Retail property near downtown Sarasota sells for $7 million, creating 3.5-acre development site

A 13,000-square-foot retail building, near downtown Sarasota, has sold for $7 million to 5 Point Equity. The property, at 1427 S Tamiami Trail, which sits on 1.35 acres, includes tenants such as Integrated Dental of Florida, Playa Bowls, Curaleaf Dispensary and Verizon. The buyer owns the adjacent Baymont by Wyndham Sarasota hotel, at 1425 S … Read more

A father’s love, a son’s legacy: Maj. Gen. James Hartsell joins Saint Leo board to honor late son

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. James “Hammer” Hartsell has joined the Saint Leo University Board of Trustees, bringing with him not only a lifetime of military and public service, but also a deeply personal reason for doing so. Hartsell’s late son, Evin B. Hartsell, graduated from Saint Leo, in 2015, with a degree in … Read more

Seminole Hard Rock Tampa honored for cultural impact by tribal gaming community

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa has received a Cultural Impact Award from Casinos.com, recognizing its charitable work, disaster response and ongoing support for the Tampa Bay community. Voted Florida’s top tribal casino, by residents across four U.S. states and three Canadian provinces, the resort was one of just seven properties in North America … Read more

USF sets new fundraising record with $184 million in donations from nearly 60,000 donors

University of South Florida entrance sign with USF bull logo and greenery in the background.

The University of South Florida raised a record-breaking $184.2 million in philanthropic support during the 2024–25 fiscal year. More than 59,700 donors contributed to the total, including nearly 15,000 first-time supporters. This marks the fourth consecutive year USF has surpassed $150 million in annual giving, with more than $660 million raised since 2021. “This record-breaking … Read more

One Liners Polk:

Ryan Companies has completed the 30,000-square-foot IFF Global Citrus Innovation Center at Florida Polytechnic University, an R&D hub advancing citrus scent and flavor research. (Pictured above) Polk County approved a contract with Tri-County Human Services to expand case management and housing support for formerly incarcerated individuals through its HATCH Program, funded by a state grant. … Read more

One Liners Sarasota and Manatee: First Watch, Manatee School of the Arts

Sandbar Seafood + Spirits, on Anna Maria Island, has unveiled a renovation featuring new concepts Beachside Bites and Sweet Willy’s, along with refreshed dining, event and retail spaces. Faith Baptist Church, in Sarasota, has sold 11 acres of its Fruitville Road property to charter school developer Red Apple Development for $3.5 million, with plans approved … Read more

One Liners Pinellas: The Vinoy, Derby Lane and more

 The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, in downtown St. Pete, opened its new signature restaurant, Elliott Aster, marking the first phase of a renovation under owners Bryan and Shanna Glazer. Construction Casualty Insurance, of St. Petersburg, partnered with Texas-based Higginbotham to scale its AI-powered risk management platform, CompCorrect, nationwide. Velera, a leading credit union service … Read more