JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2021 | THREE DOLL ARS
FLOR IDA’S NE WSPAPER FOR T HE C - SUI T E
Commercial real estate | Investor goes back to school with $6M project. PG.10 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
FULL
Throttle An ambitious mission to transform the way customers think about convenience stores is going strong. Jettison the roller
hot dogs. SEE PAGE 12
inside COMPANIES
Mr. Robot
High-tech automation and engineering firm, after 15 years on its own, finds a buyer to fuel more growth. PAGE 5
DATA SNAPSHOT
Regional Rivalry
Some Tampa leaders, despite the region’s many attributes, signal the area could be in trouble. PAGE 6
ENTREPRENEURS
Wine for the Win
A lcohol-free w ine? Sounds like an oxymoron. But a Sarasota businessman is out to quench a new thirst. PAGE 8
STARTUPS
Stitch Fix
Southwest Florida firm aims to leverage artificial intelligence to help retailers with a longstanding issue. PAGE 8
ENTREPRENEURS
Time to be Tidy
Professiona ls who orga n i ze ot her professionals’ workspaces and homes are riding a boom in demand. PAGE 14
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
Knowledge Base
Naples Hotel Group leans on its varied industry experience to prove its worth to clients — in good times and bad. PAGE 16
REAL ESTATE Gigi Rogers| ROGERS MARKET, OWNER
Region makes list of top spots for future development. 16 Multifamily landlords seek federal relief. 17 Firm obtains $92 million loan for 17-story Tampa area residential tower. 18
MARK WEMPLE
3 Leading with guts — and honesty — is a winning formula. A MUST- HAVE
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