Sharon Bokor the Broker Florida Real Estate Experts

05/30/2026

🍺🌭 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘 — 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐅 𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐍𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐍'𝐒 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐓𝐇

For years, downtown Plant City has transformed itself one building, one business, and one investment at a time.

What was once a downtown many people simply drove through has become a destination filled with local restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, entertainment venues, professional services, and community gathering spaces.

And the momentum isn't slowing down.

A new chapter is now brewing at the former Linda's Crab Shack building on Reynolds Street, where Leaven Brewing Co. and Dingers Roadside Cafe are preparing to open a dual-concept destination that combines craft beer, family-friendly dining, and community space under one roof.

The project is another example of what has helped make downtown Plant City successful: entrepreneurs continuing to invest in existing buildings while creating new reasons for people to spend time downtown.

Today, the Historic Plant City Main Street district includes more than 100 businesses, restaurants, shops, services, attractions, and destinations packed into a walkable downtown core.

Plant City's story is a reminder that economic development isn't always about landing one massive project.

Sometimes it's about creating an environment where dozens of smaller successes can happen.

And when they do, an entire community can change.

📍 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍:

If you could give one area in East Hillsborough County the "Plant City treatment" over the next 10 years, where would it be?

Brandon?
Valrico?
Seffner?
Riverview?
Ruskin?
Apollo Beach?
Somewhere else?

👇 Tell us which community you would choose — and why.

PS - Apologies for any spelling errors on map...they were not intentional. That's what you get when you rely on AI...

📸 Photos: City of Plant City Government
🗺️ Map: Historic Plant City Main Street

Bokors Corner Realty
Florida Real Estate Experts
📞 813-708-2266

05/30/2026

☕🚨 BETTER BUZZ COFFEE IS COMING TO BRANDON 🚨☕

The old Steak 'n Shake building at 1402 W. Brandon Blvd. appears to have a new future.

Permit plans filed this week show Better Buzz Coffee preparing to transform the former restaurant into a new Brandon location.

The submitted plans call for a major renovation of the existing 3,625-square-foot building, including a remodeled dining room, dedicated mobile pickup areas, drive-thru improvements, updated kitchen and coffee production equipment, exterior upgrades, and a complete rebranding of the site.

Founded in San Diego, Better Buzz has built a loyal following around its specialty coffee drinks, breakfast offerings, and modern café design.

The renderings show a dramatic transformation from the former Steak 'n Shake appearance into Better Buzz's signature black, white, and gold look.

As always, permit filings represent proposed work and timelines can change, but this project has now entered the formal permitting process.

☕ Have you ever tried Better Buzz Coffee?

☕ Would you choose Better Buzz over Just Love Coffee, Dutch Bros, Starbucks, Dunkin, Foxtail, 7 Brew, Scooter's... y'all sure love your caffeine!

P.S. — Remember, you saw this here first.

I'll be honest, it stinks seeing something you've spent hours researching show up somewhere else later. Thanks to everyone who follows, shares, comments, and supports Bokors Corner. Your support makes the work worthwhile.

📍 Former Steak 'n Shake
1402 W. Brandon Blvd., Brandon

Source: Google Street View. Renderings and site plans obtained from public permit filings.

Bokors Corner Realty
Florida Real Estate Experts
📞 813-708-2266

05/28/2026

I could not have said it better myself.

Time decides who you meet in life, your heart decides who you want in your life, and your behavior decides who stays in your life. ⏳💙

05/28/2026

🔥 BRANDON — BETTER BLEND OPENING JUNE 6 ON E. BRANDON BLVD

Another new spot is getting ready to open along Brandon Boulevard.
Better Blend - Brandon is officially opening Saturday, June 6 at 9 AM at 955 E. Brandon Blvd, right next to BubbaQue’s.

The shop will feature high-protein, low-sugar smoothies, smoothie bowls, açaí bowls, and options for vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free diets.

They’re also planning opening-day specials for early customers, including smoothie bowl promos, samples, Bark Bowls for dogs, and prize opportunities through the business.

📍 955 E. Brandon Blvd, Brandon
🕘 Saturday, June 6 — doors open at 9 AM

Brandon Boulevard keeps filling in with new food and drink options. Who’s planning to check this one out?

Photos/graphic courtesy of Better Blend - Brandon.

Bokors Corner Realty
Florida Real Estate Experts
📞 813-708-2266

05/28/2026

I wish to share some reflections following a post I read today regarding a homeowner who is hesitant to work with a Realtor despite needing to sell her home. This situation has made me consider the broader challenges our industry is currently facing. With the ongoing legal issues surrounding the National Association of Realtors (NAR), it seems that public trust may be declining, which is reflected in the association’s dwindling membership.

As you may recall, I chose to cancel my own membership three years ago. This decision followed a deeply troubling experience where an unethical broker and an unscrupulous attorney leveraged board of Realtors hearing panel to seize funds from my brokerage without any supporting documentation. It was clear that the process was compromised by personal connections between the board and the other party rather than being based on facts or ethics.

Because of this, I want to clarify that I am not a Realtor. I operate strictly as a Thompson Broker, maintaining a commitment to professional integrity outside of that association. I believe it is important to distinguish my practice from these systemic issues as we navigate the current industry landscape.

I would be very interested to hear your thoughts on how these industry changes are impacting your perspective and whether you believe there are specific steps we should take to better communicate our value to clients.

Sharon Bokor

Bokors Corner Realty, LLC

Florida Real Estate Experts

Phone: 813-708-2266

Florida Licensed Real Estate Broker BK685689

Florida State Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser RD6263

05/28/2026

⚖️ 𝐑𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐌𝐎𝐔 𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 — 𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐖 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐂𝐑𝐀 𝐕𝐎𝐓𝐄

Tampa City Council approval did 𝐧𝐨𝐭 fully complete the Rays MOU process.

According to official county legal correspondence, the MOU had not been fully approved by all required parties because the Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency, or CRA, still had to approve its part.

Two votes were scheduled: one as City Council for the city funding piece, and one as the CRA Board for the Drew Park CRA funding piece.

The City Council vote narrowly passed 4–3. But the separate CRA Board vote on Drew Park CRA funding was tabled until June 11.

CRA money is not regular city money. It comes from Tax Increment Financing, or TIF, tied to a specific redevelopment district. Here, the stadium deal involves Drew Park CRA/TIF dollars.

Even though the same City Council members also sit as the CRA Board, they act as a separate legal entity when approving CRA funds.

That is why this matters: 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐥 ≠ 𝐂𝐑𝐀 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐥.

Same people. Different legal hat. Different funding source. Different vote.

So when the Drew Park CRA vote was pushed to June 11, the Rays MOU was not a completed “done deal.”

Please don’t shoot the messenger — I’m reporting what I believe is an important public funding story, not arguing for or against the stadium itself.

For the record, I’m a die-hard baseball fan. I played through high school, went to Opening Day for the Devil Rays in 1998, before they dropped “Devil” in 2007, and I’ve gone regularly. A stadium 20 miles away instead of 50 would be a treat.

But at whose expense?

Economic activity would BOOM in the stadium district, but the direct benefit for taxpayers in Wimauma, Lithia, Riverview, Brandon, or other parts of Hillsborough County is harder to see.

A lot of people out here may rather see their tax dollars go toward roads and infrastructure before helping fund another stadium they may never visit.

And if that sounds familiar, Raymond James Stadium had a similar public-funding debate in 1996 — also involving taxpayer dollars.

Bokors Corner Realty
Florida Real Estate Experts
📞 813-708-2266

05/28/2026

🥟🔥 VALRICO / BRANDON — MR. EMPANADA IS COMING SOON TO VALRICO COMMONS

Mr. Empanada appears to be headed for Valrico Commons at:

📍 1901 E. Brandon Blvd. / SR 60
📍 Unit 1999 — Valrico, FL

The Valrico Commons leasing/site plan shows Unit 1999 as a 1,068 sq. ft. restaurant space near Publix, Asian Kitchen, Verizon, Five Below, Pet Supplies Plus, Ross, and The UPS Store.

Mr. Empanada has also posted a “Coming Soon” graphic, so this one looks like it’s officially moving forward.

Who’s ready for empanadas on SR 60? 👇

Image/announcement from Mr. Empanada. Site plan from Valrico Commons leasing materials. Bokors Corner is sharing as a local development/business update.

Bokors Corner Realty
Florida Real Estate Experts
📞 813-708-2266

05/28/2026

🐾 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘 — 𝟖 𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒, 𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐃𝐎𝐆𝐒, 𝟑 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒, 𝐙𝐄𝐑𝐎 𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐒

One of the largest dog-adoption events in the region is returning to Plant City this weekend.

The Fourth Annual Mega Dog Adoption Event will bring hundreds of adoptable dogs from shelters across Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, Pasco, Polk, Orange, Marion, and Sumter counties to the Florida Strawberry Festival Fairgrounds May 29–31.

📍 Grimes Family Agricultural Center
📅 Friday–Sunday
⏰ 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Organizers say more than 300 adoption-ready dogs will be available each day — all vaccinated, microchipped, spayed/neutered, and completely free to adopt.

Saturday’s “Extravaganza Day” will also include food trucks, vendors, trainers, groomers, touch-a-truck activities, OneBlood donations, and a meet-and-greet with Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin and the Team Godwin Foundation.

Local shelters continue operating above capacity, with Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center currently around 150% capacity for dogs.

Thinking about adopting? This may be one of the biggest local adoption weekends of the year. 🐶👇

Bokors Corner Realty
Florida Real Estate Experts
📞 813-708-2266

05/23/2026

🐾 BRANDON / FORGOTTEN ANGELS — JORDAN’S WAY LIVE FUNDRAISER COMING MAY 27 🎥🐶

This should be a fun one.

Jordan's Way is bringing its high-energy national tour to Forgotten Angels on Wednesday, May 27, for a 3-hour LIVE fundraiser supporting local rescue animals and Forgotten Angels’ mission.

The event will include live challenges, laughs, fundraising, and plenty of moments built around helping both kids and fur babies. ❤️🐾

📍 Forgotten Angels
🗓 Wednesday, May 27
⏰ Live fundraiser: 6–9 PM
🙋 Volunteers should arrive by 4:30 PM

This fundraiser benefits:
▪️ Forgotten Angels
▪️ 4 Lucky Dogs Pet Rescue
▪️ 4 Lucky Doodles Pet Rescue

If you’ve been looking for a fun way to support a local cause, this is one to watch — or show up for.

Drop a 🐾 below if you’re planning to follow along or stop by.

Bokors Corner Realty
Florida Real Estate Experts
📞 813-708-2266

05/22/2026

🚧 FISHHAWK / BOYETTE ROAD — MAJOR TRAFFIC SHIFT STARTS MAY 31

If you use Boyette Road between McMullen Road and Bell Shoals Road, pay attention to this one.

Tampa Bay Water says crews working on the South Hillsborough Pipeline will begin nightly lane closures at 9 p.m. Sunday, May 31.

This is the first phase of construction expected to affect the Boyette Road / FishHawk Boulevard corridor for the next 12–16 months.

The initial closures will happen in phases:

▪️ May 31: McMullen Road to Wickerwood Court
▪️ June 1: Wickerwood Court to Sedgebrook Drive
▪️ June 2: Sedgebrook Drive toward Village at Boyette / Bell Shoals Road

By the following mornings, westbound Boyette Road will be reduced to one lane in affected areas, with traffic diverted and signal timing adjusted.

The project map shows westbound traffic pushed into a single lane, while eastbound traffic is also reduced to one lane. Business access is expected to remain open.

Once the lanes are shifted, crews will bring in heavy equipment and pipe segments, remove asphalt, and begin installing the new drinking water pipeline east toward the Lithia Water Treatment Plant.

Bottom line: this stretch of Boyette is about to get tight.

Expect delays, changing traffic patterns, and slower commutes.

If Boyette is part of your daily route, start planning alternate options now...not that you have many...

Bokors Corner Realty
Florida Real Estate Experts
📞 813-708-2266