BB&T completes purchase of BankAtlantic
BB&T completed its purchase of BankAtlantic on Tuesday after passing its final regulatory hurdle in a deal that elevates BB&T’s presence in South Florida and closes the final chapter on a 60-year-old homegrown financial institution. The Federal Reserve Board of Governors and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. approved BB&T’s purchase early Tuesday, which gives the […]
Swimwear sales rising, say exhibitors at Miami Beach swim show
The swimwear industry is doing swimmingly, according to exhibitors surveyed at the world’s largest industry show now taking place at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Sales have taken off since the recession and are poised for further growth this year, even as the world economy slows, said executives from companies ranging from Miami’s giant Perry […]
Pitbull takes ownership in The New Miami Subs Grill
Latin hip-hop star Pitbull has always had an affinity for the chicken wings and the gyro platter at Miami Subs. As the child of first generation Cuban immigrants growing up in Miami during the 1980s, Armando Christian Perez considered a trip to Miami Subs a big treat. Years later, the Miami Subs on Washington Avenue […]
South Florida among top areas for loan modifications
South Florida ranks among the top metro areas in the number of mortgage modifications, an indication that lenders are making progress in addressing the region’s housing debacle, industry observers say. Lenders have approved 46,032 trial or permanent modifications in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties since the Home Affordable Modification Program started in 2009. The […]
Out of a job, and into a new, dismal life
Veteran banker Emmanuel Charles uses the library now to check his email since he can’t afford Internet service himself. He drives a Mercedes, but one with 250,000 miles on it. He lost his job as a branch manager in 2009 amid a global banking meltdown and has burned through almost all of his cash since […]
South Florida salvage firms respond to emergencies at sea
For an example of how to base a business on disaster, look no further than Resolve Marine Group’s Joshua James Response Center in Fort Lauderdale. The 33,000-square-foot warehouse, named for a historic life saver, bursts with fire pumps, hydraulic power units, roller bags, dive helmets, pullers, boats, anchors and countless other pieces of equipment that […]
Creative businesses find their niche on Etsy
Painters, potters, designers and artists in South Florida have found another medium to display and sell their work. Etsy, an online community for creative entrepreneurs who sell homemade and vintage gifts, art and supplies, hosts shops in a setting similar to Amazon or eBay. But unlike other websites, Etsy has created a community specifically for […]
Small businesses in South Florida provide a destination for shopping
South Florida is home to a variety of small businesses, many that offer products and services you can’t find anywhere else. Some establishments attract shoppers from across the tri-county area and beyond for their unique offerings or a surge in demand for their products. South Florida residents have been flocking to Naples for day trips […]
Investors reselling condo units bought during housing collapse
Bulk buyers have resold more than 60 percent of the coastal condominiums snapped up during the housing bust, according to a recent report. The investment groups have unloaded roughly 3,200 of the 5,100 units that were in or near foreclosure, said CondoVultures.com, a Bal Harbour-based real estate consulting firm. Many of the bulk sales occurred […]
Made in South Florida: Home-grown firms thrive
South Florida’s known as a retirement haven and vacation destination to most, but it’s also a place where some entrepreneurs find inspiration for business startups. Several tri-county business owners are proud to call South Florida their headquarters. Many have roots in sunny South Florida that have weathered some rough years and are now continuing to […]
Solar Institute in Lauderdale to train jobless veterans
The U.S. Solar Institute, a Fort Lauderdale school, has been chosen by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to train former military service members without jobs in how to install solar-panel systems. An initial 15 to 20 veterans a month from across the country are expected at the school starting in August for classes that […]
North stretch of Fort Lauderdale beach getting facelift
Beachgoers stroll by Pops Corn, a popcorn and ice cream shop in the North Beach Village area at Sunrise Boulevard and A1A on Fort Lauderdale beach. The strip of shops, bars and restaurants is being revitalized by the merchant owners in the area. The north beach area of Fort Lauderdale is getting a much-needed facelift. […]
South Florida auto magnate Ed Morse dies at 91
Ed Morse, prominent and pioneering South Florida auto magnate, died Friday in Boca Raton at the age of 91. He died of natural causes, a Morse company spokeswoman said. Mr. Morse was chairman and founder of Ed Morse Automotive Group. The 66-year-old family business that spans four generations began in 1946, when Mr. Morse and […]
Men-only barber shops on the rise in South Florida
A growing number of barber shops across South Florida offer a different kind of salon service targeted exclusively at men — like a hot shave that comes with a cold draft beer and televisions that have the hot sports game on. Although men-only barbershops have been around a long time, the concepts are evolving and […]
Florida offers $12 million to South Florida companies
South Florida gets a small share of Florida’s $155 million payout to companies thinking of adding jobs in the state. Lisa McKerracher might set up a spinal-cord lab in Miami, or she might set it up in Massachusetts. Florida will pay her $83,000 to pick the Sunshine State. “I’m not sure this is where I […]
Kaplan University to lay off 200, mostly in South Florida
Due to declining enrollment, Kaplan University said Wednesday it is laying off 200 admissions workers, primarily in its Fort Lauderdale, Plantation and Boca Raton offices. Kaplan has been downsizing as it struggles with fallen enrollment and investigations into its sales tactics. “We’ve taken the necessary steps to reduce our workforce … to stabilize after a […]
Single women earning more money, degrees
Single South Florida women are outperforming single men, new studies show. They are getting better educations. They are buying twice as many homes. And they are out-earning their male counterparts. Michelle Friedman, 28, exemplifies the new breed. The senior account executive at a public relations firm already has received several promotions after graduating with honors […]
Wind turbines to spin at Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach
Wind energy is coming to South Florida’s hospitality industry. The Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort is installing wind turbines to make some of its own electricity and to attract more guests and conventions that seek out hotels with eco-friendly features. The hotel plans to spend more than $500,000 to erect six turbines — each roughly […]
Guy Harvey Outpost hotel brand starts up in Florida
Will fans of Fort Lauderdale-based marine artist and conservationist Guy Harvey stay at waterfront hotels and inns that bear his name? That’s the question analysts are asking as the Guy Harvey Outpost brand launches its first Florida resort this summer: the 211-room TradeWinds Sandpiper Hotel and Suites on St. Pete Beach. Harvey, 56, who was […]
South Florida’s B hotel chain to expand in Orlando and downtown Miami
Weston-based B Hotels & Resorts is expanding into Orlando and downtown Miami. The chain will place its name on two existing hotels that will be renovated to meet B standards. The downtown Miami operation will be the first for the chain’s b2 line, which offers more limited services than B resorts, much like Courtyard by […]