• Alternate Text

  • Loading

  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

East County | Business

Jpan Sushi & Grill is moving out of its spot at 229 N. Cattlemen Road.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • August 27, 2026
UTC restaurant closing but 'not leaving' after 10 years, owner says

Jpan Sushi and Grill is searching for its next location in the University Town Center area.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Just Salad offers salads, bowls, wraps, soups, market plates and smoothies.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • August 23, 2026
New restaurant opens at University Town Center

Just Salad opened recently, while another healthy option is coming soon nearby.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Sydnie Rodman, Cassie Leland, Ari Olivo and Katie Opps all agree Ride Cycle Studio is a place to come together and grow as a community.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 17, 2026
Ride Cycle Studio aims to help members grow and change

Ride Cycle Studio, owned by 29-year-old entrepreneur Ari Olivo, offers over 50 classes a week between the Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota locations.

  • East County
  • Business
Lakewood Ranch's Elle Plotkin is a new employee at the Lakewood Main Street location.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 10, 2026
Popular Sarasota bakery opens on Lakewood Ranch Main Street

Bread Bandits combines a century-old sourdough starter with modern convenience at its new Lakewood Ranch store.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Jeremy Keller has started Prestige Auto Experiences in Lakewood Ranch with the idea that many potential club members would love to get behind the wheel of a classic or exotic car.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 4, 2026
Country club for car enthusiasts to open in Lakewood Ranch

Jeremy Keller wants to share his love of cars with club members who are like-minded.

  • East County
  • Business
Can you eat both halves of a corned beef sandwich? You can test your skills when Wolfie's Hand Cut opens at UTC late this year.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 23, 2026
Can new concept earn the bread for Wolfie's at University Town Center?

Wolfie's Hand Cut will use a Chipotle Mexican Grill-style fast-casual concept to streamline operations.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Partners Animal Hospital Lakewood Ranch hosts a ribbon cutting July 10.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 13, 2026
Partners Animal Hospital opens in Lakewood Ranch

The 4,300-square-foot veterinary office and animal hospital includes acupuncture among its treatments.

  • East County
  • Business
Jason Starkman, the director of operations for The Original Wolfie's and Rascal House restaurants, shows off a corned beef sandwich. Wolfie's 21 Hand Cut is coming to UTC in late November or early December.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 10, 2026
Wolfie's Hand Cut headed to University Town Center

The new restaurant will offer 21st-century versions of the Original Wolfie's and Rascal House menu items.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
FoodTrukt, a new app, aims to bring together food truck owners and customers through making locations, schedules and menus more accessible.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 8, 2026
Find nearby food trucks with new app

Sarasota-Manatee food truck owners can post their precise locations, menus, specials and more on FoodTrukt.

  • East County
  • Business
The pizzeria offers mostly 13-inch and a handful of 8-inch pies.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • June 23, 2026
Michelin-recommended pizzeria opens at University Town Center

Mister 01 Extraordinary Pizza is known for its artisanal star-shaped pizzas.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Jonathan Ith, who has run Chick-fil-A Creekwood for the last 25 years, is preparing to open a new location in Heritage Harbour to keep up with the local demand.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 16, 2026
Chick-fil-A expands in Bradenton with a new store in Heritage Harbour

Owner Jonathan Ith has run Chick-fil-A Creekwood for the past 25 years and is excited to open a larger store.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Peculiar Pub takes the place of Twisted Pit BBQ on Main Street at Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 12, 2026
Peculiar Pub crawls across Main Street in Lakewood Ranch

Peculiar Pub is offering extended hours, an elevated menu and a full bar at the new location.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
East County residents wait in line before 7 a.m. on June 11 to start shopping at the new Publix at 16642 State Road 64 East.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 11, 2026
Publix opens at corner of SR 64 and Uihlein Road in Lakewood Ranch

East County residents were lined up before 7 a.m. to be among the first shoppers.

  • East County
  • Business
Mike and Jenny Schenk have closed their Pineapple Kitchen location on Lena Road and are now marketing their products on Amazon.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 4, 2026
Pineapple Kitchen owners close store, move to Amazon

Mike and Jenny Schenk close their Lena Road location in Bradenton to concentrate on the Amazon Market.

  • East County
  • Business
University Town Center is poised to welcome more than a dozen new tenants, Ikea this summer to Dick's House of Sport in 2027.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • June 3, 2026
13 new retailers, eateries coming to University Town Center

Restaurants and retailers are among the new businesses coming to the UTC area.

  • East County
  • Business
Zach Zeller co-owns three restaurants in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 22, 2026
A high-flying spirit has led Lakewood Rancher to adventure, in business and life

Lakewood Ranch restaurant owner Zach Zeller, be it on the ground or in the sky, emphasizes hard work — and helping others.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
From left: Katelyn Diaz serves up smiles at Sip n Brew, the coffee trailer she launched with her parents shortly after graduating from Lakewood Ranch High. Partners Scott Wacha, left, and Brandon Whitman hold their Moo-Jitsu spice blends, a backyard-idea-turned-growing-business rooted in family, flavor and a bit of humor. Jason Huh, founder of STEEL Supplements, showcases Sodi Pop and Omni — two of the company’s expanding beverage lines aimed at a broader audience.
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • May 22, 2026
These entrepreneurial families launched their new ventures right here at home

In Lakewood Ranch, ideas sparked at kitchen tables and backyard gatherings are taking root — and growing into something more.

  • East County
  • Business
A colorful spread of kebabs, house-made sauces and sides showcases the restaurant’s bold, cross-cultural approach to Mediterranean cuisine.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • May 20, 2026
Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant gets its passion from surprising its customers

Florence & the Spice Boys Chef Collin Blakeman explains why Middle Eastern cuisine is the spice of life.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
My-Lien Truong and Dwight Fitch, the radiation oncologists at Advocate Radiation Oncology in Lakewood Ranch, both studied chemical engineering before pursuing radiation oncology.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • May 12, 2026
Radiation, oncology center opens Lakewood Ranch office

Advocate Radiation Oncology has opened at 8946 77th Terrace E., to go with its previous location on S.R. 64 in Bradenton.

  • East County
  • Business
Saucy! is expanding on the Gulf Coast, with a Lakewood Ranch and Trinity location opening May 4 and 5, respectively.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 7, 2026
Saucy new chicken spot opens in Lakewood Ranch

As the name of the KFC spinoff suggests, dipping sauces are front and center in the restaurant on Lena Road.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Janet and Dean Mixon are retiring. The couple sold their food truck to Polk Sheriff Charities, Inc.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 6, 2026
Mixon Swirl food truck finds a new home in Polk County

Dean and Janet Mixon sell their iconic food truck to Polk Sheriff Charities Inc.

  • East County
  • Business
Sarasota's Axel Neff is glad to welcome community members who are both familiar and unfamiliar with Tim Horton's brand to bond over food and coffee.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • April 26, 2026
Tim Hortons blazes a Florida path with Manatee County restaurant

Tim Hortons, a Canadian breakfast chain, wants customers both familiar and unfamiliar with the brand to walk away with a smile.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
The Ikea franchise system includes 58 retail locations in the United States. There are 412 Ikea stores worldwide in 32 countries.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • April 11, 2026
Ikea to open at UTC in Sarasota

The store will span 48,000 square feet off Cattlemen Road.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
John Atanassov and Joel King, co-owners of Blu Kouzina, are eager to serve and get to know new customers at their new location at University Town Center.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • April 6, 2026
Blu Kouzina adds its Greek flavor at University Town Center

With a focus on fresh ingredients and making customers feel at home, Blu Kouzina hopes to win over East County patrons.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Indigo's Amber Hanratty, who was in the building industry for 25 years, now has her own business called Dirty Sara-Soda.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • March 31, 2026
Dirty Sara-Soda hopes to clean up with a new beverage

The "dirty soda" mobile business is owned by Lakewood Ranch's Amber Hanratty, who saw an opening in the market.

  • East County
  • Business
Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance President and CEO Brittany Lamont and Board Chair Wayne Parrish are eager for members to hit the course for the Ranch Scramble.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • March 30, 2026
Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance takes a swing at networking

The Ranch Scramble draws 140 golfers and 40 businesses to Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Saks' parent company, Saks Global, filed for bankruptcy in January.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • March 25, 2026
Saks changes its mind: UTC store will remain open

The parent company, going through bankruptcy, says it has renegotiated its lease terms at The Mall at University Town Center in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Life Time, an athletic country club, is slated to open in Lakewood Ranch in late 2026. This is the outdoor pool and waterslide at the Life Time in Winter Park.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 17, 2026
Entertainment district expands in Lakewood Ranch

Several entertainment options are under construction on the Sarasota County side of Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Austin Venhaus and Aaron Rutsky
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • March 11, 2026
Walls go up as Sarasota's first climbing gym nears opening

Formerly known as Project 24 Climbing, Hexrock Climbing is set to open at the beginning of April.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Sweetwater's Whit and Taylor Wesenberg founded Humu's Island Treasures after selling five handmade art pieces within a day of being posted on Facebook marketplace.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • March 10, 2026
Lakewood Ranch small business carves out good vibes

Humu's Island Treasures sells carved and painted art pieces via social media and art shows.

  • East County
  • Business
Saks' parent company, Saks Global, filed for bankruptcy in January.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • March 7, 2026
Bankrupt Saks Fifth Avenue to close Sarasota-UTC store

A Saks has been in the Sarasota-Manatee market for at least three decades.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Brian Taylor, who works as executive vice president for Perform[cb], has been working from CoworkLWR since 2021 in order to have a separation between work and home life. He enjoys the opportunities to network with fellow remote workers at the new location.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • March 3, 2026
CoworkLWR moves to a new, larger Lakewood Ranch location

Keith Pandeloglou's business had spent the past 10 years on Lakewood Main Street.

  • East County
  • Business
Sanddy Marchena owns Kiddie Academy of Lakewood Ranch with his wife Melodie Marchena (not pictured). Michelle Frease is the academy's director.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • February 24, 2026
Lakewood Ranch's Waterside Place gains a Kiddie Academy

Kiddie Academy of Sarasota opens its child care and preschool business March 2.

  • East County
  • Business
General manager Desmond Hill brings warmth and ease to Lucky Pelican’s welcoming, neighborhood vibe.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • February 18, 2026
Lucky Pelican's general manager shares how he keeps the restaurant flying high

What makes the Lucky Pelican Bistro so good? No bad days. And the lobster roll, of course.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Karen Medford has moved up the ladder with her Sirius Day Spa, Salon and Med Spa business by opening a location in Waterside. The new location will include a boutique.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 27, 2026
Sirius Day Spa opens new location in Lakewood Ranch entertainment hub

Owner Karen Medford says it has been a dream for her to own a spa at Waterside Place.

  • East County
  • Business
Yahaira and Adam Shimer operate Crust N' Crumb out of their Heritage Harbour home.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 27, 2026
Baking hobby turns into a hot business for Manatee County couple

Baking racks and equipment have taken over this Heritage Harbour household over the past year.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
1 2 3 4 5 »
The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest in East County

1
Junior running back Antonio Jackson (center) of Braden River finds a gap in Lakewood Ranch's defense. The Pirates won this year's rivalry game.
  • September 5, 2026
High school football results from Week 3
2
Fifth graders Amilia Dragovoy, Betsi Branscomb and Raegan Standifer are able to work at their own pace on state standards through the Ethos AI Experiential Academy at Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy.
  • September 2, 2026
Lakewood Ranch Prep embraces personalized AI academy
3
Dr. Samuel Yelverton is proud Universal Health Services is purchasing the most advanced technology for Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.
  • September 2, 2026
Da Vinci 5: A robotic masterpiece at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center
4
Owen Gellatly, pictured here in 2025, is one of two seniors for Lakewood Ranch boys golf this season alongside Donovan Plakyda. Both of them were on last year's team which reached the state championship.
  • September 2, 2026
After 12th-place state finish in 2025, LRHS boys golf team aims higher
5
For security reasons, Commissioner Jason Bearden is wary of giving a private company so much data on Manatee County. He wants to "push the brakes" on AI.
  • September 2, 2026
AI pilot program says it can save Manatee County up to $110 million

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.

Anytime. Anywhere. Observer.

From in-depth local reporting to real-time breaking news, stay connected to the stories shaping our community with the Your Observer app.

Download Now for Free