Business Features

Publix taking fight to North Carolina
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Published Sept. 2, 2013, Business Weekly

While most in the retail industry scaled back, focusing instead on existing stores and on maintaining profits, Publix Supermarkets surged ahead.

Lululemon follows unconventional path
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Published Aug. 5, 2013, Business Weekly

Known primarily for selling expensive apparel for women, lululemon has operated in Sarasota for nearly three years, and business has grown despite a lack of advertising.

Costco a mixed blessing for Sarasota Square
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Published Oct. 17, 2013

Costco’s opening was one of the most successful in the history of the Issaquah, Wash.-based chain. But whether the retailer known for its discount prices on electronics, liquor, jewelry and enormous wholesale-sized food portions will be salvation for Sarasota Square and other malls is an open question.

Don Pablo’s trying to make a comeback
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Published June 10, 2013, Business Weekly

Though the restaurant’s familiar brick building and signage can be seen from Interstate 75 and Fruitville Road, and it still offers paper-thin chips and South-of-the-Border beers, the parking lot is only about half full most days.

A Ritzy image is tweaked a bit
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Published Feb. 12, 2013, A1

After spending more than a decade defining luxury lodging in Southwest Florida, the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota is stepping away from exclusive and pretentious and turning instead to hip and approachable.