Why were Philadelphia expatriates so elated at the arrival of Wawas in Florida? Sure, the convenience chain is well-run, it treats its employees well, the stores are spacious and attractive, but, well, it’s just a convenience chain, right? Maybe it’s the cool push-button sandwich-ordering thingy — it’s brilliant! — or even the sandwiches themselves, almost as good as Publix hoagies, er, subs. But no, the real reason, which brought back a Proustian rush of taste memories to one recent visitor to the Gandy Blvd. Wawa in Pinellas Park: the wall of Tastykakes! Well, not a wall exactly, but shelf upon shelf devoted entirely to the best little packaged dessert pies and cakes ever. Peanut butter-and-chocolate Kandykakes, we missed you more than we knew! 3101 Gandy Blvd., Pinellas Park, 727-576-1804. wawa.com.
Goods & Services
Who among us hasn’t knocked their coffee/water/wine onto their computer’s keypad and freaked out? Good news… there is a saint in our community, a savior of information who keeps us from slashing our wrists at the realization that we’ve been too lazy to back up our info for three months and that the project we’ve been slaving over is toast unless he works his miracles on our behalf. Steve Bush, at Screwbox, is the man for Macs. He epitomizes competence. Bless him. 3117 W. Columbus Drive, Tampa, 813-784-4178. thescrewbox.com.
Runner Up: Andrew Winchell of Mark Dalton, Inc.
Whether you’re looking to get a bun in the oven, already baking, or looking for post-bun delivery advice, Thank You Mama has you covered, from fertility and pre-natal acupuncture to massage, tinctures, teas and all that’s in between. There’s even a boutique of earth momma-friendly supplies. And the ladies that operate this network are incredibly connected goddesses, hip to the earthiest information on how to rear and raise in harmony with nature. 1511 4th St. N., St Petersburg, 727-289-7250. thankyou-mama.com.
Runners Up: Chase, Regions
It’s where you’ll find the best little box, best medium box, and best you-didn’t-know-you-needed-it-till-you-saw-it-in-The-Container-Store box — itself a big shiny white box whose ambience is so bright and playful, its employees so genuinely cheerful, that it may make you rethink your anti-big-box-store bias. But the best part is the merch, a dazzling range of items in a variety of price ranges to meet all kinds of storage needs, like the find we made on a recent visit: an ingenious drop-down spice rack that solves once and for all the problem of shuffling through all those little jars from Savory Spice Shop. 4720 W. Spruce St. (corner of Spruce and Westshore across from International Plaza), Tampa, 813-774-4060. containerstore.com.
