M AY 8 - M AY 14 , 2020 | TH R E E D O LL A R S
FLOR IDA’S NE WSPAPER FOR T HE C - SUI T E
Strategies | Media entrepreneur took on big challenges long before COVID-19. PG.14 PASCO • H ILL SBOROUG H • PIN ELL AS • P OLK • M A N ATEE • SA R ASOTA • C H A R LOT TE • LEE • COLLIER
Kettle Long Road Mettle Florida’s farmers face a big patch of coronavirus-led obstacles. Some resilient ones have begun to fight back. PAGE 12
PANDEMIC RESPONSE: PAGES 8-13
Gary Wishnatzki | WISH FARMS, OWNER
FILE
DATA SNAPSHOT
PANDEMIC RESPONSE
LEADERSHIP
Drop Down
Off the Rack
A New Day
From Tampa to Naples, the office leasing market has fallen quickly — with one bright spot. PAGE 6
Chico’s FAS, hoping some of its smaller stores will be an advantage, launches a three-phase reopening plan. PAGE 8
REAL ESTATE
Area economic development executive uses key lessons to get through crisis, including responding, not reacting. PAGE 11
STRATEGIES
PANDEMIC RESPONSE
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
Shack Attack
Farm to Table
Digital Divide
The car wash industry, believes a St. Pete entrepreneur, is ready for a technological disruption. PAGE 7
A g roup of tech nolog y-m i nded brokers fou nd fast success specializing in triple-net lease deals. PAGE 16
USF moves ahead with $42 million research and office development. 17 Data firm plots growth to Naples, Sarasota. 18
PAGE
3 Despite 90% sales drop, firm holds off on pay cuts, layoffs. 327884-1
DON’T MISS
Two unrelated entrepreneurs link a variety of produce businesses to previously untapped customers. PAGE 10
At least 80 hotel projects in region face trouble under COVID-19. 17
BACK TO BUSINESS: HANDLING EMPLOYEES’ RETURN TO WORK see page 3