Issue #518: Wesley Chapel’s Growth Spurt | BOPIS & Light Shows Heat Up Shopping Season | Rays’ Lucky Pick

12/11/2025

Author

Ted Grellner
11 Dec

Keep your finger on the Pulse!

GOOD MORNING

From time to time, I’ll be sharing a few ads for a product I’ve developed — one that’s deeply personal to me.

It’s designed to help families preserve the memories and voices of loved ones, so future generations can truly know where they come from. I’ve poured my heart and soul into creating this, and I believe anyone who wants to capture meaningful family stories will find tremendous value in it.

With the holidays bringing families together, the timing felt just right — even if getting it ready was a race to the finish.

Dr Ted
USAF Retired

 
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In this issue of NewTampa | WesleyChapel Local Pulse

Our Event Calendar 

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Local News

— Wesley Chapel Grows Up: Home Depot, Whole Foods, Belk on the Way

— Holiday Shopping Shifts: BOPIS and Light Shows at Wiregrass

Of Interest

— A Holiday Gift They’ll Never Forget

Sports

— Lucky Charm Lands Rays No. 2 Draft Pick

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Wesley Chapel Grows Up: Home Depot, Whole Foods, Belk on the Way

Wesley Chapel is poised for major retail growth with the potential arrival of its first Home Depot. The retailer has filed preliminary plans for a 107,600-square-foot store with a 28,000-square-foot garden center on an 11.5-acre site in Cypress Creek Town Center, across from Tampa Premium Outlets.

This would be the area's first big-box home improvement store, addressing a long-standing demand amid explosive housing growth. The nearest Home Depots are currently in Zephyrhills and New Tampa.

Meanwhile, construction has begun on Wesley Chapel Station, the Whole Foods-anchored plaza at Bruce B. Downs and Aronwood Blvd. Tenants include PopUp Bagels, Naked Farmer, CAVA, and Tox Wesley Chapel, with openings expected by spring/summer 2027.

In more immediate news, Belk’s new 30,000-square-foot Belk Market opens this Saturday at The Grove, offering fresh merchandise and giveaways.

Wesley Chapel continues its transformation into a vibrant commercial hub.

Holiday Shopping Shifts: BOPIS and Light Shows
at Wiregrass

Online holiday shopping hit record highs this year, with Cyber Monday sales topping $14 billion, a 7% increase from 2024, according to Adobe Analytics. Yet, despite this surge, overall holiday spending may dip as families face tighter budgets.

To stay competitive, brick-and-mortar stores are getting creative. At The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel, mall operators are drawing crowds with events like Symphony in Lights, a nightly holiday light and music show with artificial snowfall, running hourly through New Year’s Eve.

Retailers are also promoting BOPIS (Buy Online, Pick Up In Store) deals, offering exclusive discounts and in-store perks to lure customers offline.

Hybrid shopping models are expanding, giving physical stores a chance to engage shoppers directly. Still, with $40 billion spent online in just one week, and over half via mobile, malls face fierce digital competition — and are betting that memorable in-person experiences will keep them relevant this holiday season.

A Holiday Gift They’ll Never Forget

This holiday season, give your family something truly meaningful — the voices, stories, and wisdom of the people you love most.

Heirloom Stories is a simple memory assistant that helps you gently preserve your loved ones’ life stories — before they’re gone forever.

Whether it’s a grandparent’s early adventures or a parent’s life lessons, these stories can become cherished keepsakes for generations.

🎁 Perfect for holiday gatherings
💬 Guided questions + audio-to-story conversion
📖 No writing skills needed

Lucky Charm Lands Rays No. 2 Draft Pick

The Tampa Bay Rays struck lottery gold, landing the No. 2 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft despite starting with just a 3% chance. Last year, they dropped in the order, but this year, they brought along their lucky charm — Brett Phillips, the hometown hero known for his 2020 World Series walk-off hit.

Phillips, now retired, joined the team’s draft reps and joked that while he "didn’t do much," he definitely felt the excitement.

“When Brett and the Rays get together, crazy things happen,” said baseball chief Erik Neander.

This marks the team’s highest draft slot since 2008, offering a rare chance to grab top-tier talent like UCLA’s Roch Cholowsky or Alabama’s Justin Lebron.

While the Rays would prefer not to be in the lottery at all, Neander admits: “If we’re here, might as well root for the best.”

The draft takes place July 12–13.

30+ Free Holiday Events in Tampa Bay for a Festive Date

Source: tampabaydatenightguide.com

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