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It's been a jarring week for some Pasco County residents. After Tuesday afternoon's severe thunderstorms swept through the region, neighborhoods near Hudson and Shady Hills reported significant wind damage — and now it's official. The National Weather Service has confirmed that two separate tornadoes touched down in Pasco County, leaving property damage behind and raising questions about storm preparedness heading into Florida's active weather season. What the NWS Survey Foun

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL — It's official. Hooters is coming to Wesley Chapel. The iconic restaurant — founded right here in the Tampa Bay area in Clearwater back in 1983 — has confirmed a new location at 25245 Wesley Chapel Blvd., next to the Harley-Davidson dealership, with an opening planned sometime in 2026. The 4,500-square-foot space will feature both indoor seating and an outdoor patio — a setup that plays perfectly into Florida's year-round outdoor weather. The Wesley Chapel

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL — Wesley Chapel finally has its own public library, and it's wasting no time getting to work. The new branch opened its doors in February 2026 and has already begun rolling out programming for all ages — with more on the way as the library settles into the community. Dozens of residents lined up outside the entrance on opening day, eager to be among the first through the doors. Since then, the library has been steadily expanding its calendar of events and se

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL — If you're a parent new to the area or just keeping tabs on how local schools are performing, GreatSchools.org has released its latest ratings for Wesley Chapel campuses — and several schools are scoring at the top of the scale. The ratings cover multiple categories including student progress, test scores, and college readiness for high schools. Here's where Wesley Chapel stands right now. The Current Ratings Dr. John Long Middle School — 9/10 Pinecrest Aca

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL — Help is about to get a lot closer. Pasco County Fire Rescue Station No. 2 — a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility on State Road 54 — is in its final construction phase and on track to open by winter 2026. The 13,840-square-foot, three-bay station is located at 32134 S.R. 54, less than a mile east of the AdventHealth Meadow Pointe Emergency Room. Groundbreaking was held on May 13, 2025, and the building structure is now fully complete. Crews are currently

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL — If you've ever wished you could order a decent salad as fast as a burger, Wesley Chapel just got your answer. Greenlane, Tampa Bay's homegrown drive-thru salad and wrap concept, opened its fifth location on Wednesday, February 25, right here in the Wesley Chapel area — and this one comes with a first for the brand. The new Cypress Creek location at 24801 State Road 54, just west of Tampa Premium Outlets, features the brand's first dedicated mobile-order dr

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL — Wesley Chapel's dining scene keeps leveling up. Tallo, the area's first-ever Caribbean-American fusion restaurant, is now open in the Avalon Park neighborhood — and if you haven't been yet, it should be near the top of your list. Located at 4424 Friendly Way, Suite 105, Tallo is owned by Puerto Rico native José Sato, who moved to Tampa in 2020 and worked at Boca in Sarasota before deciding that Wesley Chapel was exactly where he wanted to build something.

NEW TAMPA, FL — Get ready for a taste of the Middle East. Amo Sami's Shawarma, the self-proclaimed home of the 'OG crispy chicken shawarma,' has announced it will be opening its doors in New Tampa in early May 2026. Located at 6431 E County Line Rd, the new eatery promises authentic flavors built on family recipes and 'made with love.' The announcement has already sparked excitement among local foodies looking for high-quality, traditional shawarma options in the area. What t

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL — Two of America's most recognizable restaurant chains are heading to one of Wesley Chapel's busiest intersections, and construction is already underway. A new retail center known as Gateway Plaza is rising at the southwest corner of Wesley Chapel Boulevard (SR-54) and Gateway Drive, just west of Interstate 75. The project — filed under the entity Shoppes at Gateway, LLC — will be anchored by an Olive Garden, with Seasons 52 as the second restaurant and a He

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL — One of Wesley Chapel's most storied properties is in the middle of a full reset. Saddlebrook Resort — the 480-acre destination that put Wesley Chapel on the map for tennis and golf decades ago — has new ownership and a new vision, and the upgrades are underway. Saddlebrook has long been a fixture in the Wesley Chapel landscape, known for its championship tennis programs, two Arnold Palmer-designed golf courses, and as a destination resort that attracted pr

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL — Wesley Chapel's classrooms are bursting at the seams, and Pasco County Schools is moving fast to catch up. Two brand-new campuses are now in active planning — a medical magnet high school in Meadow Pointe and a K-8 campus near the Two Rivers development — both targeting a Fall 2028 opening. Wiregrass Ranch High School was operating at 143% capacity as of October 2025. Wesley Chapel High was at 134%. Those numbers pushed Superintendent John Legg to accelera

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL — Clear your Saturday, May 23. The Shops at Wiregrass is throwing a Great American Block Party in Center Court from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and the lineup is stacked from start to finish. This is the kind of community event that has something for everyone — whether you're bringing the whole family, car enthusiasts in tow, or just looking for a great free afternoon out in Wesley Chapel. What's Happening Live entertainment all evening including Homegrown and The Z

PASCO COUNTY, FL — The future of grocery delivery is literally flying in. Walmart is moving closer to launching drone delivery at several Pasco County store locations through its partnership with Wing, a drone delivery company owned by Alphabet — Google's parent company. Walmart has been expanding its Wing drone delivery program across Florida, and Pasco County is now in the crosshairs for expansion. The service allows customers to place orders through the Walmart app and rec

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL — Still figuring out Mother's Day plans? This one is already sorted for you. Hyatt Place Tampa/Wesley Chapel is hosting a Mother's Day Brunch on Saturday, May 10, and it checks every box — live music, a full buffet, drinks, and a relaxed, elegant setting that mom will actually love. No scrambling for a reservation at an overcrowded restaurant. No drive into Tampa. Just a beautifully set brunch right here in the Wesley Chapel area, designed to make the mornin

TAMPA, FL — Tampa Bay has a brand-new professional sports team, and it plays its first home games this spring. The Tampa Bay Sun FC, Tampa Bay's inaugural National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) team, is now in its first season — and it's already generating serious buzz across the region. The Sun FC joined the NWSL as an expansion team and represents one of the most significant additions to Tampa Bay's professional sports scene in years. Home matches are played at Al Lang Stadi

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL — Wesley Chapel's food scene keeps growing, and this next addition is one a lot of residents have been waiting for. Naz's Halal is officially coming to 27835 Wesley Chapel Blvd., Unit 102 — taking over the former Hangry Joe's space right next to Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. — and an opening as early as May 2026 is on the table. If you're not familiar with Naz's, here's the short version: bold, unapologetic NYC-style halal food that has built a serious following

TAMPA, FL — Tampa travelers, this one is worth getting excited about. Breeze Airways has announced two new nonstop international routes launching from Tampa International Airport this winter, and both are exactly the kind of destinations people have been asking for. Starting December 16, 2026, Breeze will fly nonstop from Tampa directly to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands — a first in Tampa airport history. No layovers, no connections, just Tampa to paradise in one shot.

Marjorie's Hope, a Pasco County nonprofit dedicated to student support, hosted its annual Celebrity Waiter fundraiser earlier this month in New Port Richey, Florida — bringing together local leaders and community members to raise money and awareness for students in need across the county. Community Leaders Step Up — Literally The fundraiser flipped the script on traditional philanthropy: instead of writing checks from a distance, participants including attorneys, business own

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Going to a Rays game just got even better. The Tampa Bay Rays have announced a postgame concert series at Tropicana Field this summer, and three big country names are headlining. Chase Rice, Cole Swindell, and Jordan Davis are each scheduled to perform after selected Rays home games this summer at The Trop. The concerts are included with game admission — no separate ticket required — making it one of the best entertainment deals in the Tampa Bay area this

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL — If you've been watching the construction at Wesley Chapel Blvd. and Lexington Oaks Blvd., the wait is nearly over. The Hub at Lexington is putting the finishing touches on what could be the most interesting new dining and entertainment cluster to open in Wesley Chapel this year. The $24 million development from Center Connect Development — the same team behind the popular Hub at Bexley — brings about 40,000 square feet of small-shop space to a busy residen