Hurricane scam: Florida sues company over millions in stolen insurance funds

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is bringing a lawsuit against a construction company and its executives, accusing them of scamming customers out of millions in insurance money after hurricanes ravaged Southwest Florida in 2024. 

Tampa Bay restaurants adapt as GLP-1 meds and ‘sober curious’ diners shift habits

Some Tampa Bay restaurant owners say they are adjusting menus and adding more non-alcoholic options and smaller portions to adapt to changing diner habits. 

St. Petersburg cafe: Pay-what-you-can venue opens on Central Avenue

A new café on Central Avenue is opening its doors with a mission to serve the local community regardless of a customer's ability to pay.

Dunedin open container district: Businesses push for outdoor drinking

Local business owners are pushing city leaders to let downtown happy hour spill onto the sidewalks to help rescue slumping summer sales.

St. Pete Beach parking: Business owners say higher rates drive customers away

Higher parking rates at St. Pete Beach are drawing criticism from local business owners who say the increased costs are keeping visitors away. One owner has launched an online petition urging city leaders to revisit the parking policy before more businesses are affected.

Tasty Home Cookin: Sarasota restaurant closing after 36 years

A legendary family restaurant landmark off Tuttle Avenue in Sarasota is shutting down after more than three decades of serving the community due to rising operational costs.

Tampa Bay area restaurants struggle: More than 20 local spots close or rebrand

The dining landscape across Tampa and St. Petersburg is enduring a massive wave of disruptions as more than a dozen local eateries pull down their blinds or change strategies.

Former Texas Chick-fil-A employee charged in $80K refund scheme using mac and cheese

A former Chick-fil-A employee was arrested for allegedly stealing more than $80,000 by using restaurant registers to issue hundreds of fraudulent macaroni and cheese refunds to his personal credit cards.

A lemonade stand gets a helping hand from the North Port police

When North Port Police got a call from someone complaining about the neighborhood kids, they went to check it out. 

Tampa Bay area shops saving fabric hunters after JOANN closures: 'Mighty in a little, small spot'

A big corporation can often put the small shops out of business, but when JOANN Fabrics and Crafts closed its doors for good across the country last year, it allowed small businesses to fill that gap for crafters and sewers.

Longtime South Tampa boutique closing after 26 years, owner cites ongoing roadwork

The owner of a longtime South Tampa boutique said the city’s ongoing stormwater relief project and limited parking have proven to be insurmountable roadblocks for her business. 

Popular Dover wedding venue Cross Creek Ranch permanently closes without warning

Cross Creek Ranch, a sprawling 17-acre wedding venue in Dover, notified customers this week it’s permanently closed without warning, leaving couples heartbroken and searching for answers.