South Florida helping state’s economic recovery, economist says
Florida’s economy has gained momentum in the past year, with Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties helping the state on its slow trek to recovering from the devastating Great Recession, according to an analysis released Friday by the Wells Fargo Economic Group. “All indications point to stronger gains this year,” Wells Fargo senior economist Mark […]
Florida swindlers’ $77 million cow pasture
Just before fleeing the country, Victor and Natalia Wolf launched a national project that wiped out investors of millions — leaving nothing but cattle and sage brush behind During a lavish party for hundreds of guests, North Miami Beach developers Victor and Natalia Wolf unveiled their most ambitious project: a new city in the heart […]
Charge your cellphone — for a fee
GoCharge is spreading its network of cellphone charging stations across South Florida, targeting the area for the next phase of its expansion. Ever run out of battery life on your cellphone just when you need it most? GoCharge wants to be your go-to place to get your smartphone charged — for a fee. The network […]
Fort Lauderdale postmark soon to be history as postal centers close
Say goodbye to that smudgy black postmark reading “Fort Lauderdale.” Bid farewell also to speedier delivery of mail, at least outside South Florida. In an effort to address budget woes from a severe decline in mail volume, the U.S. Postal Service is closing Broward County’s two massive mail processing centers and shifting operations to a […]
The Whole Enchilada expanding in Fort Lauderdale
A building that was once an auto repair shop and before that a gas station, will soon be converted into a full-service Mexican restaurant on Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale. The Whole Enchilada, a fresh Mexican grille restaurant, is opening its second location there in the coming months. The 1,200-square-foot space just north of Broward […]
Savvy cities see consignment shops as a way of boosting business
Consignment shops have become the new favorite of bargain-savvy shoppers and municipal governments looking to boost local redevelopment efforts. Since its opening five years ago, Baby Posh, an Aventura consignment shop that specializes in gently used baby-wear, has been a huge success with moms. “A lot of them have told us that it look like […]
South Florida businesses blend ideas
Ever wanted to grab a sandwich while mailing out a package? How about grab a cup of coffee and a croissant while waiting for a prescription to be filled? South Florida is home to all kinds of business, including several with two very different concepts under one roof. The idea of blended space isn’t a […]
Fort Lauderdale-New York among the few routes fliers will find summer deals
In a summer travel season with mostly higher airfares, the Fort Lauderdale to New York route will be one of the few that will cost less this year than last. Travel between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International and New York often ranks among the busiest routes in the nation, and 17.2 percent of the airport’s flights are […]
S. Florida independent jewelers see rise in sales
South Florida area independent jewelry stores are rebounding after weathering several rough years of slow sales. Cutler Altier, owner of Altier Jewelers in Boca Raton, said he expects more ofMother’s Day this year, hopefully marking another year of growth for his 52-year-old company. South Florida jewelers say they have fared better than some other areas […]
JetBlue in growth mode in South Florida
JetBlue Airways is adding flights to the Caribbean and Latin America from South Florida, hoping to cash in on South Floridians’ roots in those areas. The New York-based airline operates hundreds of flights across the United States and is now a leading carrier at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International and Palm Beach International airports. Experts say JetBlue […]
Cyber-spying on the rise
When Linda Trottman’s husband landed a promotion at his company, a co-worker congratulated her on it a few days later. Trottman says she hadn’t even realized her colleague monitored her husband’s profile on LinkedIn, a professional-networking site, where he had posted his new title. “It hit me that he was targeting my husband’s previous position,” […]
Norwegian Getaway latest in series of new cruise ships set to sail from Miami
A parade of new ships is set to sail from Miami, with the latest to be announced Tuesday. After a lull that ended in the summer of 2010, new cruise ships keep lining up to call Miami home. The latest announcement is expected Tuesday, when Norwegian Cruise Line is set to officially reveal that its […]
Sales of Miami Marlins merchandise off to a strong start
Apparently no one wants to be the only fan in the stands wearing an old Florida Marlins jersey. Sales of Miami Marlins shirts, jerseys and hats at the first three games in the new ballpark eclipsed total sales last season, said Sean Flynn, senior vice president of marketing for the Marlins. “The fans have fallen […]
3 hospitals rapped for McDonald’s in lobby
South Florida’s three largest hospitals came under fire Tuesday for letting McDonald’ssell burgers and fries on their premises, a few floors from where they perform heart surgery and treat sick children. The nonprofit consumer group Corporate Accountability International sent letters to Broward General Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Jackson Memorial […]
Lauderdale maritime school trains cruise ship staff to fight fires at sea
Two recent fires aboard cruise ships raise the question of how crews are prepared to battle potentially fatal blazes at sea. Schools like the Resolve Maritime Academy in Fort Lauderdale make it their mission to train seafarers for such events. Its firefighting and marine safety courses are designed to equip ship crew with the know-how […]
Pet Supermarket CEO makes stores fashionable
A South Florida businesswoman has landed on top of an annual ranking of Florida’s women-owned companies. Diane Holtz, president of Pet Supermarket, said she redesigned the stores in the Sunrise-based pet store chain to be “what women want in shopping:” clean, colorful and featuring new products each week. When judged by its $213 million in […]
Savor the flavor at ‘Las Olas Wine & Food Festival’
The “17th Annual Las Olas Wine & Food Festival,” presented by Bombay Sapphire, Martin Codax, elit by Stolichnaya, Las Rocas, Milagro and Premier Beverage Company returns April 20 to Las Olas Boulevard located in Fort Lauderdale. This year’s event features new additions and a variety of pre and post events. Proceeds from the festival benefit […]
FPL gets okay to replace Port Everglades power plant
FPL plans to demolish its power plant at Port Everglades and replace it with a modernized one. This is a rendering of what the plant currently looks like. It’s official. Those candy-cane-striped smokestacks at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale are history. They’ll be demolished around June next year — surely an event to watch, like […]
Fort Lauderdale hosts first high-rise certified by the Florida Green Building Coalition
The first residential high-rise certified eco-friendly by the Florida Green Building Coalition is now home to low-income renters in Fort Lauderdale. Green and affordable rentals? There’s no contradiction, say developers from the nonprofit Reliance Housing Foundation of Asheville, N.C., who joined with the Broward County Housing Authority, Facchina Construction and green-building advisers Trifecta Construction Solutions […]
South Florida iPad fans wait in line for the new release
South Florida residents set on being one of the first to get the new iPad released today didn’t let a little early morning rain stop them. Kevin Booker, from Hollywood, staked out his No. 2 spot in line at the Apple Store in the Galleria Mall around 9 p.m. Thursday night. That means he spent […]