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East County | Business

City Furniture will open a 120,000-square-foot showroom in UTC's East District by summer 2025.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 10, 2024
Furniture store going big and green at University Town Center

City Furniture will open a 120,000-square-foot showroom in UTC's East District by summer 2025.

  • East County
  • Business
The original Superman lunch boxes by Adco debuted in 1954.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 6, 2024
Sarasota Toy Museum debuts Aug. 8 with thousands of vintage exhibits

Owner Richard Pierson has assembled toys representing more than 200 years of playtime history.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
The Golf Society is not finished yet, but this photo offers an idea of what a suite will look like.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 5, 2024
Members-only golf lounge to open in Lakewood Ranch

The Golf Society is planning to open in August on Solutions Lane.

  • East County
  • Business
Jonathan Mitchell and Jason Starkman look forward to offering The Original Wolfie's New York-style deli items at its new location in Lakewood Ranch on Paylor Lane.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 22, 2024
The Original Wolfie's to open location in Lakewood Ranch

The new location will be a commissary and production facility that offers grab 'n' go items as well as delivery of its New York-style deli food.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
The Lakewood Ranch Deli will be open in the San Marco Plaza on July 29 at 10 a.m.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 18, 2024
New deli and lunch spot coming to Lakewood Ranch

The Lakewood Ranch Deli will open in the San Marco Plaza on July 29.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
CITY Furniture will open in spring 2025 at University Town Center.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • July 13, 2024
Furniture showroom with wine bar coming to UTC

City Furniture will open a 120,000-square-foot showroom complete with a cafe and bar off University Parkway.

  • East County
  • Business
Bar Italia is preparing to open on July 13 in the Center Point plaza on the corner of University Parkway and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 8, 2024
New Italian restaurant set to open in Lakewood Ranch

Bar Italia is scheduled to open on July 13 in the Center Point plaza.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Naked Farmer is a fast-casual restaurant that offers a healthy, locally sourced menu.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 21, 2024
Naked Farmer opens at University Town Center

Naked Farmer is a fast-casual restaurant that offers a healthy, locally sourced menu.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Myra Maldonado shows the inside of one of the salt caves. The salt came from Pakistan, and the cave was designed to transport people to a calm, relaxing "safe haven," she says.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 29, 2024
Salt Caves and Spa encourages healthy lifestyles with 'safe haven'

Owners Myra and Rafier Maldonado opened The Salt Caves and Spa after trying to find holistic treatments for their mothers, who died of cancer.

  • East County
  • Business
Paul Caragiulo is part of the winning team that reinvented Owen’s Fish Camp for Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • May 16, 2024
Owen's Fish Camp co-owner shares the secret sauce behind the second location

Who says lightning doesn't strike twice? Paul Caragiulo shares how he and his brothers brought one of Sarasota's favorite restaurants to Lakewood Ranch.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
David Otterness has been on the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance board since 2021.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 15, 2024
Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance thrives as it turns 20

As the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance readies to shed itself of its teenage years, a leader with a steady hand helps guide the organization on some big goals and aspirations.

  • East County
  • Business
Julie Peters hosts her first pop-up event at The Green at University Town Center on April 13.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 6, 2024
Nurse-turned-florist finds roots with Posies Flower Truck

Julie Peters's budding business will be making the rounds at special events in Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Business
Residents line up to get into The Fresh Market on April 24.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • April 24, 2024
The Fresh Market opens in Lakewood Ranch

More than 100 residents lined up to be the first shoppers in The Green's new store on State Road 70.

  • East County
  • Business
Every space in La Chic Bohème is artistically designed, such as the tile.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 24, 2024
Spa retreat featuring salt room, infrared sauna opens in Waterside Place

La Chic Bohème perseveres through construction delays to offer a unique experience.

  • East County
  • Business
Norman Love Confections has reopened its chocolate salon on the other side of University Parkway at The Shoppes at UTC.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • April 8, 2024
Norman Love Confections moves in next to Trader Joe's

The chocolate salon moved to the Manatee County side of UTC to The Shoppes.

  • East County
  • Business
Tesla preparing to open its new Sarasota store at University Town Center.
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • April 6, 2024
Tesla set to open UTC dealership by end of April

The electric vehicle manufacturer has built a 55,000-square-foot showroom and service center at University Town Center just off I-75.

  • East County
  • Business
Artwork in the new Big Top gives a tip of the hat to Sarasota's connection with the circus industry.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 3, 2024
Big Top Brewing expands to Fruitville Commons with huge plans

The Sarasota restaurant/brewery targets mid-April for the opening of its 18,000 square-foot business on the southern edge of Lakewood Ranch.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • March 26, 2024
Target to build large-format store near Lakewood Ranch

The retailer has filed for a permit with Manatee County to build a new store, nearly 25,000 square feet larger than its average store, at Marketplace at Heritage Harbour off I-75.

  • East County
  • News
Chamberlin's will open in Center Point at Waterside this spring.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 25, 2024
Center Point will add grocer, restaurants and more by summer

Chamberlin's Natural Foods and Bar Italia head the lineup coming to Waterside in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
The Greyson is open in the Lakewood Walk plaza at the intersection of State Road 70 and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 24, 2024
Upscale sports bar opens in Lakewood Ranch

The Greyson in the Lakewood Walk plaza offers wall-to-wall TVs, later hours and food from scratch.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Agave Bandido brings a taste of Mexican elegance to Waterside Place.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 1, 2024
Mexican restaurant Agave Bandido ready to debut in Waterside Place

The eye-catching artwork in the Mexican restaurant goes on display March 11 in Lakewood Ranch.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Dave Otterness says his wife Jennifer's support allows him to give back to the community through the LWRBA.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • February 28, 2024
Willis Smith exec takes over as LWRBA chair

Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance Chair David Otterness says he will put new vision and mission statements into action and increase the nonprofit's advocacy in 2024.

  • East County
  • Business
The Mixons' food truck showcases the history of Mixon Fruit Farms.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • February 21, 2024
Former Mixon Farms owners begin new stage with food truck

Although Mixon Fruit Farms closed, life with the Mixons continues on a food truck.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Mark and Michele Schlossberg founded Paint Nail Bar nine years ago.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • February 15, 2024
The journey from one nail salon to a national brand

Lakewood Ranch residents Mark and Michele Schlossberg launched Paint Nail Bar nine years ago. It has since become a nationwide brand.

  • East County
  • Business
Co-owner Adam Myara serves up a smashburger to the wait staff in the Ed's Tavern kitchen. The new Ed's Tavern had a soft opening for its second Lakewood Ranch location on Friday.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 19, 2024
Ed's Tavern opens its second Lakewood Ranch restaurant

The new building on Upper Manatee River Road hosted a soft opening on Friday before it opened to the public on Saturday.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
The mezzanine is designed to be used as an event space.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 9, 2024
Tsunami Sushi & Hibachi to open Lakewood Ranch restaurant Jan. 20

After years of delays, the Japanese restaurant is opening the State Road 70 location on Jan. 20.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Lakewood Ranch residents Mary and Tom Noon are the founders of Pure Dink.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 19, 2023
Lakewood Ranch entrepreneurs launch pickleball accessory brand

Pure Dink offers pickleball jewelry, bags, eyeglass holders and cocktail glasses.

  • East County
  • Business
President Brittany Lamont, board member Keith Pandeloglou and Communications Coordinator Kristie Calandro prepare for the last meeting of the year.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 14, 2023
Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance puts focus on philanthropy

About 40 nonprofits showcased their services for alliance members at their last meeting of the year.

  • East County
  • Business
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 13, 2023
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center hires new COO

Philip Reber's goal is to make LWRMC the hospital of choice for local residents.

  • East County
  • Business
Keith Pandeloglou, the owner of UTC Venture Group and President and CEO of Lakewood Ranch Community Activities, won the Best Rancher award at the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance's Sandies event Friday at the Grove.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 17, 2023
'Mr. Lakewood Ranch' lands big Business Alliance award

Keith Pandeloglou was named Best Rancher at the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance's annual Sandies awards.

  • East County
  • Business
Braulio Vizcaino pulls a Margherita pie out of Osteria 500's trademark red Fiat pizza oven.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • November 16, 2023
Osteria 500 serves Italian food with Italian soul

The restaurant’s co-owner is grounded in Italy’s culinary past. He’s equally grounded in Italy’s inventive, creative commitment to the future.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Samantha Albano (left) and Gabriella Moss (right) are young entrepreneurs who are both driven to succeed.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 16, 2023
Two high school classmates reunite through their businesses

Samantha Albano and Gabriella Moss met in high school. But they reignited their friendship 10 years later through their businesses in San Marco Plaza.

  • East County
  • Business
Mark Hiser believes in the healing power of horses.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 16, 2023
New executive director brings fresh ideas for SMART growth

As the new executive director of Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy, Mark Hiser has plans to make the organization even more visible.

  • East County
  • Business
As Lakewood Ranch has grown over the last two decades, Albert Myara has had his fingerprints on many business deals, both in real estate and restaurants.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 15, 2023
The secret behind Albert Myara’s success isn’t so secret: It's hard work

Lakewood Ranch’s Albert Myara excels at business, but his No. 1 priority is his family.

  • East County
  • Business
Zoe Sommers only works the evening shift at Forked.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 15, 2023
Forked at Night expands into a nightclub at Waterside Place

The popular breakfast eatery is now a nightclub on Friday and Saturday nights.

  • East County
  • News
The School of Rock is open in Lakewood Ranch. The soft opening was on Sept. 11, and the grand opening was on Oct. 29.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 6, 2023
Bradenton couple brings personal experience to School of Rock

Gary and Kelley Falcon, who opened the new Lakewood Ranch music education school, have spent more than 30 years in the music business.

  • East County
  • Business
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Latest in East County

1
CEO Mike Bisaha says the new equipment will at least triple Big Top Brewing Co.'s beer production.
  • December 3, 2025
Big Top to open expanded brew house at Sarasota's Fruitville Commons
2
Mill Creek's Ilana Simone, who performs as Ilana Armida, has returned to her roots after living in Los Angeles to pursue her musical career.
  • December 3, 2025
Mill Creek musical artist continues to search for her audience
3
Lakewood Ranch High School graduate Jason Huh has founded a few different companies, including Sodi Pop. Sodi Pop is now available in a healthy vending machine at the school for staff and students to enjoy.
  • December 3, 2025
Sodi Pop, billed as a healthier product, comes to Lakewood Ranch High
4
Marine Corps veteran Dale Cole lives in Greenfield Plantation and is a regular user of Manatee Moves.
  • December 3, 2025
Ride service for Manatee County veterans is on the move
5
Commissioners George Kruse and Bob McCann are on opposite sides of the AAA High School vote. Kruse voted in favor of approving the site plan, and McCann voted to deny the site plan.
  • December 3, 2025
Manatee commissioners have final say about new school but no real power

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