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Orlando Business Journal
Disney's Golden Oak gets new Four Seasons project
A new Four Seasons Private Residences luxury project has begun construction within the Golden Oak community at Walt Disney World Resort.<\p> The project is to include 40 homes, according to a July 9 announcement, 31 of which will be within a mid-rise tower. The other nine units will be attached boutique homes. <\p>
Universal reveals Epic Universe ticket details
Universal Resort Orlando has released to third-party sellers its first wave of information about ticketing for Epic Universe. Vice President of Public Relations Alyson Sologaistoa of Universal told Orlando Business Journal while more ticketing options will roll out later, the company is currently only speaking with its sales partners to get them ready for an upcoming sales effort.<\p> The news followed a July 5 report in Attractions Magazine that spelled out for third-party sellers how ticketing will first work: Guests buying tickets through Universal's sales partners will have to buy a “multi-day Universal Orlando ticket package with a three-day minimum — all of which allot only one day at Epic Universe and will not include park-hopping to or from the new park. At launch time, there will be no option to purchase a stand-alone, single-day Epic Universe ticket.” <\p>
Hourglass District townhome project sees changes
The plans for a community of townhomes in Orlando's popular Hourglass District have been updated by the developer, according to city records.<\p> Originally filed in February, the Hourglass townhomes are planned for a 2.1-acre lot at the corner of Clark and Raehn Streets, just north of Curry Ford Road and east of South Bumby Avenue. <\p>
Developer buys Brevard land off I-95
A busy New York developer has scooped up a vacant property with commercial zoning off Interstate 95 in West Melbourne.<\p> Brevard County records show Left Lane Partners LLC, an entity registered to Williamsville, New York-based Acquest Development, paid $4 million for a 17-acre site near the northwest corner of I-95's interchange with U.S. Highway 192. The seller in the deal — which posted to public record June 24 — was a trust registered to William P. Turnbaugh.<\p>
Kentucky restaurant group expands in Orlando
Louisville, Kentucky-based Millennial Restaurant Group LLC, a Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza franchisee with 28 locations in three states, will open another one this summer in east Orlando.<\p> The group's latest eatery will open at 11851 Narcoossee Road in front of Novel Nona Apartments. Managing Partner Wayne Albritton said the restaurant will open August 5 at 11 a.m.. <\p>
Camping World Stadium to host top soccer teams from Mexico, Colombia
Orlando will soon host a match between two of South and Central America's top soccer teams.<\p> Club América of Liga MX in Mexico and Atlético Nacional of Colombia's Categoría Primera A are set to square off Sept. 7 at Camping World Stadium for the first Soccer iD Cup. Tickets for the event are set to go on sale on July 12 at 10 a.m.<\p>
Popular restaurant at Kirkman/Conroy intersection to close
Bloodhound Brew — a restaurant and bar at the corner of Conroy Road and South Kirkman Road — will close this month. <\p> Co-owner Gavin Patel said he and his business partner and family member Jay Dudhiya accepted a buy-out offer on their lease months ago, but waited to make a public announcement until they had a chance to first inform their staff and the entertainers appearing almost nightly at the venue. <\p>
What’s next for county purchasing shuttered university campus
Osceola County has purchased the former Johnson University Florida campus.<\p> County commissioners on April 1 approved the purchase of roughly 41.16 acres of land at the corner of Bill Beck Boulevard and Fortune Road for $28.17 million. The Knoxville, Tennessee-based college had announced in 2023 it would be closing its Kissimmee campus by June 2024 due to financial challenges and declining enrollment. <\p>
FTC noncompete ban suffers setback
The Federal Trade Commission’s broad noncompete ban suffered a legal setback after a federal judge in Texas ruled against the agency on July 3.<\p> U.S. District Judge Ada E. Brown of the Northern District of Texas, said in a ruling that the agency “lacks substantive rulemaking authority” on the matter and granted a preliminary injunction on the controversial rule that could affect employers in a broad range of industries. <\p>
The National Observer: America's most-on-time airports
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 a big change to federal rulemaking that could affect businesses, the hidden costs of owning a home, and federal grants for 12 tech hubs across the U.S. But first, you may want to pack your patience for these routes — they're the most delayed flights in the U.S.<\p> Get more stories like these every day in your inbox by subscribing to The National Observer newsletter.<\p>
Data-center debate: Booming CRE sector grapples with big questions
The proliferation of data centers across America is helping to power the nation's increasingly digital economy — but for some, it's coming at too high, or too unknown, of a cost.<\p> The data-center boom isn't new, but the rate at which these projects are being planned, proposed and built is quickly escalating. And while data centers once were concentrated in a few key markets, they're now fanning out to metro areas all over the country.<\p>
Central Florida’s largest layoffs so far this year
Orlando companies that have cut the most jobs so far this year include those in hospitality, citrus packaging and more. <\p> Orlando Business Journal tracked state notifications for the first six months of 2024 to see which companies announced the biggest job reductions. Employers that meet certain requirements, such as a location closure or cutting a large number of employees, are required to notify employees, as well as state and local government officials in advance. <\p>
Pickleball Kingdom eyes Orlando for several clubs
Pickleball Kingdom, a Chandler, Arizona-based indoor pickleball facility operator, plans to open more locations in Central Florida. <\p> Pickleball Kingdom Franchisees Sanjay Patel and Dhaval Patel said 25 new locations will open in Orlando and Ohio. The exact number for each location was not disclosed, but the release said "several" were headed to Orlando, with the "majority" slated for Ohio. <\p>
Reinsurance picture improves for Florida
As Florida gets ready to enter the thick of hurricane season, property insurers have seen improvements in the market for reinsurance — critical backup coverage that helps drive how much homeowners pay in premiums.<\p> Now, it’s a waiting game as forecasters expect a busy, and potentially costly, season.<\p>
What’s next for Popstroke golf on I-Drive
New details have emerged about a new PopStroke mini golf concept headed to International Drive. <\p> The future PopStroke, co-owned by Tiger Woods' TGR Ventures, will include mini golf courses, two restaurants and a playground on 5.13 acres at 8580 International Drive. <\p>
Red Lobster, Tijuana Flats lead biz bankruptcy spike
Bankruptcies have increased for both businesses and individuals in Orlando, approaching recent year highs after the pandemic cooled filings.<\p> That's according to data released by the administrative office of the Federal Judiciary, which states that 341 businesses filed for bankruptcy in the 12-month period ending in March 2024. That is up 24% from 267 in the previous reporting period.<\p>
How a $14M deal in Orlando helps Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's stands to gain a few advantages from its $14 million purchase of property on Sand Lake Road from Unicorp National Developments Inc. roughly two months ago.<\p> The property includes a 17,121-square-foot Restaurant Row building that was leased by Trader Joe’s Dr. Phillips location and the now-defunct Slate restaurant.<\p>
Former Orlando Magic star sells home here
A former top-five draft pick for the Orlando Magic has sold the home he owns in the city's Bel Air neighborhood.<\p> Orange County records show Mario Hezonja, who played for the Magic from 2015 to 2018 and currently plays in Spain for Real Madrid's basketball team, sold his home at 1710 Santa Maria Place in Orlando for $1.7 million on June 21. <\p>
Westgate Resorts to cut hundreds of jobs here
Westgate Resorts Inc. plans to cut hundreds of jobs in Orlando, according to a report from the Florida Department of Commerce. <\p> A June 28 notice to the state from the Orlando-based timeshare company and its related Westgate Marketing LLC said 357 jobs at 8680 Commodity Circle will be cut by Aug. 30. <\p>
A popular job-posting strategy can backfire
Editor's Note: Welcome to The Playbook Edition, a look at stories, trends and changes that could affect your business and career. Want more stories like this in your inbox? Sign up for The Playbook newsletter. <\p> The hiring process sparks plenty of questions for employers and candidates alike. <\p>
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