS - I am looking for someone who provides Galvanic (not laser) Electrolysis in the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area. Contact carola1243@aol.com.
PHOTOGRAPHERS & CREATIVES: Looking for a photo studio space in New Tampa? We offfer a weatherproof, luxury exp. for your clients in this 705-sq-ft creative space. Natural light, white walls & light laminate floors make the space bright & airy. Studio lighting, props, furniture, paper & cloth backdrops & more avail. Book/inquire online: Jessicabuttererphoto.com/rent-the-studio or call Jessica 914-844-2894
Were you self-employed during 2020 & 2021? If so, the IRS is giving out refunds — get your money in only 2 weeks. It takes only 10 minutes to find out how! Call 813-784-2243.
SHARPENING SERVICE. Knives, Scissors & Garden Tools. Prices/Svcs & Calendar of venues available @ mmsharpening.com. Every Friday, 9am-4pm, through March 2025. NEW LOCATION: @ Harvey’s Hardware (Case Knives), 5400 Land O’Lakes Blvd., LOL. Contact M&M SHARPENING, Mark Bertsche @ 518-260-5916.
HUGHES SCHOOL OF MUSIC is now accepting new students! Study Saxophone, Piano, Music Production, Composition or Theory w/a Master of Music. Zoom sessions also avail.! Contact us at 813-748-3216.
Our Classified Ads Are The Least Expensive Way To Reach 180,000+ People In New Tampa & Wesley Chapel!
7 Issues (3 months) - $120
13 Issues (6 months) - $200 26 Issues (1 year) - $300
Call (813) 910-2575 or visit NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net to order or renew yours today!
COMPUTER SERVICES ____ DO YOU HATE YOUR COMPUTER?!? WE CAN HELP YOU! Troubleshooting, Installation, Networking & Virus Removal. WE COME TO YOU! Residences & Businesses, more than 25-Years Experience. Contact Jeffrey Blank at 813-973-4507, visit WSICA.COM or email Wsica@wsica.com.
Pebble Creek Collection plaza space for lease, approx. 500 sq.ft. Perfect for someone in Health/ Wellness/Cosmetology. Contact Deborah at SunMed - Your CBD Store of New Tampa (19651 Bruce B Downs) @ 813-994-0599. Steven Kessel, REALTOR® w/Future Home Realty, Inc., has created just for you, the most advanced, up-to-date, user-friendly propty search engine for homes for sale in the Tampa Bay & Central Fla area — & it’s FREE to use & enjoy. BuyYourDreamHome.com.
