Louis Llovio

Tampa

Commercial Real Estate Editor at Business Observer

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Articles

Pasco County affordable housing development brings 360 units, 234 for seniors

2 weeks ago | businessobserverfl.com | Louis Llovio

Fort MyersFirst of its kind of hotel to openMarriott International opened a new studio only extended stay hotel in Fort Myers June 5. And it’s not only new for the city. This is the chain’s first ever StudioRes branded hotel, a concept it announced about two years ago. The 124-room hotel is at 9251 Hilsman Lane just off of the Alico Road exit of Interstate 75.
Nearly 80,000-square-foot Lakeland medical building breaks ground

3 weeks ago | businessobserverfl.com | Louis Llovio

Construction has started on a new medical office facility in Lakeland. The 77,200-square-foot Watson Clinic Medical Office building will be part of Orlando Health’s Lakeland Highlands Hospital campus under construction on Polk Parkway where it meets Lakeland Highlands Road. Hoar Construction, the general contractor for the Watson Clinic project, says work is expected to be completed by midyear 2026. The building, Hoar says, will include offices and imaging labs.
$300M Tampa project positions Coke Florida for generational growth

3 weeks ago | businessobserverfl.com | Louis Llovio

Just a few days after Memorial Day last month, Coca-Cola Beverages Florida invited more than 100 people to Tampa. It was for a grand opening event. This was the kind of affair where prominent local attorneys, a former Tampa mayor, the current Tampa mayor, economic development officials from two counties, business and nonprofit leaders and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleaders all gathered under a tent in the Florida heat and swatted away bugs.
Downtown Tampa hotel owner borrows $38M

3 weeks ago | businessobserverfl.com | Louis Llovio

Newbond Holdings, the owners of the Aloft Tampa Downtown hotel, have refinanced the property at the gateway to the city’s downtown for $38 million — just two years shy after buying it. The loan, a five-year, floating-rate refinancing, was announced by JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group, which says the money comes from affiliates of New York-based Fortress Investment Group.
Lee County opens emergency center expansion ahead of hurricane season

3 weeks ago | businessobserverfl.com | Louis Llovio

Manhattan Construction Company has finished an expansion at the Lee County Public Safety Center, just as the 2025 hurricane season kicks off. The company, with dual headquarters in Naples and Tulsa, Oklahoma, built the 36,873-square-foot, two-story wing at the center on Ortiz Avenue. The addition, according to a statement, was built to improve emergency response capabilities across the county’s public safety agencies.
More St. Pete layoffs after Trump administration cuts youth jobs program

3 weeks ago | businessobserverfl.com | Louis Llovio

Eckerd Connects, a Clearwater-based nonprofit that assists children, young adults and families in need, will lay off 47 employees in St. Petersburg in response to the Trump administration’s decision to cut a federal jobs program for young people. The nonprofit notified state and local officials it was eliminating the jobs shortly after Exceed LLC announced that it was cutting 119 workers because of the closing.
Sarasota office building — with a twist — listed for nearly $4M | Business Observer

3 weeks ago | businessobserverfl.com | Louis Llovio

A Sarasota commercial building at 2030 Bee Ridge Road is up for sale. According to the listing from SVN Commercial Advisors, the building, a block east of Tamiami Trail, was fully renovated last year with a new roof, updated interiors and a freshly resurfaced parking lot. A layout shows it is made up of two units: Unit A is 7,150 square feet, and Unit B is 2,292 square feet. The asking price is $3.97 million. The current owner, a local LLC, paid $1.1 million for it in 2001.
Tampa Starbucks employees want vote to join union

3 weeks ago | businessobserverfl.com | Louis Llovio

Baristas at a Tampa Starbucks are looking to unionize and if successful will be the third of the Seattle company’s local cafes to organize. The café at 14394 N. Dale Mabry Highway is in the Shoppes of Carrollwood. The baristas filed a petition last week with the National Labor Relations Board seeking permission to hold a vote.
Funding cuts to youth jobs program leads to 120 layoffs in St. Pete

3 weeks ago | businessobserverfl.com | Louis Llovio

Nearly 120 people are being laid off from a jobs center in St. Petersburg, with the facility blaming the Trump administration’s decision to cut the program's funding. The 119 jobs being eliminated are at the Pinellas County Job Corps Center at 500 22nd St. in the city. Exceed LLC, the company contracted to operate the center along with Eckerd Connects, announced the layoffs in a Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification notice sent to the state.
Burrito chain to open 7 new locations in Tampa Bay

3 weeks ago | businessobserverfl.com | Louis Llovio

Barberitos, a 25-year-old fast-casual restaurant chain founded in Athens, Georgia, has plans to grow in the Tampa Bay market. The company has signed a development agreement with restaurant operator and entrepreneur Matt O’Neill to open seven new locations in Tampa and St. Petersburg. O’Neill already owns Barberitos’ only area restaurant at 7021 E. Fletcher Ave., just east of the University of South Florida. He opened it last year.