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News

  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • August 17, 2007
Coffee Talk

Sarasota company hopes to shine in India: Sarasota-based cartridge valve manufacturer Sun Hydraulics has a good grip on at least six global markets, from Korea to Germany.Lee County: Anotherday, another tax: Not a week goes by in Lee County that county government doesn't dream up another tax on builders.Cold storage creates trifecta for Sarasota warehouse: The latest tenant for the Meridian Distribution Center, a 950,000-square-foot warehouse facility on Clark Road in south Sarasota, is especially apropos, given the sweltering Gulf Coast summerAnother public company going private: First, there was Outback Steakhouse. Now, St. Petersburg-based Catalina Marketing is headed to the private companies club.Nightline dumbs down Ave Maria: Ave Maria, the new town being built in eastern Collier County around the newest Catholic university, has been getting lots of national publicity lately opening to new residents, students and faculty.Good guys sometimes lose: Ethical companies don't always win, even when their employees do the right thing.Call the sign shop, again: MacDill Federal Credit Union, an institution of sorts in the Tampa area financial services industry, is changing its name to Grow Financial Federal Credit Union.Kottkamp bashes Hometown Democracy: Gov. Charlie Crist has been notably absent from the raging debate over the Hometown Democracy movement that seeks to put every major land-use change in Florida on the ba

  • News
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • August 10, 2007
Coffee Talk

WCI's embarrassing cash trickle: February seems such a long time ago.Here come the '80s, S&L-like?: The softening of the housing market is well known. Get ready for what may come next: Banks foreclosing on land in Florida meant for residential.Looking for overseas business opportunities: Entrepreneurs and small business owners seeking a way to make business and networking contacts in seven international cities can contact Carla Rayman, the new president of the Sarasota Sister Cities Association.Mr. DeBartolo goes to Lakeland: Could this be a sign of a new surge of development in Polk County?Lawyers descend on Health Management Associates: As if on cue following a stock-price decline, legal buzzards are now circling around the Naples-based hospital chain Health Management Associates.It's not D.C., but it's not bad: Westshore's newest office project, the 580,000-square-foot multi-level West View Corporate Center, will feature a reflecting pool fronted by a long rectangular green open space called The Common.

  • News
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • August 10, 2007
Commercial Real Estate Briefs

Montecito Medical Investment acquires Summit Medical CenterMilestone Group acquires Lutz's Willow LakeSt. Petersburg investor buys Raymond James Office ParkMissouri developer plans Alico Road retail centerEd Bonkowski group acquires three duplex propertiesMD Developers buildFort Myers officeJoint venture takes control of two Holiday InnsFort Myers investorimproves Self StoragePublix Super Markets buys University Walk retail center

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • August 3, 2007
Coffee Talk

West Tampa feels the urban awakening: First there was Hyde Park in south Tampa. Then Seminole Heights. Then northern Ybor City. Then Tampa Heights north of downtown. Then Channelside.Bulldozers coming to Westshore: For those who don't know: Westshore is the largest business district on the Gulf Coast with more than 11 million square feet of offices. Some put it past Miami.Homebuilders strive to melt the housing slump: Homebuilders have resorted to all kinds of gimmicks - that is, incentives - when it comes to pushing product in the current slumping real estate market. Boat company sails through good times and bad: Clearwater-based boat retailer MarineMax's hot 2006 has so far only led to a cold 2007.What's in a name?: If you're wondering whether Raymond James & Associates Inc. made a wise investment in sponsoring Raymond James Stadium, the answer is yes, says one family member.Loan-seeking entrepreneurs experience express success: Budding small business owners and entrepreneurs know the drill when it comes to getting loans for a new business venture: Swallow hard, close your eyes and brace for the dreaded "no."And now, Governor blah, blah, blah

  • News
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • August 3, 2007
Commercial Real Estate Briefs

Whitaker Yacht Club near start, adds MarriottBonita Bay Group buys back Punta Gorda landNaples developers renaming, developing Tranquility IslandEdens & Avant buys Coral Shores centerLiberty Investment plans extended-stay Fort Myers hotelCitrus World buys 80-acre groveRealty Equity buys two office buildingsDuke Realty buys land for Big Bend center Camden Property Trust acquires Pointe at Kings AvenueFuel and Shubh buy Westshore Hotel

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • July 27, 2007
Coffee Talk

Raymond James quarterly a surprise: If you're hearing cheers inside St. Petersburg brokerage Raymond James Financial Inc. it's because fiscal third-quarter profit rose 20%, helped by a big increase in revenue at its banking unit.WCI Communities stock loses altitude: WCI Communities, the Bonita Springs-based homebuilder that's for sale, saw its stock drop 22% in the five trading days ending July 24 to nearly $12 per share.Creative Loafing not on the fringe anymore: Move over, sexed-up personals ads. Creative Loafing, Tampa's hip, urban alternative weekly, is becoming corporate, in its own way.Lee County considers raising taxes...again: When revenues are down, at least one county has a solution: Raise taxes, and then raise taxes some more.What housing slump? Not in Tampa: The online edition of Forbes magazine says the Tampa Bay area is the No. 1 area in the country to buy a house.Perlman opens NYC home for charity: Music lovers take note: World-renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman is opening up his New York City home for an intimate concert Oct. 30, with the proceeds going to support the Sarasota-based Van Wezel Foundation and the musician's popular winter residency program.Sembler Co. plans ambitious project: Sembler Co., the St. Petersburg retail developer known for BayWalk in St. Petersburg and Centro Ybor in Ybor City, is planning its biggest development to date. But it's not in Florida.Southwest singles out Fort Myers: Sou

  • News
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • July 27, 2007
Commercial Real Estate Briefs

Publix Supermarkets buys Lehigh's CrossroadsPartnership starts infrastructure for 90-acre Meridian CenterFGCU foundation buys marine research facilityColonial Bank plans Nokomis branch21st Century Oncology opening Lakewood Ranch officeWillis A. Smith Construction awarded SCTI expansionArea Dunkin' Donuts buildings up for saleGoldenTree, Cypress Creek buy 501 KennedyBaycare Health System buys land for hospitalCalif.'s Pacificia Cos.acquires Sun City residence

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • July 20, 2007
Coffee Talk

Can Big Sugar save the planet?: Florida Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, fresh from the environmental lovefest in Miami featuring California's "Governator," predicted Florida's sugarcane farmers would be able to produce ethanol more cheaply than Midwestern corn growers.Sun continues to rise in Sarasota: Sarasota and Bradenton are not known for their public company stars, not at least when compared to say Fort Myers, with Chico's or Clearwater, home to Tech Data.Florida company exits mortgage business: The continuing storm in the national mortgage industry brushed up against Sarasota late last month when a Vero Beach firm with a niche in federal government mortgages, such as those produced by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, exited the industry.Pasco growing in other ways: A month ago, we reported on the boom in retail development in south central Pasco County. But there's more than a retail boom.Southeast partner takes USF post: Irv Cohen, a partner with Southeast Capital Partners, is the latest high-profile business adviser to be named an Executive-in-Residence at the University of South Florida's College of Business in Tampa.Miva founder now selling shutters: What happened to Craig Pisaris-Henderson?

  • News
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • July 13, 2007
Coffee Talk

Sour grapes drench Southwest Florida: If Meritage were a wine varietal, the taste would be pretty sour.Politician makes both sides happy: Keith Fitzgerald has only been a state legislator for one session, but the Democrat who doubles as a political science professor at Sarasota-based New College is making friends in some surprising places.Chico's Chairman to the rescue: Michael Weiss, the chairman of Chico's FAS, is coming to the rescue.Jabil Circuit stock rises on rumors: On Tuesday, July 10, shares of Jabil Circuit surged 5.3%, or $1.17, to $23.39, amid speculation that a private-equity firm was interested in the company.Homebuilder parties like it's 2003: Lakewood Ranch-based homebuilder Pat Neal is one of several Gulf Coast executives who have been saying for a few months that the cyclical real estate market is showing signs of beginning to make a positive turn in the cycle.Fighting the hometown scam: Florida Chamber of Commerce executives are fanning across the state to push a new Web site to fight the Hometown Democracy movement, www.thehometownscam.com.Entrepreneur finally gives up on convention center: Oscar Parsons, the crotchety 85-year-old entrepreneur who has spent the past five years trying to make a go out of a privately owned convention center - think using a garden hose to extinguish a raging warehouse fire - is finally admitting defeat.

  • News
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • July 6, 2007
Commercial Real Estate Briefs

North Port hospital planned at North Sumter, I-75First Florida Bank building Charlotte branchSaunders acquires Strom & StromGemesis Corp. weighs expansion alternativesAM Engineering moves to trade centerWelsh buys land for retail projecTBoynton Beach firmbuys Westgate buildingSanibel physician buys Sunset buildingSalamander acquires Westin InnisbrookHIT Promotional expands to 118th AvenueLargo investor buys Ashley Oaks

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • July 6, 2007
Like Radical, Dude

A national teen retailer is bringing its California vibe to Florida.It's opening 17 stores in the Sunshine State in less than a year.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • July 6, 2007
Coffee Talk

Insurers to governor: What promises?: Seriously, Gov. Crist can't be surprised that homeowner insurance rates didn't drop as far as he and lawmakers predicted, can he?Challenges linger for Gevity: Lakewood Ranch-based Gevity is still struggling to execute its transformation from a professional employee organization driven largely by workers' compensation insurance to becoming a full-service human resource provider for small and mid-sized businesses.Analyst pessimistic on Tech Data: Though he has increased his target price on Tech Data shares, Zacks Equity Research senior retail industry analyst Rob Plaza is keeping his sell rating for the Clearwater-based technology distributor.New headquarters for WCI?: Is WCI Communities relocating?Speculation in Lehigh Acres: Dennis Black, the Port Charlotte appraiser who shined the light on speculative home buying in North Port, has his sights set on Lehigh Acres next.Do you have 1 million square feet?: Commercial real estate brokers at Cushman & Wakefield have identified nine companies scouting sites in Florida that could each handle 1 million square feet of space.

  • News
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 29, 2007
Commercial Real Estate Briefs

Fort Myers' P.F. Holdings buys Horizon PlazaParadise Development buys ArborGate land for WalgreensDebbie's Drapery Design Studio moves to Trace Center WayManatee County School Boardbuys Superior Electronics buildingsSarasota investors buy Riverside Oaks ParkMassachusetts investor buys Commerce Court buildingNewland Communities planning FishHawk neighbor Lake HuttoBPG Investment Partnership buys, renames telecom buildingOcala investors buy buildingsplan condo conversion

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 29, 2007
Tuning up Deals

Anthony Migliore comes to commercial real estate with songs still spinning in his head from a past career. His best melody has been to aim for small successes.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 29, 2007
Coffee Talk

Gaining and losing muscle in the Russell: Coast Financial Holdings, the battered parent company of Bradenton-based Coast Bank, has suffered yet another setback: Being booted off the prestigious family of Russell Indexes, one of the leading stock market tracking funds.Chamber recognizes pro-business legislators: A diverse combination of old standards and rookie state legislators from the Gulf Coast were given high grades, and praise, by the Florida Chamber of Commerce when it comes to voting and pushing through bills in the best interests of business. Coffee businesses roast a good deal: Sarasota-based coffee entrepreneur Michael Duranko's main goal since he opened his first Local Coffee & Tea shop on Siesta Key in February has been to combine his ambitious growth plans with a keep-it-local mantra.Bay City Plywood re-brands: Tampa-based home improvement chain Bay City Plywood is modifying its name to add "Cabinets" to become Bay City Plywood & Cabinets.Hovnanian: Fort Myers is the worst housing market: What once was one of the best housing markets has turned into the worst.Colliers Arnold growing, makes moves: Clearwater-based real estate brokerage Colliers Arnold has hired 70 new people in the past year and is planning a move to bigger office digs.WCI Communities stock drops below $20: The stock of WCI Communities dropped 18% in the week ending June 26, generating endless speculation on message boards and blogs.Existing-

  • News
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