• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Newsletters
  • Podcast
  • Public Notices
  • 40 Under 40 Nomination
  • Mobile App
  • Subscribe
  • Login
  • News
  • Strategies
  • Entrepreneurs
  • M&A
  • 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
  • Insights
  • More
    • Advice
    • Transactions
    • 40 Under 40
    • Big Book of Business
    • Subscribe
    • Opinion
    • Executive Diversions
    • Change-Makers
    • Reprints
  • News
  • Strategies
  • Entrepreneurs
  • M&A
  • 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
  • Insights
  • More
    • More
    • Advice
    • Transactions
    • 40 Under 40
    • Big Book of Business
    • Subscribe
    • Opinion
    • Executive Diversions
    • Change-Makers
    • Reprints
  • Newsletters
  • Podcast
  • Public Notices
  • 40 Under 40 Nomination
  • Mobile App
  • Subscribe
  • Login

Results for:

  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • October 21, 2016
Silver platter

Mike Gowan and Mike Quillen, approaching 25 years in a grueling industry, remain committed to finding ways to improve. One key behind the strategy goes beyond the restaurant.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Jean Gruss |
  • October 28, 2016
Resilient market

Since the recession, Naples' residential real estate market has been a bellwether for the Gulf Coast. Is a real estate slowdown on the horizon?

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Beth Luberecki |
  • January 6, 2017
Motor along

The recession thinned out the boating industry across the region, but the companies that remain are poised for a strong 2017.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • March 24, 2017
Vacation Rentals vs. Home Rule

The explosion of the online vacation rental business has many year-round residents wondering how their cities can protect their neighborhoods and sense of community.

  • Opinion
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Ted Carter |
  • October 6, 2017
Lots of Runway

A national low-fare airline leader targets a new business — luxury condo resorts — starting in underdeveloped Charlotte County. How will the project takeoff?

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Ted Carter |
  • June 16, 2017
Signs are Changing

Mergers are coming fast and furious for Florida community banks. The strategy behind the moves comes down to the latest industry truism: Size matters.

  • Finance
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Beth Luberecki |
  • July 21, 2017
Play it Cool

The next generation of company leadership at Air & Energy has a lot to live up to.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Traci McMillan Beach |
  • July 18, 2014
Smokin' Sales

With $15 million in sales, an e-Cigarette manufacturer focuses on quickly growing online business. To stay ahead of an uncertain regulatory environment, the company takes a proactive approach.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Kevin McQuaid |
  • June 3, 2016
'Heartbreaker' of a deal

A veteran real estate agent took on a failed car dealership site in Tampa. The result? A lawsuit, $12 million in debt, guns, drugs and seven contracts.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • January 22, 2016
No barriers

A young entrepreneur's bold recession-era decision saved a company. Now she grapples with a new set of challenges.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • November 14, 2014
United they stand

Growing a business littered with customer confusion isn't for the weak. T. David Lewis hopes to lead his firm through the upheaval.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Michael Hinman |
  • June 19, 2015
Extending credit

Achieva's acquisition of Calusa Bank is rare for a credit union. It could help bridge two rival financial industries.

  • Finance
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • November 6, 2015
Leaping frogs

Franchise success for one company is all about moving the sales curve forward for each location, one store at a time.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Jean Gruss |
  • December 18, 2015
On the map

Port Charlotte is now a destination for Harley-Davidson motorcycle enthusiasts looking for deals. There's free beer, too.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Andrew Warfield |
  • February 7, 2025
Group buys historic Sarasota hotel for Black community for $700K

At least one other proposal, which wasn't approved, called for demolition of the Colson Hotel building in Sarasota's Rosemary District.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Louis Llovio |
  • March 24, 2025
Naples’ Hoffmann takes step to buy national newspaper chain

The Hoffmann Family of Cos. is already Lee's second largest shareholder and may take the company private.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Elizabeth King |
  • May 2, 2025
Fast-casual franchisee grows to four SoFresh stores in region

"I like the challenge," says entrepreneur William Wolf, who started out as a professional gamer and recently turned around an underperforming restaurant in a matter of months. One lesson? Put customer service first.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Louis Llovio |
  • June 6, 2022
Condo safety measures approved by state lawmakers

New condo regulations approved by Florida lawmakers during a special session aim to prevent a repeat of the Surfside collapse.

  • Commercial Real Estate
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Louis Llovio |
  • November 23, 2023
Despite advances in technology, shoppers still like stores

Retailers with smart and dynamic strategies — and a penchant for being nimble — can win the battle between online and brick-and-mortar shopping.

  • Florida
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Louis Llovio |
  • July 17, 2025
Champs Sports looks to reinvent its store experience starting in Brandon

The chain, which is part of Foot Locker, has opened two reimagined store concepts incorporating technology and customer insights to create what it calls a new approach to reach shoppers.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
« 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 »
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

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-362-4848

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