• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Newsletters
  • Podcast
  • Public Notices
  • Big Book
  • 40 Under 40
  • Mobile App
  • Subscribe
  • Login
  • News
  • Strategies
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Leadership
  • Regions
    • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    • Manatee-Sarasota
    • Charlotte-Lee-Collier
    • Florida
  • Industries
    • Business Support
    • Commercial Real Estate
    • Residential Real Estate
    • Development
    • Finance
    • Food-Beverage
    • Healthcare
    • Manufacturing
    • Retail
    • Sports–Entertainment
    • Technology
    • Travel-Tourism
  • Topics
    • Mergers–Acquisitions
    • Crime
    • Job Cuts
  • Insights
  • More
    • Advice
    • Transactions
    • Influencers & Innovators
    • 40 Under 40
    • Big Book of Business
    • Subscribe
    • Opinion
    • Executive Diversions
    • Reprints
  • News
  • Strategies
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Leadership
  • Regions
    • Regions
    • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    • Manatee-Sarasota
    • Charlotte-Lee-Collier
    • Florida
  • Industries
    • Industries
    • Business Support
    • Commercial Real Estate
    • Residential Real Estate
    • Development
    • Finance
    • Food-Beverage
    • Healthcare
    • Manufacturing
    • Retail
    • Sports–Entertainment
    • Technology
    • Travel-Tourism
  • Topics
    • Topics
    • Mergers–Acquisitions
    • Crime
    • Job Cuts
  • Insights
  • More
    • More
    • Advice
    • Transactions
    • Influencers & Innovators
    • 40 Under 40
    • Big Book of Business
    • Subscribe
    • Opinion
    • Executive Diversions
    • Reprints
  • Newsletters
  • Podcast
  • Public Notices
  • Big Book
  • 40 Under 40
  • Mobile App
  • Subscribe
  • Login

Strategies

  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 13, 2008
Gulf Coast Week

Trump Tower trumped: The $225 million Trump Tower in downtown Tampa that began with such fanfare in early 2005 appears to be headed for a quiet, ignominious end.Rays' lead-off lawyer: The Tampa Bay Rays may be riding high on the field this season, but they are in critical need of support from the Pinellas County Commission later this summer to move ahead on a new bayfront stadiumManatee cuts jobs: At least 85 jobs in Manatee County could be eliminated over the next few months, as the county begins to respond to what could be as much as $44 million in budget cuts.New Publix planned: An abandoned newspaper office could be turned into one of the largest Publix supermarkets in the area in and around downtown SarasotaEmbarq closes call center: Telephone service provider Embarq will close its Fort Myers customer call center Aug. 8 and lay off 108 employees, the company says.Creeks preserve opens: Lee County opened the Caloosahatchee Creeks Preserve May 20, a 1,261-acre site on which the county spent $2.1 million to improve 200 acres with restrooms, a canoe launch, parking areas, picnic shelters, trails and observation decks.BioFlorida starts chapter: BioFlorida, the state's bioscience industry association, has launched a Southwest Florida chapter, its sixth in the state, according to the Economic Development Council of Collier County.

  • Finance
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 13, 2008
International Flavor

A Mexican businesswoman happily discovers that American challenges, such as a stifling economy, beat the worries she faced back home.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 13, 2008
Flying Low

Tourism has been one of the few economic bright spots on the Gulf Coast, but the airlines' woes may crimp the industry's growth. One potential salvation: international visitors.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 13, 2008
The Right Balance

Doubling the size of a retail operation during an economic downturn takes a few essentials. Capital, for one. Experience helps, too. The biggest factor? Guts.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 13, 2008
Corporate Report

Alico ends ethanol efforts, New Planet Energy continuesBrown & Brown Inc. buys California company assetsTech Data Corp. plans $100 million stock buybackMedia Vista Group moves TV show taping siteChico's FAS reports reduced sales, comparablesThree area health pros buyHome Instead Senior CareSunovia Energy Tech sells lights to Texas cityFox Electronics expands XpressO product lineMarineMax extends Meridian

  • Industries
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 6, 2008
The Swedish Maestro

Starting a hurricane-shutter business during a housing downturn is not for the faint of heart. But one Swedish entrepreneur is betting on a new business model for the industry.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 6, 2008
Impact resistant?

Market realities have forced PGT Industries, one of the oldest, and largest, window and door manufacturers on the Gulf Coast, to make some big changes.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 6, 2008
'A Gideon Moment'

What would drive a successful entrepreneur to drop a six-figure advertising budget to buy 10,000 TV spots urging people to find God? Anthony Leeber Sr. is certain he'll reap the rewards.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 6, 2008
Growin' Gecko's

Restaurants are closing on the Gulf Coast at a breakneck pace. A pair of longtime restaurateurs is trying to buck the trend.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 6, 2008
Corporate Report

Clockwork Home Services buys plumbing, electric companynFinanSe plans $15 million credit lineOdyssey Marine protects new shipwreck sitesStinger Systems Band-It orders already beat 2007Source Interlink doubling Kentucky warehouse spaceAdministrative Concepts expands into California

  • Industries
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 6, 2008
Gulf Coast Week

Finalists narrowed: The contract to run advertising campaigns for the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Convention & Visitors Bureau valued at nearly $10 million will be up for grabs later this year.Executive sells home: The chief executive officer and president of Clearwater-based boat dealer MarineMax made a big sale late last month. But it wasn't a boat.New scholarship created: The charitable foundation behind Beall's, the Bradenton-based department store chain, has teamed up with the Foundation for Manatee Community College to form a new scholarshipAward nominations sought: The Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County is seeking nominations for its 2008 Hall of Fame Awards.It only took two years: Sarasota-based developer Billy Springer has finally received long-awaited approvalWhat credit crunch?: Health Management Associates raised $275 million in a convertible-bond offering on May 21.Alligator Alley privatization: The Florida Department of Transportation is exploring the possibility of privatizing Alligator Alley,Lee permits find bottom: Lee County issued construction permits for 80 single-family homes in May, a 73% decline from the 301 issued in May 2007.

  • Finance
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 6, 2008
Calendar of Events

View business events from around the Gulf Coast for free.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 6, 2008
Storage of Hope

Cryo-Cell stores umbilical cord blood. Its chief executive, Mercedes Walton, is hoping the company's investments and repositioning pay off.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • May 30, 2008
Corporate Report

Survey: Investors confident in S&P 500Fox electronics expands XpressO line in EuropeTigris reaches development deal with Cancer InstituteClearwater's Sunsail adds yachts to MartiniqueWellCare cuts 208 jobs, mostly in Florida, New YorkTech Data buying Scribona AB assets7-Eleven expands franchising of local storesPPi opens marketing office, technical training showroomDayJet Corp. adds Sarasota, Jacksonville hubs

  • Industries
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • May 30, 2008
Stabilized Success

All it took was two years - and a crafty $20 million risk - for Ken Sanborn to turn his company from a $5 million small business to a $150 million-plus juggernaut. Up next: Managing it.

  • Entrepreneurs
« 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 »
The best of Business Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest business and commercial real estate news from Tampa Bay to Naples.

Sign Up

Latest News

1
  • October 17, 2026
$50M east Manatee renewable gas plant breaks ground
2
  • October 16, 2026
University of Tampa president to step down
3
  • October 16, 2026
Sarasota County sees spike in $10M-plus home sales
4
  • October 16, 2026
Baltimore firm buys Sprouts-anchored Pinellas shopping center
5
  • October 16, 2026
Pinellas County TV studio on the market

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-362-4848
  • [email protected]
  • Phone: 877-231-8834

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Podcast
  • Big Book of Business

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Distribution Points
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Your Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
×
3 Articles Remaining!
Not a Subscriber?

Click here to Subscribe

Already a Subscriber?

Click here to Login

Sign Up for Daily Brief

Start your day with the top Gulf Coast business news you need to succeed.

Sign Up for CRE Central

Stay updated with a weekly roundup of big deals, market shifts and the people shaping commercial real estate from Tampa Bay to Naples.


Smart People Subscribe.

Turn headlines into game plans. The playbook’s right here.
Subscribe to the Business Observer today.

Subscribe Now