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News

    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • February 29, 2008
Commercial Real Estate Briefs

Contemporary Cabinets buys Coke plantOE Racing moves to Centre buildingInvestor buys tattoo parlorVegas developer plans Westshore ElementTampa developer buys Mercantile BuildingHonolulu investors buy Tampa AutoZoneGVA gets Oldsmar GalleriaPF Holdings buys Lynwood SquareTimberstone Group buys Arborgate landPro-Build closes on Cox Lumber land

  • Manatee-Sarasota
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • February 29, 2008
Coffee Talk

Of fairy tales and housing sales: When Michael Saunders recently addressed the 400 or so real estate agents that make up the bulk of the sales force at the Sarasota-based firm that bears her name, she wanted to combine a pep talk with humor.New Dillard's store may mean transition: Dillard's has started construction on a new store at the sprawling Wiregrass Ranch mixed-use development in Wesley ChapelPopulation slowdown threatens Gators: Construction isn't the only thing that's going to suffer from a decline in population growth in Florida.Non-profit CEO, for-profit style: Mary Labyak, 59, is president and CEO of the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast in Clearwater.Retired entrepreneur gives big for Wellness: An ambitious fundraising campaign for a new building for the Wellness Community, a Sarasota-based support group for cancer patients and their families, is off to a rousing start.Luxury hotel secret officially official: One of the worst kept secrets in the Sarasota development community is no longer a secretCalling GULF COAST entrepreneurs: The Review is seeking the best and brightest Gulf Coast entrepreneurs for its 2008 Entrepreneur Award.

  • News
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • February 22, 2008
Commercial Real Estate Briefs

Maronda Homes buys 48 lotsMiami investment group buys Sunstate centerOhio investors buyBrantley buildingsStonehenge Capital buys Dixie-Southern, landEntrepreneur Ben Pricebuys bowling lanesSayco, Aqua Fasteners relocate to Bell RoadBallast Point Group buys 23 acresAmprop Development buys building for bankTrust buys Largo units, leases to Kramski

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • February 22, 2008
Coffee Talk

Man chamber seeks menbers: Guys, this could be a chamber for you.Amscot not roiled by down economy: The slower economy hasn't stopped people from cashing checks, and that pleases Ian MacKechnieHome swap interest on the rise: When David Moskowitz created a Web site early last year to assist people looking to trade homesExercise the body, grow the profits: A Harvard MBA and management experience can be valuable to a Gulf Coast CEO. But what's just as valuable?And the coveted Stevie award goes to...: If the Oscars and the Grammys have left you with a bout of award envy, worry no moreBonita Bay Group's Hendry projects delayed: The housing bust that is gripping Southwest Florida is pushing back some of developer Bonita Bay Group's plans for residential communities in eastern Lee and Hendry counties.It's only rock n' roll, but we like it: Put away the motivational posters. Reconsider the free monthly back massages in the break room. Another team building exercise on the ropes course?CLW takes stand for heart health: The employees of CLW Real Estate Services Group in Tampa are no strangers to the danger caused by heart disease.Existing-home prices in Naples fall 29% Talk about an eye-popper.Calling Florida entrepreneurs

  • News
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • February 15, 2008
Coffee Talk

Lee County housing is nation's worst: Look at things on the bright side. Wachovia Senior Economist Mark Vitner does, especially when it comes to the housing market in Lee County.Real estate market on two strikes: When national housing economist Jack McCabe brought his brand of blunt analysis to a group of high-end Sarasota and Bradenton Realtors recently, he settled on a baseball analogy for one of his best zingers. StarLite adding to its fleet: One of the Tampa Bay area's oldest tourist and leisure businesses, StarLite Cruises, is adding another vessel to its dinner and sightseeing fleet.Tech group forms in SW Florida: Southwest Florida isn't exactly a bastion for high-tech entrepreneurs. Techies who toil here often do so alone.A Franchise first for First Watch: Lakewood Ranch-based First Watch, one of the Gulf Coast's most popular breakfast-brunch-lunch restaurant chains, is officially opening its franchise doorConstruction executive leaves lasting legacy: John Cox has long been highly thought of in Gulf Coast development and construction circles for his projectsGulf Coast BUILDING

  • News
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • February 15, 2008
Commercial Real Estate Briefs

Island Development buys Venetian Towers landCenterco Properties buys Naples GoodyearTruck & Van Works relocates north on MetroHubbard brothers bowling for landSarasota area hotelierbuys U.S. 41 vacant lotSarasota developers plan Alta Mer IIDevelopers Diversified sells Bloomingdale HillNew York company buys Colony CrossingsTA Associates acquires Grand Regency Center

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • February 8, 2008
Coffee Talk

The end really was near: Builders who gathered at a Collier Building Industry Association dinner last week were buzzing about the latest Florida homebuilder to file bankruptcy: Tousa Inc., based in Hollywood.Geography change might do it good: Jim Tille, president of a 60-employee, Sarasota-based commercial plumbing firm, is about to go on business trips to Puerto Rico and Aruba, among other places.Competing brokerages to form one entity: Executives at two of the Gulf Coast's largest Re/Max residential real estate firms have taken the "time to buy" mantra of the local real estate market literally, with a twist.Angels flocking together in Southwest Florida: More than just Lee County is involved in an effort to create a regional angel investment fund. Coffee Talk first reported the move to create the Southwest Florida Regional Angel Fund last week.And now, the greening of the death business: Going green continues to be the trend of all trends in business, from so-called eco-friendly vodkas to green manufacturing practices to even green garbage collection.Bad loans crop up in commercial real estate: Is the economic downturn starting to impact commercial real estate?Tampa broker tops in nation: There are a lot of business awards, but when you're from Tampa and you top businesspeople in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago to be best in the nation, and then do it again, it's worth noting.Bradenton community bank puts priority on

  • News
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • February 8, 2008
Commercial Real Estate Briefs

Shaw Development moves to Lee CountyBrauvin Real Estate buys Lehigh dialysis centerdurpos Buyhomebuilder's officeBoston, Sarasota investors buy Waldemere PlazaCalifornia company, othersbuy Manatee Town CenterSarasota investors buy, lease Center CourtPrudential, CLW buy Tampa buildingsHallandale investor buys Skipper PalmsAtria Senior Living buys Baypoint Village

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • February 2, 2008
Commercial Real Estate Briefs

Attorney, citrus broker buy groveEntrepreneurs redevelop Admiral Lehigh resortCompany expands to NaplesTampa Toyota owner buys Southpointe MotorcarsTervis Tumbler Co.busy additional landBenderson sells sites to Budget Self StorageCNL, AmStar Group buy Two Harbour PlaceTarpon Springs contractor buys Family Dollar buildingLandeavor, Walton Streettake over Pulte's LakesideD.E. Shaw Group buys 9,300 homesites

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • February 2, 2008
Coffee Talk

Christmas Break is for the birds: This falls in the no-good-deed-goes-unpunished category.U.S. recession: It's all in our heads: The only way the U.S. economy slips into a recession is if we collectively talk ourselves into it. The underlying fundamentals are just too strong otherwise.Major hotel deal possible for Sarasota: The Sarasota-Bradenton business community could be on the verge of receiving some good news: Coffee Talk hears that the Waldorf-Astoria hotel is in the final stages of officially signing on to the Proscenium project.Mel's Diner slows, closes some restaurants: The economic downturn has hit the customers of affordable restaurants, forcing Chris Karakosta to close three of his Mel's Diner restaurants on the Gulf Coast recently.Score one for impact fee opponents: Despite the turbulent economy, impact fees imposed on developers and builders statewide have remained the tax du jour for county and local governments seeking ways to reel in more money.Wanted: Angel investors in Lee: The Lee County Economic Development office is exploring ways of creating an angel fund to invest in local companies.Clearwater firm builds CNN bus: When it came time for CNN to plan its coverage of the 2008 election campaign, the decision was made: Have Parliament Coach and Frontline Communications of Clearwater build a news bus.

  • News
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • January 26, 2008
Commercial Real Estate Briefs

Richman, First Florida plan apartment complexOsprey Property Cos.buys land for new retailTampa flooring retailer buys Race Track centerOhio storage company buys Lockwood storageOcala John Deere dealer buys Palmetto dealershipSarasota developers plan Siesta Village lotBonita Springs developers plan Forum business centerRec Room Furniture sells Naples buildingInvestors acquireDunkin' Donuts center

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • January 26, 2008
Coffee Talk

Million-dollar tax bill goes to court: Fresh off selling his multimillion stake in Venice-based window manufacturer PGT Industries, Paul Hostetler sought a bank and an investment firm to reduce his and his family's tax bill.WCI: Icahn makes banks blink: News that banks granted Bonita Springs-based WCI Communities until June 2009 to gets its financial house in order had Carl Icahn written all over it.Westshore's Austin bullish on Giuliani: Al Austin, the Tampa developer known as the father of Westshore, Florida's biggest business district, keeps busy with more than real estate these days.Sarasota money draws a crowd: In these tough economic times, Coffee Talk was surprised to hear yet another wealth management firm is entering the Sarasota market.Downtown Fort Myers condos on hold for duration: If construction hasn't started on a downtown Fort Myers condo tower yet, buyers will have to wait until the residential downturn is over. Sawgrass Creek building nears completion Managers eye Merrill's Florida pension businessMcKibbon goes green with new hotelsMetro, Shaw enter joint venture HMA gets bump from Wachovia analystSt. Pete to issue RFP for Trop site

  • News
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • January 18, 2008
Coffee Talk

National hotel chain bets on Gulf Coast: Since the slumping housing market's bite is cutting into just about any industry that gets in its way, this might seem like a strange time to be hyping fractional condo ownership on the Gulf Coast.Bad economic predictions? Kill the messenger: Hank Fishkind's word may be golden among Florida developers and bond investors, but builders in Cape Coral were furious when the Orlando economist recently said it might take as long as four years for the Cape Coral-Fort Myers area to recover from the real estate downturn.John R. Wood trims Fort Myers operation: John R. Wood Realtors, the Naples-based residential real estate brokerage firm, closed its Fort Myers office and most of the 25 agents there will relocate to Bonita Springs.Bradenton Bank's downtown Tampa exposure: Add a new name to the downtown Tampa skyline: M&I.Locally created commercial gets second life: Sometimes the best kinds of publicity can't be bought.Lakewood Ranch grocer leaves field to Publix: Score one for Publix.Homebuilding land gone to the dog: Tampa-based real estate land broker Bill Eshenbaugh, a.k.a. "The Dirt Dog" on his Web site, is a busy man these days.ECONOMIC SNAPSHOT GULF COAST TOURISMBuchanan seeks advice from local executives

  • News
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • January 18, 2008
Commercial Real Estate Briefs

JKL Design Group relocates to 61stKauffman, partners plan to start Ringling PointeSarasota County, Swiftmud buy landFort Properties Inc. buys Shaw Aero facilityTerra Del Prado buys Merchant centerForge Capital, DeBartolo buy Sunshine PlazaEquity, NRI buy land, prep for startColorado investors buy assisted living propertiesForesight Holdings Inc. acquires Largo Bazaar

  • Manatee-Sarasota
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • January 11, 2008
Coffee Talk

Rep Aubuchon: cut school taxes 40%: The property tax debate will be far from over even after Jan. 29, the day Floridians will vote on a new property tax amendment.Bank exec voluntarily demotes himself: George Najmy, president and chief executive officer of Bradenton-based First Priority Bank, approached the bank's board of directors late last year with a rather unusual requestHealth care costs continue getting costlier: The struggles many small business owners face in providing health care to employees will only get worse in 2008, a new study predicts.New York ad firm buys Sarasota company: With some national naysayers lamenting that Florida' glory days are over, Coffee Talk was pleased to hear a big New York advertising firm wants in on the Sunshine State.Sherman mauls management of Bear Stearns: Bruce Sherman, the CEO of Naples-based Private Capital Management, is agitating again.Market forces catch up to entrepreneur: One time high-flying St. Petersburg-based entrepreneur Frank Maggio has hit some low times.New York's finest comes to Tampa: If you make a stun gun that competes with the taser, you may need to bring in an established veteran to help you win the shootout, or perhaps the stunout.CNL bullish on Tampa: Despite the real estate slowdown, CNL Commercial Real Estate is bullish on Tampa.

  • News
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