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Orlando Business Journal
Massey Services buys more Winter Park property. Here's why.
Massey Services just bought another property in Winter Park, this one behind its new service center that opened this month on Fairbanks Avenue.<\p> The Orlando-based pest and lawn services property bought a 3,936-square-foot industrial building on 0.23 acres at 664 Cherry St. from Altamonte Springs-based AdventHealth for $1 million on July 10. <\p>
CFCArts survives 'a day at a time' with interim leader Justin Muchone
Justin Muchoney has a talent for communicating with hundreds of musicians at once — and bringing out their best, most nuanced responses. You’ll often see him stand before a 330-person symphony orchestra and 300-person choir and as their conductor elicit unforgettable sounds that some say go beyond the range of the typical community arts group. <\p> Not only a conductor, he’s also an entertainer. He has etched memories on the minds of the thousands or perhaps millions who have watched the shows he developed and led. <\p>
Ripken Baseball to host tournaments here
Ripken Baseball soon will bring youth baseball tournaments to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort. <\p> The company — founded by National Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. and his brother Billy — will host tournaments over four-week periods in 2025 and 2026. <\p>
How two projects will change west downtown
Jeré Matheny's phone is ringing off the hook for one of his downtown Orlando properties. <\p> The vice president of brokerage services for First Capital Property Group Inc. is handling the leasing for the 25,000-square-foot Shops at City View, attached to the City View apartment building in Parramore. Matheny said calls, including from retailers with large footprints, have come as two major moves are set to shift the development of Parramore, the historically Black, low-income downtown area immediately west of Interstate 4.<\p>
Breeze Airways adds another local flight to New England
Breeze Airways will soon add another flight in Orlando servicing New England. <\p> The Cottonwood Heights, Utah-based low-cost airline will begin service from Orlando International Airport to Portsmouth, New Hampshire on Oct. 9. The flight is now one of four routes the carrier is starting in October from Orlando, including previously announced ones to Lansing, Michigan; Bangor, Maine and Lancaster, Pennsylvania. <\p>
Stetson University gets state funds for historic construction project
Stetson University will get state help to rebuild one of its campus landmarks. <\p> The DeLand-based private college was awarded a $500,000 historic preservation grant from the State of Florida to rebuild Hulley Tower, which was built in 1934. The structure — on the National Register of Historic Places — is set to be rebuilt to its original 116-foot height and will add a 52-bell carillon.<\p>
Sixty Vines restaurant to open in Dr. Phillips area
The restaurant chain that’s been wildly successful in Winter Park will try its hand in the Dr. Phillips area. <\p> Sixty Vines announced July 10 in a news release its second local eatery will open at Plaza Venezia at 7760 West Sand Lake Road where Roy’s Restaurant used to be later this summer. An exact date was not given.<\p>
The National Observer: Investors taking a big interest in strip malls
Welcome to The National Observer, a roundup of top business news and actionable insights from across The Business Journals network of publications. Today, we're looking at the closure of a century-old college, a sustained surge in new business formation, and where Kroger is looking to sell stores in order to win antitrust regulators’ approval for a $24.6 billion acquisition. But first, let's see how the accelerating spread of data centers is prompting resistance in some regions.<\p> Get more stories like these every day in your inbox by subscribing to The National Observer newsletter. <\p>
Central Florida Community Arts leader exits struggling nonprofit
Central Florida Community Arts CEO Terrance Hunter has left his position there amid a financial struggle at the organization, according to a July 11 email sent to members and affiliates. <\p> The email was drafted by Chair Jessica Guthrie and did not identify reasons for Hunter's departure. Creative Director Justin Muchoney is interim executive director as the nonprofit determines plans for moving forward. Hunter joined the organization in September 2022.<\p>
Wine Spectator recognizes dozens of local restaurants
Wine Spectator magazine's current special issue has recognized almost three dozen Orlando restaurants on its latest list of eateries with notable wine menus.<\p> The list, which has been published for 43 years, has grown to include more than 3,500 restaurants from over 70 countries.<\p>
Fringe festival leaders ask Gov. DeSantis to restore state arts grants
Leaders for the Orlando and Tampa Fringe festivals are asking Gov. Ron DeSantis to restore $32 million in arts funding for other organizations in exchange for forgoing their own grants. <\p> The open letter, signed by Scott Galbraith and Tempestt Halstead of Orlando Fringe and Trish Parry of Tampa Fringe, came after DeSantis in a June press conference cited the fringe festivals as "sexual festivals" when he vetoed arts funding for more than 600 organizations. <\p>
Winter Garden coffee roaster acquired by Jeff’s Bagel Run
Otus Coffee — the Winter Garden-based roaster from which Jeff’s Bagel Run has sourced coffee for four years — is now owned by the Orlando bagel chain. <\p> CEO Justin Wetherill of Jeff's Bagel Run said founders Glen and Jaclyn Turchin will stay on. <\p>
City defends downtown safety efforts amid business backlash
City officials and downtown business and property owners are at odds as the city clamps down on late-night activity in the urban core in an effort to control crowds and improve safety. <\p> Orlando Police Chief Eric D. Smith said the “experiment” of curtailing entry to city-owned parking garages is over. “You guys … didn't like it. So, we stopped,” he said during a July 9 meeting at City Hall between city leaders and downtown business owners such as The Vintage Group, Court Street Concepts, Thriving Hospitality, Yeaimmeloevents and more.<\p>
What’s next as Maitland, Orange County negotiate SunRail cost
Leaders with Orange County and the city of Maitland have agreed to meet soon to discuss the city's funding responsibilities for SunRail. <\p> City council members on June 24 agreed to give a 180-day notice of its plans to end Maitland's interlocal agreement with the county tied to the commuter rail system but will delay sending the notice until city staff can meet with county leaders to address concerns. <\p>
Downtown arts space breaks ground
A unique arts-focused gathering space has started work near downtown Orlando's oldest commercial building. <\p> The Downtown Arts District and city of Orlando officials held the ceremonial groundbreaking for the Ford-ify The Arts Courtyard at CityArts on July 10. The celebration, occurring a day before the start of construction, kicked off the unique location in an alley to the north of the historic Rogers-Kiene Building which CityArts calls home at 37-39 S. Magnolia Ave.<\p>
New hip-hop music festival to launch in Orlando
In a city well-known for its music events — from Electric Daisy Carnival to Universal Mardi Gras — Orlando event promoter Demetrius Martin thinks the time is ripe for a hip-hop festival. <\p> Rather than wait for someone else to grab the reins, Martin decided to take it on. He announced his concept, Orlando Only, on July 8. The event takes place Aug. 30 at Legends Resto & Lounge at 5250 International Drive. <\p>
Tree-top 'glamping' biz pitched in Seminole County
A local businessperson is proposing a unique new outdoors-focused concept within the Central Florida county known as "Florida's natural choice."<\p> The July 10 meeting of Seminole County's Development Review Committee includes an agenda item for "Glamping Haven" — a "sustainable and luxurious outdoor retreat" that would rise on nearly 20 acres off the north shore of Lake Jesup near Sanford, according to a memorandum submitted by the applicant.<\p>
New York public company in line for job incentives to grow here
The city of Orlando may provide job incentives to draw a New York-based public company to a city airport. <\p> Orlando City Council on July 15 will consider providing $100,000 over eight years through the city's Strategic Targeted Recruitment Incentive for Valued Employment (STRIVE) incentive for an entity connected to White Plains, New York-based Sky Harbour Group Corp. (NYSE: SKYH). <\p>
Two local CareerSource boards merge
A pair of workforce boards in Brevard, Flagler and Volusia have consolidated into one organization. <\p> CareerSource Brevard and CareerSource Flagler Volusia have combined into CareerSource Brevard Flagler Volusia. The organization will maintain career centers in Palm Coast, Daytona Beach, Orange City, Titusville, Rockledge, Patrick Air Force Base and Palm Bay, as well as administrative offices in Rockledge and Daytona Beach.<\p>
Orange County grows arts investment by millions after state cuts funds
With Florida cutting arts funding, Orange County is stepping up its funding for local organizations by millions.<\p> The county's Arts and Cultural Affairs office is projecting more than $15.49 million in fiscal-year 2025 revenue, according to a July 9 presentation at an Orange County Commission meeting. That total is up from the $8.29 million budgeted in revenues\ from last year and is a result of Orange County Commissioners last October boosting tourist development tax funding share for the arts office from 3% of TDT's first 4 cents to 5%.<\p>
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