Comedy Club Latest Offering At Reimagined Wesley Chapel Mall

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL — Wesley Chapel just got a lot more fun with the debut of Side Splitters Comedy Club at the Grove at Wesley Chapel.

The comedy club opened its second location inside the Grove Theater, Bistro & Entertainment at 6330 Wesley Grove Blvd. last weekend. Side Splitters has been a fixture in Tampa at 12938 N. Dale Mabry Highway since 1992.

Instead of showing newly released films, Theater 7, one of 12 theaters at the Grove Theater, has been converted into a theater with a stage to host comedy shows featuring nationally touring comedians, local talent and open mic nights for wannabes.

Residents looking for a good time can enjoy stand-up comedy from stadium-style seating. The theater is outfitted with a full bar to get the audience into the right spirits.

“We are very excited for the Wesley Chapel community to experience Side Splitters Comedy Club in a completely reimagined way,” said Mark Gold, landlord, developer and partner of Mishorim Gold Properties based in Wesley Chapel. “This space is unique as it provides an intimate venue for the performers and audience.”

Last weekend for the club's soft-opening, comedian Ben Brainard entertained audiences. Comedian Brian Aldridge took the stage this weekend. And Killer Beaz will perform Thursday, Sept. 9, to Saturday, Sept. 11.

Other national headliners slated to entertain at Side Splitter through January include Frankie Paul, Lev Fer, Nick Di Paolo, Sean Finnerty, Kyle Grooms, Collin Moulton, Mike Baldwin, Cam Bertrand, J.B. Ball, Derek Richards and Nick Hoff. To find out which comedians are coming to Side Splitters and to purchase tickets, click here.

Side Splitters is the latest tenant to join the shopping mall-turned-entertainment venue.

Gold specializes in "reimagining" tired, stale shopping malls and plazas anchored by big-box stores supporting smaller retail shops.

With the ease of online shopping, shopping centers around the country have experienced a steadily declining customer base and, in many cases, have been sold off to holding companies and hedge fund groups that have neglected their upkeep.

Gold, who has redeveloped millions of square feet of struggling malls and plazas around the country, realized the key to preventing these major shopping centers from turning into ghost towns and becoming community eyesores was to find a way to entice the community back.

While customers may find it easier to make purchases online, e-commerce can't replace the sense of community and camaraderie residents experience when they attend a community festival, enjoy a live show or concert, compete in a game of mini golf or participate in a group spin cycle session, all of which Gold has brought to the Grove.

In transforming the 250-acre shopping Center, Gold put an emphasis on offering a variety of culinary specialties, leisure activities, outdoor concerts and festivals that would draw the community together at a time when people were feeling especially isolated from their neighbors and friends.

Among the first projects he launched after purchasing the shopping center in September 2019 for $65 million was to renovate the traditional two-story, 85,000-square-foot Cobb Theater and Cinebistro into a state-of-the-art film lover's dream.

He outfitted the 12 theaters with luxurious stadium-style, reclining seats with top-of-the-line audio and visual technology, a liquor bar, the Bistro sushi bar, a 40-game arcade, a spin cycle cinema that takes exercise junkies to exotic virtual locales on the big screen, a high-end restaurant, an acting studio to stage community productions, a supervised children's play area where kids would be entertained while their parents caught an adult movie and, now, the comedy club.

Even the facade of the theater was redesigned with art deco features to mimic the Silver Screen era, hearkening back to a simpler time when the local movie house was the hub of the community.

“We call it the movie theater of the future because there is nothing like it in the country,” Gold said. To see what's playing at the Grove Theater, click here.

Gold concedes it was risky opening an entertainment venue in February while the world was still wrestling with a global pandemic. To assuage concerns, he designed the cinema with COVID-19 protocols in mind.

The theaters are equipped with fog machines that disinfect the spaces in between showings, UV light sanitation technology, automated thermal temperature scan swing gates at the entrance, an open-concept lobby that allows for social distancing and hand sanitizer stations throughout.

He said these features not only reassure families that they can safely eat out, attend movies and enjoy other activities, but also give local businesses permission to reopen and help the community's economy recover from the downturn caused by the pandemic.

"When you step foot inside the complex, you will be able to enjoy everything we have to offer without worrying about your safety," Gold said. "It will be much safer than going to the grocery store. With something for everyone, this complex will bring new life and opportunities to the Wesley Chapel community."

Krate Culinary Container Park

The renovations didn't end at the movie theater.

Following the popular model used at the Sparkman Wharf waterfront mixed-use development in Tampa, Gold brought in cargo shipping containers to build a container park called Krate.

Initally, Krate culinary park will be home to a 17 containers housing nine restaurants. Eventually, Gold plans to populate the park with 94 cargo containers with more than 50 restaurants, making it the country's largest culinary container park.

Similar to the food court concept but featuring downsized upscale chef-driven, trendy restaurants, each family member can order their choice of specialty foods from the serving windows of the cargo containers and then eat with the family in a common outdoor dining area where an outdoor stage will provide live music.

Nearby, a Hawaiian-themed 18-hole miniature golf course is nearly finished. Gold plans to add a water park with a waterfall and neon lighting features as well.

Gold expects to invest $110 million to turn the Grove at Wesley Chapel into a community gathering spot.

Here's What You'll Find At The Grove

The concept has been well-received by local businesses. Since purchasing the Grove, Gold has signed on more than 75 new tenants as well as retained the mall's major anchors including Dick's Sporting Goods, TJMaxx, Old Navy, PetSmart, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Michael's, Ulta Beauty, Best Buy, Chuck E Cheese's, Outback Steakhouse and Cracker Barrel.

Among the businesses that have signed on at the Grove at Wesley Chapel are:

Treble Makers Dueling Piano Bar & Restaurant features fine wine and fine cuisine by Chef Kevin Maggard including Black Angus hand-cut steaks, seafood, pasta and veal dishes along with dueling piano shows and live jazz. Click here for the schedule of upcoming performances.

Highland Axe Throwing pub and axe-throwing venue pays homage to the latest craze - axe-throwing - actually an ancient Highland competition. The indoor axe-throwing venue offers leagues, team-building events, private parties as well as walk-ins for residents who are suddenly overcome with an irresistible urge to throw an axe.

After opening a shop at 23912 State Road 54 in Lutz, the locally owned business founded by Joe Schembri, Ice Dreammm Shop, opened its second shop at the Grove where the owners craft "crazy ice cream concoctions." The premium, all-natural ice cream is made in the shop. Choices include cups, waffle cones and bowls, milkshakes, malts, floats and cold brew milkshakes, cookie and brownie ice cream sandwiches and ice cream pies. Ice Dreammm Shop also offers alcohol-infused ice cream and dairy-free flavors.

Founded by Steve and Micaela Falabella, Falabella Family Bistro is a family-owned casual, bistro-style Italian eatery with traditional dishes and woodfired pizza (the Falabellas also own 900-Degree Woodfired Pizza in the Shops at Wiregrass). Steve Falabella grew up in Milan, Italy, and many of the entrees are old family recipes including Gnocchi Genovese consisting of potato dumplings with fresh pesto Genovese topped with shaved Parmesan; Lemon Butter Salmon; and Frutti di Mare Al Cartoccio, a seafood and pasta medley wrapped in a parchment bag and baked.

Double Branch Artisanal Ales is named for the twin creeks that flowed through Wesley Chapel, once known as Double Branch, that was infamous for its hidden copper moonshine stills in the 1920s. Veteran brewer Robert Hunt offers a variety of pilsners and IPAs.

In conjunction with DBAA, Travis and Tammi Glenn are operating the restaurant side of the business called Omnivorous. The restaurant's signature items are Texas Eggrolls with brisket, smoked jalapeno and cream cheese with raspberry jalapeno sauce; Car Ramroad consisting of fries, cheese curds, brisket, brisket gravy, bacon and feta; and Brisket Po' Boy With Debris & Gravy, which includes brisket, brisket gravy, lettuce, tomato, pickled red onion and smoked garlic mayo on a Po' Boy roll.

Degaje local outpost and cafe features artisan coffees, wine, teas, panninis, wraps, fresh-baked goods and one-of-a-kind arts and crafts.

King of the Coop is Tampa's first Nashville hot chicken restaurant featuring fried chicken and waffles, chicken sandwiches, collard greens, seasoned fries and hush puppies. After opening in Seminole Heights, Joe Dodd opened a second eatery at the Grove.

B Creative Painting Studio is a funky paint-your-own-pottery studio that offers regular events for children and adults as well as camps for kids and parties for birthdays, bridal and baby showers.

Brooklyn Water Bagel features traditional boiled Brooklyn water bagels baked fresh daily along with breakfast sandwiches, deli sandwiches, and fresh-baked muffins and cookies.

RAW Space Collaborative provides co-working spaces as well as spaces for special events.

SMARTstart Pasco, operated by Pasco County's Economic Development Council, offers business programs for start-ups and incubators, networking and the SMARTstart Microloan Program.

Community Events

The Grove also features community events throughout the year including the Labor Day weekend festival, The Chapel Chop, with beer and barbecue competitions.

The Krateoberfest craft beer festival Saturday, Oct. 9 at 4 p.m. featuring more than 100 craft beers from 25 breweries, cooking shows, live music, tasting workshops, wine pairing and a brewers pavilion.

The Groveaween Halloween cinematic experience is set for Saturday, Oct. 30 at 9 p.m., featuring food trucks, haunted houses, DJs and costumes required.

Residents can get updates on the Grove at Wesley Chapel on the venue's Facebook and Instagram pages.

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