• 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 Business Observer Staff |
  • September 15, 2006
Independent Streak

The Watkins family has steered the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club for 60 years by continually renovating and upgrading.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • October 29, 2010
Ocular Opportunity

One of the Gulf Coast's largest eye-care practices seeks more growth — without relinquishing its obsessively tight grip on its vaunted customer service approach. It's a delicate balance.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Carl Cronan |
  • May 21, 2010
Clutter Breakthrough

Spark founder Michael Peters still embraces the constant challenges of client demand. Quicker computers and smarter phones are part of the next frontier.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Anastasia Dawson |
  • October 3, 2025
Keel Farms keeps a glimpse of Old Florida alive with new event space

After roughly a year's worth of renovations, a Hillsborough farm with multiple business lines — and a keen eye for nature — transformed a 125-year-old farmhouse into a lakeside vineyard retreat dubbed The Osprey View.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • February 1, 2019
Real estate industry: confidence is high

A deeper look at three markets in the region — Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater; Sarasota-Bradenton; and Fort Myers-Naples — reveals several core themes. One is the market, after a lengthy run-up is, in some cases, flattening out. And to some, that’s OK.

  • Construction-Development
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • July 23, 2009
Rebuild a Star

Hurricane Charley sunk a Gulf Coast business star five years ago. Its replacement is finally ready, but challenges loom.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Jay Brady |
  • February 18, 2011
Pension Bomb

Government employee pension plans are a time bomb for cities and counties on the Gulf Coast. The recession has lit the fuse.

  • Florida
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • November 12, 2020
Multiple national franchise brands plan Florida expansion

With the pandemic looming, several spirited franchise businesses — selling burgers, breakfasts and breaststrokes — set the groundwork for Florida-focused growth.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • February 12, 2021
Relinquishing a CEO role can be hard — yet rewarding

Entrepreneurs often struggle with knowing how, and when, to leave a company they started. A pair of dynamic leaders who recently did it reveal their secrets.

  • Leadership
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Brian Hartz |
  • October 25, 2019
All in: Real estate firm pivots from management to ownership

Ciminelli Real Estate Services acquired, for $16.4 million, the Rubin Center, a commercial real estate property it managed, and plans to rename it and spend $500,000 on upgrades to it.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • August 25, 2006
Real Estate Briefs

Meridian preparing office condos next to former Winn-Dixie distribution centerLocal Investor Buy Two Siesta PropertiesLutz Real Estate Investment buys Central Station buildingYacht Clubs of the Americas LLC buys Tampa Bayside MarinaKawama Development Group invests in Belcher officeKimco Realty buys strip centersNaples investors buy Bougainvillea, vacant landOmega Healthcare Investors buys elder housings centersSchottenstein Stores buys three local Albertson's spaces

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • July 9, 2004
Fight for Survival

Bradenton attorney Richard M. Shapiro, immediate past president of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, says the state medical association is wrong to blame malpractice cases for rising premiums.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • September 17, 2004
Weathering the Storm

Commercial real estate industry is knocked about by the hurricanes, but still afloat.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • February 6, 2004
'Bring Life to the Streets'

When four-year plans to develop condominiums next to the Quay didn't materialize, Irish developer Paddy Kelly decided to get involved.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • August 25, 2008
Commercial Real Estate Briefs

Yellowfin Yachts adds Bradenton propertyNew York landlord buysBradenton Sports AuthorityWinter Park's Rock Propertiesbuys land for WalgreensAmerican Realty Capital buys Wachovia branchesBoston investment groupbuys Grove home, villa lotsLutgert Cos. renovatingVillage on Venetian BayWalgreen buys store from Paradise DevelopmentLiberty Insurance buildings sold to investorsSovran Self Storage buysLock N Key Mini StorageCrosland buys Westshore land,plans apartments, retail

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Janelle Makowski |
  • January 23, 2004
Never Give Up

In 2002, Gevity HR was in a survive-or-die scenario. Erik Vonk was the right guy at the right time.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Adam Hughes |
  • July 20, 2006
Coffee Talk

WCI Communities: A buying opportunity?: At what point do the stocks of homebuilders become so ridiculously cheap that they're worth buying?Military salute: Sarasota resident Burt Bershon has been recognized for his efforts to bring military academies back to U.S. communities. Bershon, who founded the Sarasota Military Academy in 2002, was recently awarded an Eagle Laureate for creating The Charter Military Schools Development Corp. in late 2003.Former Buccaneer Warren Sapp is back: NFL Star Warren Sapp, a defensive tackle who helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win their only Super Bowl, plans to open a HipHopSodaShop on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, near the University of South Florida.Davis Lucas offers business-ethics insight: Davis Lucas, the chairman of Bonita Springs-based residential developer The Bonita Bay Group, makes few public appearances and when he does, it's usually for the benefit of a local charity.Condominium's loss is apartment's gain: So with the condo conversion market way down, is it truly gloom-and-doom time for the apartment market? Not completely.Paying premium prices at the pump: The high price of gas is reaching into entrepreneurs and executives' pockets yet again.Bleak showing for Florida venture capitalists:Just two Florida firms made Entrepreneur magazine's 2005 list of the top 100 venture capital firms, and both, Palm Beach Capital Partners and HIG Capital Management of Miami, are based in South Florida.

  • News
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • November 16, 2007
Commercial Real Estate Briefs

TB&W Enterprises acquire Bonita Springs developmentInvestment group buys 40 acres in CharlotteRLR Investments buys Royal Shell VacationsAndersen Racing owners buy Palmetto trackPossible buyer probes School Avenue siteKaplan, Bennett eye State Road 64 developmentsBenderson's university center passes Planning CommissionChicago firm buys Adagio ApartmentsLake City hotelier invests in Wesley Chapel ERSeven One Seven Parkingacquires Tampa parking lot

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Carl Cronan |
  • March 18, 2011
An Optimistic Turn

Gulf Coast hoteliers hope for a better tourist season than last year, when the BP oil spill dominated headlines. Slow recovery and soaring gas prices have shifted the emphasis to intrastate travelers.

  • Industries
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • September 2, 2021
Legendary football coach: process beats outcomes

Bobby Bowden was known for his dadgum, folksy style — and winning lots of football games. One of his players revered Bowden even more for his down-to-earth leadership teachings.

  • Leadership
« 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 »
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