New Eateries Headed To Pasco County

PASCO COUNTY, FL -- One of 100 fastest-growing counties in the country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Pasco County is capturing the attention of restaurateurs who plan to open several new places to eat and drink during the coming months.

Among them is Anthony Derby, founder of Brew Bus Brewing Inc., which operates the Florida Avenue Brewing Co. in Seminole Heights and the Brew Bus tours.

Eight years after opening its doors in Seminole Heights, Brew Bus Brewing has announced that it is opening a second brewery and restaurant in the former Sports & Field fitness center at 2029 Arrowgrass Drive in Wesley Chapel.

Derby and his partners are converting the 34,000-square-foot gym into a full-service restaurant, brewery, beer garden and event space.

“We are excited to expand our operations into Pasco County to provide the community with a family-friendly brewery, event and restaurant destination,” said Derby, noting that the new facility will employ 46 people.

Brew Bus offers more than 20 in-house craft beers along with wine, craft cocktails and a full kitchen. Chef favorites include Calle Ocho Pulled Pork, the Crab Cake BLT and Tampa Street Corn.

On the west side of Pasco, residents can expect several more new eateries at the Village at Mitchell Ranch at Little Road and State Road 54.

Anchored by Sprouts, HomeGoods and Michael's, the shopping center will also be home to Blaze Pizza, Chipotle, First Watch, Jersey Mike's Menchies, Panda Express and PDQ. The developers expect to open the first stores this summer.

Pasco County will also be home to a new Hooters. The Clearwater-based restaurant chain announced in January that it will build a free-standing restaurant in the Suncoast Crossings development under construction at State Road 54 and the Suncoast Parkway in Odessa.

The 29-acre site will contain 225,000 square feet of retail and office development. The new Hooters is expected to open in late 2019 or early 2020.

If you know of other restaurants coming to Pasco County, email the information to dann.white@patch.com.