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More News

    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • May 30, 2008
Coffee Talk

IT folks, others, make a show of force: Where did all these techies come from? The Gulf Coast is well known for its housing and tourism businesses, but a recent tech gathering in Fort Myers shows how technology cuts across all industries.Federal legislators try to control gas prices: Even for a legislative body known more for photo ops than passing bills with actual substance, a recent vote in the U.S. House of Representatives was a true head-scratcher.Going green from Dallas to Tampa: Tampa Heights, the redeveloping urban area just north of downtown Tampa, will be getting a new corporate tenant at the end of the month: The Beck Group, a Dallas-based construction company.On demand flyingexpands on Gulf Coast: Airlines big and small have been fleeing the Gulf Coast, another facet of the economic slowdown.Let's go this summer to Camp CEO: Forget canoeing or archery.High school juniors and seniors will have an opportunity to be chief executive officers at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers this summer.Evos wants faster growth, hires Chipolte exec: The Review profiled Evos, a growing a Tampa-based restaurant chain, in July, and now comes word that the company is preparing to make a major leap in growth.John Sykes gives to University of Tampa again: Tampa businessman John Sykes, whose name is on the University of Tampa's School of Business building, has made another sizable gift to the university, which sits on the edg

  • News
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • May 22, 2008
Coffee Talk

Construction company continues to cut costs: Kesselring Holding Corp., one of the few Sarasota-based, publicly traded construction firms, continues to lose money - including $1.6 million in the first quarter of 2008.Broken home then, executive homecoming now: Jayme Harris grew up in a broken, dysfunctional home in Plant City. She finished high school, enlisted in the Air Force and the rest is history.Say what? Toll gives Naples an "A": Robert Toll, the chairman and chief executive officer of the luxury homebuilding company that bears his name, is well known for dishing out grades for various areas where he builds luxury homes.Fundraiser prospers despite gloomy economy: The weak economic climate on the Gulf Coast, no surprise, has led to a slowdown in donations for all sorts of charities and nonprofit organizations.Economic scorecard drops Tampa to last: The impact of the soft housing market pulled down the 2008 numbers on the Tampa Bay area's economic scorecard compiled by the Tampa Bay Partnership.Madden dishes out sizzle and steak: The next time you're in Denver, give John Madden a call. He might treat you to a nice steak dinner.Gulf Coast legislators receive recognition: The Associated Industries of Florida's annual list of pro-business legislators includes a trio from the Gulf Coast:Junk wars wage in Tampa Bay: Coffee Talk introduced you in March to a junk hauling company that relocated from Washington to Tampa, run

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

GLL Partners buys Naples PromenadeNew York investment firm buys Laguna Bay unitsPunta Gorda company buys Wal-Mart storeBOOKS-A-MILLION SET FOR MERCATO IN NAPLESPreston family sells 46 acres for SevenShoresTJM Properties acquires Bradenton OaksWal-Mart Stores plans to expand Cattlemen storeEola Capital closes on Westshore landGoodwill Industries-Suncoast buys ex-motel, vacant landInternational firm Praxair buys Tampa warehouse

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • May 15, 2008
Coffee Talk

WCI: Banks and Icahn hold the cards: The ink was barely dry on the news that Bonita Springs-based WCI Communities lost $2 per share in the first quarter when some observers said the company might have to file for bankruptcyVisitor spending falls in Hillsborough: Total visitor spending in Hillsborough County fell 1.5% and hotel occupancy declined 5.9% in 2007 compared to 2006Affordable housing? Not near my home value: Here's a twist on the housing market slump: A group of north Manatee County homeowners is suing one of the largest homebuilders in the county for setting prices too lowDon't look a cracker horse in the mouth: With all the serious legislation going on in Tallahassee over the budget, it's good to know our legislative crew sneaks in a few good neighs every now and then.Mystery bank seeks buyer for large loan portfolio: First Financial Network, an Oklahoma City-based firm that specializes in running auctions to sell tarnished loan portfolios nationwide is spreading the word on its newest, and biggest, projectTaxes may rise in Lee County: Taxes on new construction may rise in Lee County.Executive seeks to put his time to other uses: John Cranora was known for guiding others through the complications of time management during his 35-year business careerGULF COAST BUSINESS INVESTMENT: What the data shows: Taxable sales of business investment include store and office equipment, computer shops, medical supplies, comm

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

Yacht dealer acquires site for showroomPort Charlotte group pays $55 a foot for Paulson flexFormer owners reassume Lehigh industrial park landThomas Ranch developer trades with countyLongboat Key resident buys former Starfish MotelRainmaker Trading Co. buys two Venice storesTwo office buildings sell for $19.25 millionGrocery chain Aldi buys land for Plant City storeTwo investment groups buy B-of-A buildings

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • May 9, 2008
Coffee Talk

Minimize taxes on new construction: Builders dread the taxes on new construction because they're so high on the Gulf Coast that many projects now don't make financial sense.Westshore hotels continue to lure investors: Westshore, the Gulf Coast's biggest business district, has seen another hotel change hands - the Sheraton Suites on Cypress Street in Tampa.Sarasota college student shines: Executives and entrepreneurs searching for employees who 'get it' have long complained that the Sarasota-Bradenton area is lacking in colleges and universities that can produce those types of job candidates.Sneaky, er, creative way to get new business: Here's one sign that it's a rough time for mortgage brokers.Downtown Tampa grows, still lacks residents' needs Downtown: Tampa is maturing as a residential location and urban destination for residents and workersFort Myers fundraising maestro is back: Bill Merwin is back and he'll help you shake some money out of those trees.Largo dentist develops tool to help athletes excel: If you're tired of hearing about steroids, a Largo dentist has developed a natural way to help athletes and non-athletes improve performance: the Pure Power Mouthguard.Worrisome Gulf Coast banks being watched: Gulf Coast financial institutions have a starring role on an updated 'watch' list of Florida banks complied by a national banking analyst for financial Web site thestreet.com.

  • News
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • May 9, 2008
Commercial Real Estate Briefs

Arthrex acquires 22 acres in Creekside, Ave MariaCham Holdings buys floor in Schwab buildingChick-Fil-A plans Estero restaurant for '09Stevens Construction completes renovationsGoodwill buys office in Palmer Ranch areaPeninsula Bank plans North Port branchSarasota entrepreneur buys Fruitville Taco BellMiami investors acquire Tampa apartmentsJerry Ulm auto dealer buys Circuit City storeOdyssey, Nure International buy Springwood Villas

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

Tampa entrepreneur sees houses move: The slowdown in the housing market has been reported nationally, but one Tampa company has found a niche in that industry and is seeing signs of a potential turnaround.Eastern Europeans look to Florida: When various marketing and branding gurus on the Gulf Coast coined a version of the 'Time to Buy' slogan for the struggling real estate market last year, they were mostly targeting Floridians.Lee foreclosures hit 1-in-33 households: RealtyTrac, the firm that tracks foreclosures nationwide, recently issued a report ranking metro areas with the steepest rates of foreclosures in the first quarter.Ms. Baugh goes to Washington: Vanessa Baugh, a Lakewood Ranch jewelry store owner who sometimes serves as the unofficial spokeswoman for small businesses in Sarasota and Manatee counties, is used to getting phone calls for help, sometimes even desperate ones.Bradenton bank losses one executive, gains another: Gerry Anthony, one of the grandfathers of community banking in Manatee County, is retiring from his position as chief executive of Bradenton-based Freedom Bank.Software back-ups can cost a little and save a lot: Through last year, former IT professional Dave Miller was running Westcoasthost.com, a successful St. Petersburg-based Web hosting business.Recruiter narrows the executive job search: The growing numbers of unemployed managers, supervisors and executives on the Gulf Coast and Florida could b

  • News
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • May 2, 2008
Commercial Real Estate Briefs

MAB Investments relocating to Bee Ridge sitePacific Tomato Growers buys Taylor & Fulton buildingsPennsylvania mover buys University storage buildingInvestors pay $11.5 million for Bank of Florida CenterPunta Gorda building leased for urgent care centerDeltona Corp. increases Cape Coral holdingsRENOVATION COMPLETED ON FIRST STREET CENTERHilltop Center sells for $3 millionTri-Tech Inc. acquires Tampa West buildingHealthy Vision buys Eye Institute building

  • Manatee-Sarasota
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • April 25, 2008
Commercial Real Estate Briefs

Exeter Property Group buys Fowler centerFurniture Row Cos. buys Tampa warehouseBright House buys Brandon centerJoMar Development plans port industrial parkInvestors buy Holmes Beach propertiesFederal Express plans Manatee centerOaks Development buys, restructures Cypress CenterCole buys Fort Myers Pep Boys, eight othersLutgert renovates Village on Venetian BayFort Myers group buys office building

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • April 25, 2008
Coffee Talk

Location, pricing ... still the success keys: Amid the gloom surrounding residential real estate, there are pockets of sunshine based on the fundamentals of the industry.Fort Myers back on Grubb & Ellis map: Grubb & Ellis is back in Fort Myers.Southwest Florida still bankers' trouble spot: Of all the regions in Florida, the southwest area and Lee County in particular, remain tough places for bankers. Pro-business campaign receiving high marks: When a few of Sarasota's top business leaders gathered together late last year to combat a growing anti-business sentiment in the community, they expected a positive responseWait it out, the affluent remain: Companies selling luxury goods and services have felt the changes in the economy. Consumers of those items have seen the impact on their portfolios.Zirkelbach Construction builds for Honda, FedEx: Two of the most well-known brand names in the country - Honda and FedEx - now symbolize a lot more than reliable cars and on-time overnight deliveries to one Manatee County construction firm.Tense times for Tampa Tribune: First there were layoffs at The Tampa Tribune during the last two years. More recently, some sections of the newspaper have been cut or consolidated.Former elected official running for new office: Donna Clarke couldn't stay out of the game for long. The former Florida State representative, who ran an unsuccessful campaign for Congress in 2006, is getting back into poli

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

eComSystems Inc. moves, buys Paleo Park buildingMassachusetts investor buys Healthsouth BuildingWellness Community set to buy ranch landPremier Performance owners buy Bradenton propertyWilliams Parker buys buildingPhillips Development & Realty plans Delaney Creek projectKlar plans new homeless facilitySt. Pete Beach hotelier buys Bay Palms ResortEntrepreneur buys apartmentsEmeritus buys Fort Myers' The LakesLee County buys 67 acres for preserveGates D'Alessandro, Woodyard becomes just WoodyardGulfsteam Homes, BB&Ttrades home, lots

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • April 18, 2008
Coffee Talk

The ever growing Price Guarantee Club: Sarasota-based developer Rob Morris is balancing an odd mix of anxiety and confidence as he seeks buyersLee County's first signs of hope: It's hard to find much good news about Lee County's housing market.Weight loss chain comes to Florida: Physician-directed Hy-Tech Weight Loss, a chain of weight loss centers based in Omaha, Neb., has opened a St. Petersburg locationSafest place for housing in Lee County: Matlacha: If the Lee County area has the worst rate of foreclosure in the countryTampa gets two new conventions: Siting good prices, available hotels, the convention center and the weather, two Washington-based associations have picked Tampa as the site of their 2010 and 2011 conventionBeall's finally gets new president: Bradenton-based retailer Beall's has hired Lana Cain KrauterBradenton land firm clear out of options: The real estate market slump has snared its latest victim: Bradenton-based Earthworks Land Development

  • News
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • April 11, 2008
Commercial Real Estate Briefs

Key Club unveils $500 million projectStarr joins Siesta Plaza, plans redevelopmentKent Technologies Lighting and Signaling closes on storage siteLee County buys Fiddlestick propertyNortheastern investment group buys land for Pollo TropicaSanta Ana investors buy Colonial Bank buildingHeritage Golf Group buys TPC Tampa BayLindell Properties kicks off Wilderness CommonsChuck's Natural Food owner buys Brandon center

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

Unemployment rose despite tourism: Unemployment rates in Southwest Florida typically decline during the January-April months as the tourism industry hires more people.If you don't like them, join them: A philosophical battle of opinions over the concept of whether setting up auctions to sell homes is a good thing has been brewing on the Gulf Coast for the past yearUT business students win competition: Chalk one up for business students at the University of Tampa.Land sales slow, opportunities continue: Coffee Talk conducted an informal poll of land brokers in the Tampa Bay area and found sales are off substantially during the past yearAt least we're not in Flint, Mich.: There's plenty of dark humor going around these days at real estate gatherings as industry folks try to keep each other's spirits up.The guts to survive the downturn: Another sign of the rough economic times on the Gulf Coast: There has been a proliferation of seminars devoted to surviving an economic downturn.Take the Lee County pop quiz on taxes: Pop Quiz: How many separate taxing authorities does Lee County have?Forty Carrots center donation deadline looms: The Forty Carrots Family Center, a well-known Sarasota-based nonprofit group dedicated to early childhood and parenting education, is closing in on a deadline for raising money for its end of a unique commercial real estate deal.

  • News
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