Food–Beverage

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By Business Observer Staff
December 12, 2022

New Water Street Tampa restaurant launches hiring process

The Pearl, part of Cameron Mitchell Restaurants’ portfolio, is looking for line cooks, bartenders, servers and other hourly positions.

Tampa Bay-Lakeland

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By Mark Gordon
December 9, 2022

Restaurant company, behind 5-star fun motto, nearly doubles locations in less than a year

Fun-loving restaurant owner John Horne takes a "why not now" approach to growth.

Strategies

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By Amanda Postma
December 9, 2022

Chicken sandwich-making sisters go from porch to nearly $1 million business

With a counterintuitive approach — what business plan? — two sisters find fast success by sticking to one key nugget: give customers what they want, with good service.

Manatee-Sarasota

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By Brian Hartz
December 8, 2022

Cru Cellars ready to launch next phase of growth

After a decade-plus of hard work, Tampa wine aficionados Torrey and Jen Bingham are transforming their burgeoning bottle-shop business into a full-fledged hospitality company.

Tampa Bay-Lakeland

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By Mark Gordon
December 5, 2022

Farm-to-table restaurant leader plots local, statewide expansion

By fall 2023, Naked Farmer expects to have five Florida locations.

News

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By Brian Hartz
November 11, 2022

Chef brings acclaimed Chinese restaurant concept home to Tampa

Lauded by Bon Appetit magazine and Guy Fieri, Hales Blackbrick, created by Richard Hales, is set to open Nov. 15.

Tampa Bay-Lakeland

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By Amanda Postma
November 7, 2022

Naples restaurants rebuild in six weeks, following six-month remodel

Pazzo! Cucina Italiana and Chops City Grill are expected to reopen later this month.

Charlotte–Lee–Collier

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By Business Observer Staff
November 3, 2022

Top Chef TV star to expand tavern concept into Sarasota, Tampa, Naples

The restaurant concept was co-founded by celebrity chef Fabio Viviani.

Manatee-Sarasota

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By Beth Luberecki
October 18, 2022

Couple uses poultry power to quickly grow SWFL eatery franchise territory

Couple, facing obstacles from labor to site location, aims to take a big bite out of the fast casual chicken restaurant sector..

Strategies

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By Mark Gordon
September 28, 2022

Restaurant CEO saddles up for winners

From polo fields to fast-casual restaurants, Chris Gannon’s leadership center is simple: Find a way to win.

Leadership

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By Business Observer Staff
September 16, 2022

Fast-casual seafood chain opens two new company-owned restaurants

Captain D’s converted a Taco Bell in Brooksville and a Burger King in Spring Hill.

Tampa Bay-Lakeland

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By Business Observer Staff
September 1, 2022

Outback Steakhouse co-founder acquires Glory Days Grill restaurants

Bob Basham, a Glory Days franchisee, buys out the brand’s corporate parent and its 22 company-owned eateries.

Tampa Bay-Lakeland

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By Brian Hartz
August 26, 2022

Bot topic: Business accelerator event to focus on robots in restaurants

High turnover rates are nothing new for restaurants and hotels, but pandemic-driven labor shortages have prompted an increased interest in a robotic future for the hospitality industry.