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Betting, Food, Commercials, and a Little Football

By late afternoon, the grocery stores are picked over, someone forgot the extra chips, and group texts are filled with last-minute “what should I bring?” messages. Super Bowl Sunday has arrived in Wesley Chapel, and for a lot of people, the game itself might not even be the main attraction.

The Super Bowl has quietly turned into one of the biggest social holidays of the year. It’s less about four quarters of football and more about gathering in living rooms, trying a new craft beer someone insisted on bringing, and building a plate of nachos that probably requires structural engineering. The TV is on, but conversations usually get louder during the actual game and quieter when the commercials start.

And that’s not by accident. With companies spending close to eight million dollars for thirty seconds of airtime, the commercials have become their own competition. Some people tune in just to see which brand nails it and which one becomes a meme by Monday morning.

Of course, there’s also the growing betting angle. For some fans, the excitement now comes from having something on the line. Squares, friendly wagers, and increasingly, apps that let people trade contracts based on the outcome of the game.

When the Bucs are playing, the energy changes completely. But in years like this, the Super Bowl feels more like an excuse to slow down for a few hours, eat too much, and argue over whether the commercials were actually funny.

So be honest. Are you here for the football, the food, or the commercials?

However you’re spending it, Wesley Chapel will be watching together.

The Real What’s Up

HELP NOW

The HelpNow Project is a Tampa Bay–based nonprofit focused on disaster response and community preparedness. Their veteran-led teams provide rapid, boots-on-the-ground support after natural disasters while also offering free training programs that teach residents how to respond in emergencies before they happen. From CPR and disaster preparedness training to on-site relief efforts through their mobile command center, the goal is simple. Help communities be ready when things go wrong and help them recover faster when they do.

Foodies Only

Your Restaurant Could Be Here

Get your restaurant, food truck, bakery, or café in front of thousands of local food lovers every week. This is where Wesley Chapel, New Tampa, Lutz, Land O’ Lakes, Odessa, and Zephyrhills go to discover their next favorite bite.

Make sure they discover you. Advertise with us and turn hungry readers into hungry customers walking through your door.

Email us at: [email protected] 

We Know a Guy…or Girl

What’s Up Working

Looking for a painter? A plumber? Or a hero willing to wrestle with that lightbulb hanging 30 feet in the air? You’re in the right place.

Want your business to be one of the go-tos?

Email us at: [email protected] to get on the list.

International Plaza Expansion Adds Another Shopping Option for Tampa Bay

If you live in Wesley Chapel, you don’t exactly have to leave town to find good shopping anymore. Between The Shops at Wiregrass and Tampa Premium Outlets, most people already have access to plenty of well-known brands, restaurants, and places to spend an afternoon without getting on the interstate.

That’s why news that International Plaza in Tampa is expanding might not feel like a big deal at first glance. But it does add another piece to the bigger picture of how shopping in the Tampa Bay area continues to evolve.

International Plaza recently announced plans for a 50,000 square foot expansion that will add new retail and dining space, along with more open-air areas designed to keep visitors on site longer. Like many malls across the country, the focus is shifting away from traditional retail and toward creating a place people want to spend time, whether that’s shopping, eating, or just making a day out of it.

For Wesley Chapel residents, this isn’t about replacing Wiregrass or the outlets. Those centers already fill that role well and remain the most convenient option for everyday shopping and nights out. But International Plaza has always offered a slightly different mix of stores and restaurants, and for some shoppers it’s simply another destination when they want a change of scenery.

The bigger takeaway is that retail in the Tampa Bay area continues to grow alongside the population. Instead of one mall dominating, the region now has multiple centers offering different experiences depending on what people are looking for that day.

Most Wesley Chapel shoppers will still stick close to home. But when new stores and restaurants open across the bay, it gives people one more reason to make the drive when they’re in the mood for something different.

Because these days, it’s less about where the best mall is and more about having options.

What’s Up This Week

That’s it for this week.

Thanks for reading. Keep showing up for each other, supporting your neighbors, and building the kind of community we’re all proud to call home.

The Folks Behind The Curtain

P.S.

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