North Tampa is Hot, Fried, and Ready 🔥🍟

Buzzing with Joy: No Politics, Just Positivity!
A community-led initiative.

Good Morning from your neighbor in Lutz. I won’t make this summer all about the Florida heat, even if those $8 flip-flops are already sticking to the asphalt. We’ve got plenty more to discuss, like new restaurants, award-winning fries, and more good eats on the horizon. Let’s work together to figure out how to enjoy the food and still fight the good fight for those summer-bod goals.

Shout out to the 90s. You know it’s summer in Florida when the seatbelt buckle becomes a branding iron.

This week’s Tuesday Edition of the North Tampa Buzz:

🎯 Who’s topping the list? See which local suburbs were ranked Florida’s best places to live.
🍟 Fries, fame, and fresh eats: Award-winning fries and two tasty new restaurant openings.
🏡 Big moves close to home: New jobs, new businesses, and what’s happening in Zephyrhills and Odessa.

Let us know if we missed anything. Definitely let us know if we goofed. And, be sure to follow us on Instagram, where we will keep you abreast of the local happenings throughout the week.

In Partnership with Gene Faircloth of Exit Bayshore Realty

During a stressful cross-state move for myself and my family, Gene was incredibly thoughtful and steady. He patiently walked us through every option, explained each step in detail, and made a complicated process feel simple. With school starting soon and time tight, he rearranged his schedule without hesitation to help us find our home. We felt truly understood and supported.

Gene is a Tampa native and proud USF graduate with nearly 20 years of experience in residential and commercial real estate. Known for clear communication, deep local knowledge, and a client-first approach, he goes the extra mile to support families through every step. He always blends professionalism with a love for Florida sunshine.

Gene Faircloth
Exit Bayshore Realty
Mobile: (813) 727-6904
201 E Davis Blvd., Tampa, FL 33606

The Digest

We had to include these rankings of Florida suburbs with so many mentions of our neighbors, all #1 in my book, of course.

Top-Ranked Florida Suburbs in Tampa Bay
MSN recently released its 2025 rankings of the best suburbs in Florida, and several of our local favorites made the list. Westchase led the pack, coming in at #1, followed by Keystone at #13, Pebble Creek at #16, Lutz at #20, Northdale at #26, and Wesley Chapel at #29. It’s just one more reason why we’re proud to call this corner of Florida home.

AdventHealth Opens Meadow Pointe ER in Wesley Chapel
AdventHealth has officially opened its new $26 million freestanding ER at 5170 Chapel Commerce Drive in Wesley Chapel. The 13,000-square-foot facility features 12 patient beds, two triage rooms, and offers imaging and lab services to better serve the growing Pasco County community. A grand opening celebration was held April 27 with food trucks, safety education, and tours. This expansion is part of AdventHealth’s ongoing efforts to increase emergency care access across Tampa Bay.
(Source: Neighborhood News)

Community Spotlight: A Hero’s New Home in Land O’ Lakes
On April 23, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation welcomed U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Matthew Hannon to his new mortgage-free home in the Let Us Do Good Village in Land O’ Lakes. Sgt. Hannon, who served multiple deployments and now lives with lasting injuries, received a specially adapted smart home designed for full independence. The Let Us Do Good Village is growing into a close-knit community for veterans, first responders, and Gold Star families. To learn more or support Tunnel to Towers’ mission, visit T2T.org.

Food & Dining 🍔

Big Chicken Opens First Florida Location in Tampa’s Westchase
Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken makes its Florida debut in Westchase on May 6. The fast-casual spot is the first of 45 locations planned across the state.

Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ to Open in Wesley Chapel
Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ is coming soon to Wesley Chapel, bringing gourmet dogs, BBQ favorites, axe throwing, trivia nights, and karaoke. An official opening date hasn’t been announced yet, but the excitement is already building.

Flipn’ Fries Factory in Wesley Chapel Named Florida’s Best Fries
Flipn’ Fries Factory in Wesley Chapel just earned the title of Florida’s best fries. Their “Buffalo Soldier” creation, topped with fried chicken, buffalo sauce, and ranch, helped them clinch the crown. Seems like a fitting time for a call back to a GIF we used a couple of weeks ago when talking about Dave’s Hot Chicken opening in Odessa.

Civic News

A quick note about the “civic news” and road updates: with all the growth and development in the area, there’s a lot of movement with the local roadways. That’s the big reason why we include these. For myself, I’m interested in it, but this newsletter isn’t about me.

Hillsborough County Seeks Input on 2024 Storm Season Flooding
Hillsborough County is hosting eight public meetings to gather feedback on flooding impacts from Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton. Residents can also provide input virtually through the Hillsborough County Education & Engagement Hub until May 19. ​

Pasco County Residents Concerned About Rangeland Blvd Extension
These next two are related. Pasco County is considering extending Rangeland Boulevard from Starkey Ranch to Bexley to alleviate congestion on State Road 54. However, residents express concerns about increased traffic and the replacement of a wooden bridge with a concrete one. A public meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 1, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center in Odessa. ​

Opposition Builds Against New Odessa Interchange for Widened Suncoast Parkway
Plans for a new interchange in Odessa as part of the Suncoast Parkway widening project are facing opposition from local residents. Concerns include potential environmental impacts and increased traffic in the area. Northbound traffic during rush hour at Van Dyke on the Suncoast Parkway causes a miles-long backup. I avoid this like the plague.

Local Development & Growth 🏘️

All of these new projects are just another sign of how much our community is growing and thriving. More jobs, new businesses, and better roads are helping create a place where we can live, work, and enjoy ourselves without always having to head into Tampa.

Bauducco Foods Begins $200M Facility Construction in Zephyrhills
Big news for Zephyrhills! Bauducco Foods, a popular Brazilian bakery brand best known for its panettones, biscuits, and wafers, has started building a massive $200 million manufacturing and distribution facility at the Zephyrhills Airport Industrial Park. The project is expected to create around 600 jobs over three phases, with the first phase opening by mid-2026.

Fusion5 Launches Modular Assembly Line in Odessa
Tech manufacturing is making moves in Odessa! Fusion5, a British electronics company, has opened a new modular assembly facility in Pasco County that will begin producing industrial and consumer-grade Windows Tablet PCs this June. The new site is part of a major U.S. expansion effort and is expected to bring new job opportunities in assembly, logistics, and technical roles.

Community Alerts ⚡

High Fire Risk Prompts Burn Bans Across Tampa Bay
It’s dry out there, so burn bans are popping up across the Tampa Bay area, including an emergency ban in Pasco County. You can still fire up the grill, just be extra careful and maybe keep the fireworks and bonfires on hold for now.

Events and Live Music with The Murg Team

Local Lending You Can Trust
I have personally used Mike and his team for two purchases and a refinance. They truly offer exceptional service, constant clear communication, comfort and confidence. He has been a Scotsman Top Originator year over year since 2013 for a good reason.

Meet Mike Murgatroy of The Murg Team at CrossCountry Mortgage, delivering 25+ years of integrity, education, and results. Whether you’re buying your first home or refinancing, Mike puts you first, not third parties. Ask about the Hero Program for doctors, teachers, veterans, and more offering up to $1,500 off lender fees. Learn More

Buzz-Worthy Events

Weekdays are a little lighter, as you'd expect, and Friday’s lineup will keep filling out as I confirm a few more events. A lot of the live music you see here was confirmed the old-fashioned way by picking up the phone. If you know of any shows or events that aren’t listed, just let me know and I’ll be sure to include them in future newsletters and get them on my list of phone calls to make.

By the way, if you’re a local business owner and want to get the word out, just a heads-up, we offer a few advertising spots to get in front of our hyper-local neighbors. Feel free to reach out if you ever want to be part of it!

🎸 Live Music

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

• Ukulele Brand’s | Land O’ Lakes
  7:00 PM–10:00 PM | Acoustic Open Mic Night

Thursday, May 1, 2025

• Stonewater Bar and Grill | Land O’ Lakes
  6:00 PM–9:00 PM | Live Music by Midnight Blue

• Throwback Night at KRATE at The Grove | Wesley Chapel
  6:00 PM–9:00 PM | DJ Delirious spinning throwback hits

• Wesley Chapel, Pinchers | Wesley Chapel
  Evening | Live Music by Russ Bono

• Thomas P’s Sports Bar | Wesley Chapel area
  Evening | Live Music (artist TBA - confirmed)

• Treble Makers Dueling Piano Bar | Wesley Chapel
  6:00 PM–9:00 PM | Dinner & Dueling Pianos Show (Free)

Friday, May 2, 2025

• The Living Room at Wiregrass | Wesley Chapel
  6:00 PM–9:00 PM | Live Music by Sara Nelms

• Stonewater Bar and Grill | Land O’ Lakes
  7:00 PM–10:00 PM | Live Music by Roger and Todd

• Ukulele Brand’s | Land O’ Lakes
  7:30 PM–10:30 PM | Live Music by Nunes at Nite

• Wesley Chapel, Pinchers | Wesley Chapel
  Evening | Live Music by Pedro

• Thomas P’s Sports Bar | Wesley Chapel area
  Evening | Live Music (artist TBA - confirmed)

• Treble Makers Dueling Piano Bar | Wesley Chapel
  7:00 PM–1:00 AM | Full Dueling Piano Show ($10 tickets, 21+)

• Treble Makers – Party with Frankie Raye | Wesley Chapel
  8:00 PM–11:55 PM | Acoustic/Pop/Rock Party Show

• Blood Brothers at Skipper’s Smokehouse | Tampa
  8:00 PM | Blues/Rock Show | Tickets $20–$25

🎉 Events

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

• Treble Makers Dueling Piano Bar | Wesley Chapel
  7:00 PM–9:00 PM | Free Team/Individual Trivia Night

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

• SouthernEaze Open Mic Night | Wesley Chapel/Land O' Lakes
  6:00 PM–9:00 PM | Open Mic Night

• Line Dancing at Treble Makers Dueling Piano Bar | Wesley Chapel
  7:30 PM–9:30 PM | Tampa Bay’s best line dancing and instruction every Wednesday night | Table reservations available

Thursday, May 1, 2025

• Comic's Night Out – Open Mic at Side Splitters Comedy Club | Wesley Chapel
  8:00 PM | Twenty comics, five-minute sets, bar service available, 18+ event | 2-item minimum for Rows A, B, and C | Tickets $10

Friday, May 2, 2025

• The Market Elaine at The Grove | Wesley Chapel
  5:30 PM–9:30 PM | 150+ Vendors, Live Music, Pet Adoptions, Face Painting, and More | Free Entry

• Ed Lover at Side Splitters Wesley Chapel | Wesley Chapel
  7:00 PM and 9:30 PM | Legendary hip-hop and comedy icon, known for Yo! MTV Raps and SiriusXM, brings stand-up to Wesley Chapel | 18+ event, 2-item minimum for Rows A, B, and C | Tickets $10

Sports & Recreation

⛳ Club at Cheval Joins Heritage Golf Group
The Club at Cheval in Lutz has officially joined the Heritage Golf Group family, with multi-million-dollar course upgrades on the way. While renovations are underway, members will have reciprocal access to top local clubs like TPC Tampa Bay.

⚾ Tampa Bay Rays’ Ybor City Stadium Plans Falter
The Gasworx development in Ybor City is moving forward without room for a new Rays stadium. The team continues searching for a new location after funding and space challenges sidelined the Ybor plans.

Thanks for reading the North Tampa Buzzletter! Let’s chat again on Friday, when we start discussing Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby events!

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P.S. Here’s a little peek at what we were up to around the community this weekend:

We kicked things off Friday night at Florida Cracker Fish Company. Parking is always a little tight, but it is nice and roomy inside. The food was fantastic, the kids had plenty of space to run around, and the live music made it the perfect vibe for a great night out.

Saturday and Sunday were all about coffee trips. We stopped by Foxtail and The Blend. I love Foxtail’s décor. It has that homey rustic feel mixed with some cool industrial pipe accents. Over at The Blend at Bexley, I had an awesome sandwich. It was a croissant stuffed with sausage, egg, cheese, and a hashbrown, all pressed perfectly inside.

Oh, and if you caught it on Instagram, yes, the matcha rave at Sorbo was real. It was packed. I did not get to stay long though because our pup was ready to be picked up from Scenthound.