JULY 26 - AUGUST 1, 2024 | THREE DOLL ARS
FLOR IDA’S NE WSPAPER FOR T HE C - SUI T E
Entrepreneurs | Tampa city councilwoman writes a new venture: a bookstore PG.12 PASCO • H ILL SBOROUG H • PIN ELL AS • P OLK • M A N ATEE • SA R ASOTA • C H A R LOT TE • LEE • COLLIER
Reform Ready While slow moving for consumers, Florida’s top insurance official says the much-talked-about industry reforms are working. PAGE 14
Fort Myers Beach remains in cleanup mode some two years after Hurricane Ian; inset: Florida Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky
DEVELOPMENT
NEWS
ENTREPRENEURS
REAL ESTATE
Bases Loaded
More Time
Fine Twine
On the Gate
L e e C ou nt y h a s b e en granted four more months as it tries to fix issues that could cost residents a 25% discount on federal f lood insurance. PAGE 8
DON’T MISS:
The owners of a Europeanstyle coffee shop in Sarasota doubled the size of their location to add an unusual second business line: selling yarn. PAGE 10
REAL ESTATE
Leasing management company behind a new, 280unit apartment complex in north Manatee County expects to be at 95% occupancy in about a year. PAGE 16
Salvation Army takes over bookstore lease in Venice. 18 Pinellas County lab firm buys new facility. 19
PAGE
5 CEO of 500-employee Polk turf firm dies at 68.
BIG HOT OFF THE PRESS 2023
BOOK OF BUSINESS
428264-1
In a saga going back years, and in some ways, decades, the Tampa Bay Rays are one final financial vote away from having a stadium project approved. PAGE 7
STEFANIA PIFFERI
THE DATA THE LISTS THE CHANGE MAKERS
DON’T WAIT, ORDER TODAY!
Go to BusinessObserverFL.com/big-book-of-business www.BusinessObserverFL.com