730 Jobs Cut | Top Restaurant Honors | Champagne Bar: FL Business News

FLORIDA — From a new champagne bar with a $150 minimum bar tab to layoffs at the Home Shopping Network to a new Geico office opening in Tampa, here are the latest business headlines from Florida Patch.

Homebuilder Donates $90K In Furniture To Habitat For Humanity In Pasco

GL Homes donated $90,000 worth of furniture and fixtures to Habitat for Humanity of East and Central Pasco County.

4 FL Restaurants Nominated For 2025 James Beard Awards

Florida's restaurants and chefs are well-represented among the 2025 James Beard Awards nominees.

Business Owner Defrauded Customers Of $792K: Bradenton Police

The owner of Gulf View Windows and Doors used money from customers on travel and gambling, Bradenton police said.

These FL Billionaires Are Among The Richest In The World: Forbes List

Fifty-five FL billionaires, including Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, were among Forbes’ 39th annual World’s Billionaires list.

Foot Locker Signs Lease For 111,000 SF Office In St. Petersburg

The Fortune 500 company Foot Locker signed a lease for 111,000 square feet at 570 Carillon Parkway in St. Petersburg.

730 HSN Workers To Be Laid Off At St. Pete Campus

HSN’s St. Petersburg campus will close by the end of the year as the shopping channel moves to QVC’s headquarters in PA, cutting 730 jobs.

Geico To Open Tampa Office, Bringing 1,000 Jobs To The Region

The new campus in Tampa will be the national insurance company’s third FL office.

Adeline, Swordfish Grill, Toasted Mango Cafe: Restaurant News

The latest Sarasota, Bradenton restaurant news: Swordfish Grill, Toasted Mango Cafe, Flower Child, Sugar Champagne Bar, food truck court.

Sunshine City Tavern, Melting Pot, Plate: St. Pete Restaurant News

The latest St. Petersburg-area restaurant news: Sunshine City Tavern, Melting Pot, Mangosteen, Plate Sushi, Sip, Michelin Guide expansion.

These 5 FL Golf Courses Rated Best In The State

GolfPass recently released its Golfers’ Choice 2025 list, which highlights the top public courses in each U.S. state.

Nonprofit Saving Our Seniors Opens Produce Shop In St. Petersburg

Your Neighborhood Produce, operated by Saving Our Seniors, recently opened in St. Petersburg, selling affordable fruits and vegetables.

3 FL Eateries Named ‘Restaurants Of The Year’

Three Florida restaurants were tabbed by food and dining writers from across the USA Today network as some of the best of 2025.

Champagne Bar With $150 Minimum Tab Sets Opening Date In Sarasota

Sugar Champagne Bar, a new upscale lounge in downtown Sarasota, has set its opening date.

44 FL Bed And Breakfasts Named Among Best In America, New Ranking Says

U.S. News & World Report analyzed at least 350 bed-and-breakfasts, inns and hotels across 17 cities and small towns, including in Florida.

Feds Cut $1B In Food Aid, Impacting FL Farmers, Food Banks

The federal budget cuts will reportedly impact a Florida food bank benefitting from a $65 million federal food assistance program.

$770K Earrings Thief Swallowed Found In His Poop, Returned To Tiffany

FL detectives recovered nearly $770,000 worth of Tiffany earrings from a thief who swallowed the jewels during his arrest, police said.

Best Barbecue Joint In FL 2025 Grills 'Hot And Fast': Southern Living

Southern Living readers chose their favorite barbecue restaurants in the South, including in Florida.

Dunkin’ Opens First Store With Double Drive-Thru In Tampa Bay Area

A new Dunkin’ that opened in Hudson is the first in the Tampa Bay-area with a double drive-thru.

New Trump Tariffs: What FL Residents Need To Know

President Donald Trump this week announced sweeping new tariffs. Here's how the action could affect Floridians.

Hooters Restaurant Chain Files Bankruptcy: What It Means In FL

The complicated Hooters bankruptcy filing is designed to keep many Florida sites of this once-popular restaurant chain open.