COOK OUT UPDATE — Construction Officially Underway on Dale Mabry
This one just got a real upgrade. Renovations have recently begun at the former Boston Market at 16215 N. Dale Mabry Highway, converting it into a Cook Out location — and the Carrollwood site was purchased for $2.5 million in 2024. It'll be one of three Cook Out locations already in the works in the Tampa Bay area. The Temple Terrace location on Fowler Ave is expected to open first and will be among Florida's first Cook Outs ever — so watch that one as a preview of what's coming to Dale Mabry. No opening date yet but shovels are in the ground.
THE PLAZA UPDATE
The press release dropped straight from Nordstrom HQ. The 24,700-square-foot Nordstrom Rack at The Plaza at Citrus Park is confirmed for Fall 2026 — shoppers will get online order pickup from both Nordstrom.com and NordstromRack.com, plus easy in-store returns. A tenant map from Kimco Realty shows HomeGoods going in to the right of Best Buy, with Total Wine next door — and Total Wine appears to be on track to open first, though no date has been announced. The Twin Peaks wildcard on the old Smoky Bones space is still alive too — no update, but it hasn't gone away either.
CRUMBL COOKIES — Carrollwood
Have you been yet! Everybody loves cookies. Crumbl Cookies is open in Carrollwood location, riding the pink-box wave of the franchise's nationwide popularity. If you have teenage kids or a sweet tooth, this is already on your radar — rotating weekly menu, oversized cookies, very Instagrammable. Worth a quick mention for those who haven't noticed it yet.
GORKHALI KITCHEN — Tampa's Michelin Sleeper Hit (New Tampa, Worth the Drive)
This one's technically New Tampa but you absolutely need to know about it. Gorkhali Kitchen — the first and only Nepalese restaurant in the Tampa Bay area — has earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand distinction three years in a row, a back-to-back-to-back recognition that's almost unheard of. The owner is soon to appear on Food Network competing against Bobby Flay. The Michelin Guide specifically praised their momos — Nepalese dumplings — particularly the chili chicken version tossed in a fiery sauce. This is a "tell your friends before they see it on TV" story.
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