Metro | Business

Gainesville spa brings luxury services to children

By Bryce Brown | 8:58am

The spa provides girls, from toddlers to high schoolers, with a unique experience that owner and founder Edwennia Moore said will leave them feeling like a princess.

Miranda Carver Martin packs a bag with groceries for the Free Grocery Store at the Civic Media Center on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. "I want to live in a world where people take care of each other," Martin said.

What is mutual aid? Here’s how one Gainesville group takes part

By Troy Myers | Sep. 8

Student return to Gainesville could alleviate pandemic troubles for local businesses

By Troy Myers | Aug. 23

A white cat sits at the window of the Feeline Good Cat Café on Sunday, July 4, 2021. At the café, visitors can pet cats while enjoying beverages.

Things to do in Gainesville

By Abigail Hasebroock | Aug. 16

Gainesville-born hair professional is returning to teach classes

By Lucille Lannigan | July 26

Grog, a bar in midtown Gainesville, closed after a city inspection uncovered structural defects in the building. “The city under code enforcement has shut down Grog House 1718 W University Ave.,” Gainesville City Commissioner David Arreola tweeted Wednesday. “The floor is unstable and could collapse into Balls downstairs.”

Grog House deemed unsafe after inspection

By Alexander Lugo | July 23

More Metro | Business

Sarah Headley, a pet groomer at Scenthound, sprays water on Daisy, the dog, on Tuesday, May 25, 2021.

METRO | BUSINESS

‘Clean Start’ program provides grooming to rescued dogs

By Maya Erwin | July 6

A new partnership between the Humane Society of North Central Florida and Scenthound encourages an increase in dog adoptions

Ziba Ahmadi, owner of Salon Ziba in Gainesville, threads Shavonne Carter's eyebrows, and breaks the previous record for most eyebrows threaded by one person in one hour on Wednesday, June 16, 2021.

METRO | BUSINESS

Gainesville salon breaks Guinness World Record for most eyebrows threaded

By Isabella Douglas | June 26

The record to break was 62 pairs of threaded eyebrows in an hour. She accomplished 92.

METRO | BUSINESS

Community members and organizations are collaborating to create Swarthy, a grocery and retail store

By Lucille Lannigan | June 21

Swarthy Hair Co., a natural hair product business started by Hatdrika Noble-Monroe, has evolved into Swarthy, a community grocery store where Black-owned farms and small businesses can sell their products like fresh produce, haircare, candles, sage and other healthy alternatives.

Knox, the dog, (left) smiles as Scenthound pet groomer Marcus Jenkins (right) wipes Knox's paw on Tuesday, May 25, 2021.

METRO | BUSINESS

A new dog grooming service arrives in Gainesville

By Maya Erwin | June 4

Scenthound opened May 24 and provides grooming services focused on overall wellness and routine care of all dogs — rather than just the haircuts or baths associated with traditional groomers.

METRO | BUSINESS

A temporary shutdown of the largest oil pipeline in the United States causes unnecessary gasoline hoarding in Gainesville

By Phong Huynh | May 17

In Alachua County, panic buying caused a gas shortage. Though county officials said the fears are unfounded, consumers continued to hoard gasoline and drive up demand.

UF professor Hannah Mathews, 43, washes kale after volunteering to help harvest vegetables at Siembra Farm in Gainesville on Tuesday, May 4, 2021. She was among many volunteers who worked to harvest extra vegetables to give to local families in East Gainesville. (Photo by Joelle Wittig)

METRO | BUSINESS

Weekly harvest provides food for local families

By Joelle Wittig | May 10

Farmers and volunteers harvested hundreds of unused crops at Siembra Farm in East Gainesville. The event began at 6 p.m. on May 4 and volunteers stayed until 8:30 p.m. to pick and wash vegetables and create 110 community-supported agriculture boxes.

Hugh E. Suggs, 62, a Gainesville homeowner and author, protests outside of The Collier Company office in downtown Gainesville on Monday, May 3, 2021. Suggs was joined by about 25 other people protesting their landlords' tendency to prioritize higher paying tenants and ignore the needs of lower income families.

METRO | BUSINESS

Gainesville community rallies to stop discriminatory evictions

By Samuel Schaffer | May 7

Community members and advocates gathered downtown on the corner of North Main Street and Northwest Second Avenue at 4:30 p.m. Monday to protest what the Alachua County Labor Coalition called discriminatory housing practices at Bivens Cove.

Luke’s Bagel shop at 620 S Main St., held a bagel competition on social media. UF students placed first and second, winning free bagels and t-shirts. (Photo courtesy of Drew Britton, April 8)

METRO | BUSINESS

Luke’s Bagels holds one-year anniversary competition, UF students take home prizes

By Drew Britton | Apr. 15

To celebrate its one-year anniversary, Luke’s New York Bagel Shop posted an online social media competition March 22. Located at 620 S Main St., the shop challenged bagel fans to post something creative on their accounts with their favorite order in frame.

Faye Williams, owner of M.A.M.A.’s Club, speaks at a community gathering organized by GoDDsville Dream Defenders on Friday, April 2, 2021. Williams spoke about an upcoming fundraiser for MAMA’s Club and social issues affecting Gainesville.

METRO | BUSINESS

East Gainesville Community Center at risk of closure

By Michelle Holder | Apr. 7

Faye Williams, a 66-year-old Gainesville social justice activist, founded M.A.M.A.'s Club in 2017. The center, which stands for music, arts, movement and action, is a gathering place for people in East Gainesville to celebrate Black history and attend community events.

Gainesville Nissan customer Larry Katz found a sanitizer bottle with the racist message, "Chinese Kung-flu Killer" written in black ink in the dealership storeroom. [Photo courtesy of Larry Katz.]

METRO | BUSINESS

Man finds racist message toward Asians at Gainesville Nissan Dealership

By Jack Prator | Apr. 5

Larry Katz went to the Gainesville Nissan dealership Saturday to get his airbags changed when he found a clear hand sanitizer bottle with a racist slur for the COVID-19 virus written across it in black ink, according to a photo posted on Facebook.

METRO | BUSINESS

Restaurants and hotels face staff shortages, small applicant pool

By Lucille Lannigan | Apr. 5

Small business owners are struggling to bring back former employees, and others face small applicant pools of mostly inexperienced workers. The shortages come as COVID-19 vaccines enable Americans to return to public spaces — only to find them understaffed.

Lennon Fisher Jr. holds three different kinds of carrots in his hand while Lennon Fisher looks at the field. They said some of their favorite produce are their carrots.

METRO | BUSINESS

Fifth generation Black-owned farm seeks aid to ease pandemic hardships

By Michelle Holder | Mar. 29

Founded in 1939, Fisher Farms, a fifth-generation Black-owned farm, supplies produce to North Florida cities. The farm, which grows fruit and seasonal veggies, sells its produce weekly at the 441 Alachua County Farmers’ Market and the GNV Market at Heartwood Soundstage.

METRO | BUSINESS

“The air feels a little bit more optimistic:” Local businesses reflect on year of the COVID-19 pandemic

By Michelle Holder and Emil Munksgaard Grosen | Mar. 24

In the past year, Gainesville residents dined for the last time at staple eateries like Larry’s Giant Subs, Francesca’s Trattoria, Daybreak Pleasant Street, Felipe’s Mexican Taqueria, Leonardo’s By the Slice, Civilization and Taco Del Mar.

The late-night cookie store, which held its grand opening on March 13, is located directly across from UF campus at 1702 West University Avenue.

METRO | BUSINESS

Insomnia Cookies arrives in Gainesville

By Gabrielle Gangler | Mar. 15

The store offers delivery to the College Park neighborhood, university campus and surrounding areas until 1 a.m. or 3 a.m. depending on the day.