Metro | Business - The Independent Florida Alligator

Fans of both Florida and USF wait in line for pizza at Italian Gator following the Gator’s 31-28 win over the Bulls Saturday, Sept 17, 2022.

METRO | BUSINESS

Selling in the Swamp: Gators football fuels Gainesville gameday micro-economy

By Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp | Sep. 19

Students, alumni and loyal fans flock to Midtown just to see the Gators play at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, sometimes traveling hours from out of town. Beneath all the noise is a thriving gameday micro-economy, ranging from some of the most popular restaurants in Gainesville down to every booth stationed along West University Avenue.

Tup Tim Thai restaurant as seen after the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation health inspection.

METRO | BUSINESS

Tup Tim Thai Restaurant and Sushi Bar reopens after health department shutdown

By Melanie Pena | Sep. 19

Tup Tim Thai Restaurant and Sushi Bar, located at 1228 W. University Ave. near the Publix Super Market at University Village Market, was shut down by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Sept. 13 for health violations. The infractions included multiple rodent droppings, one dead rodent and dead roaches, according to the inspection report. Following two inspections, the restaurant, which was a go-to spot for some Gainesville residents, was cleared to open.

The first Bento location at 3832 W. Newberry Rd Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. Bento will celebrate its 20th Anniversary on Sept. 20.

METRO | BUSINESS

Gator-grad franchise takes Florida: Bento celebrates 20 years

By Ashleigh Lucas | Sep. 16

Johnny Tung, 42-year-old co-founder of Bento, said he never imagined the amount of success Bento would have when their first location, 3832 W. Newberry Road, opened almost 20 years ago on Sept. 20, 2002.

Items damaged in the Peach Valley Cafe fire Monday, Sept. 5, 2022.

METRO | BUSINESS

No one hurt as early Monday morning fire breaks out at Peach Valley Cafe

By Allie Sinkovich | Sep. 6

No one was harmed at Peach Valley Cafe, located at 3275 SW 34th St. near Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Gainesville Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Stephen Hesson said.

Paul and Vanessa Salvator enjoy ice cream at the new Sweet Dreams location Wednesday, July 6, 2022.

METRO | BUSINESS

Sweet Dreams of Gainesville relocates to the corner of 13th Street and 16th Avenue

By Jackson Reyes | July 4

Wendy Wilber takes her daughter to get ice cream when she gets an A on her report card. Sweet Dreams’ 42 chocolate flavors and “Chocolate Night” events, now hosted at the shop’s new location, drew the star-student in.

More than 200 supporters have donated to combat Zeezenia International Market's climbing repair costs.

METRO | BUSINESS

Fire devastates Mediterranean Market, Gainesville community provides support

By Carissa Allen | June 15

Many frequenters of Zeezenia International Market organized and donated to a fundraising campaign to support the store's renovations following a fire.

METRO | BUSINESS

Mimi the mortician: Gen-Z in death care

By Jiselle Lee | Apr. 13

Miranda “Mimi” Mythen wants to revive the dying deathcare industry. Under her TikTok account @mimithemortician, Mythen has more than 1.3 million likes and 59.8 thousand followers. She has been interviewed by Allure and Refinery29 and she has been featured in the DailyMail and the New York Post about her viral videos on funeral service.

METRO | BUSINESS

Community members gather to discuss new community farm for Porters Quarters residents

By Erina Anwar | Mar. 23

About 15 people gathered at the Porters Community Center Sunday to discuss creating a community farm on the lot on Fifth Avenue. Williams, a 67-year-old community activist, explained why affordable healthy food options are necessary.

Model Asteria Kennedy shows off her hair to the judges at the Ultimate Braiding Battle at the Hilton hotel on Southwest 34th Street on Saturday, March 19. Kennedy's stylist Rashawnda Thomas won the $1,000 prize.

METRO | BUSINESS

Braiders battle for $1,000 cash prize in inaugural styling competition

By Thandie Brown | Mar. 21

Gainesville hair stylists hosted the first Ultimate Braiders Battle Saturday with a $1,000 cash prize. About 50 people watched the competitors braid and perused the tables of hair care products lining the walls.

The Target location closest to UF located at 250 NW 13th Street is seen on March 15, 2022. The company announced recently that the underperforming location will close.

METRO | BUSINESS

Target store beneath The Standard at Gainesville to close in June

By Carissa Allen | Mar. 16

The Target, beneath The Standard at Gainesville, at 250 NW 13th St. is closing its doors June 11 due to years of underperforming sales.

METRO | BUSINESS

A. Quinn Jones Museum hosts Driveway Theater Project’s “Blackademics” play

By Erina Anwar | Mar. 2

Blackademics is a one-act satire play written by playwright Idris Goodwin in 2012. The play centers around two Black women in academia and serves as a commentary toward colorism, racial stereotypes and socioeconomic backgrounds. It portrays these messages through its bold dialogue and whimsical humor.

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Alachua County Animal Resources & Care introduces new adoption program

By Thandie Brown | Feb. 16

Adopters can pay $14 during February and answer some basic questions about themselves and their lifestyle to be matched with their perfect companion, the county announced online.

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Gainesville mother helps others create family memories

By Ally Keller | Feb. 11

Kathy Stewart’s children, now teenagers, were always on the go. They needed a website that would be able to keep up with their active lifestyles. In response, Stewart founded Fun4GatorKids, a website that lists events for Gainesville families. The 12-year-old website was the first of its kind to provide an up-to-date calendar directory on events for Gainesville families.

Londyn Merricks, 9, whispers in her cousin Imani Huggins', 7, ear at a Valentine's Day pop-up shop at Cypress & Grove Brewing Company on Saturday, Feb. 5. The pair was helping their mothers sell accessories.

METRO | BUSINESS

Black, female small business owners celebrate Valentine’s Day with pop-up shop

By Thandie Brown | Feb. 7

Sistah’s Synergy decided to get together small Black businesses that wanted to flourish, but it didn't know where to start, Chaquala said. The owners started small events like the pop-up to promote their businesses.

Three cats play inside the cat room at the Feeline Good Cat Cafe on Jan. 19. There were a total of 12 adoptable cats at the cafe being fostered from the Humane Society of North Central Florida.

METRO | BUSINESS

Gainesville cat cafe successfully adopted out 200 cats after its seventh month open

By Jasper Wittig | Jan. 27

The Feeline Good Cat Cafe in downtown Gainesville reached its 200th adoption Jan. 23, seven months after its grand opening. Francesca Hall, the cafe’s 23-year-old founder and owner, said the cat cafe works as a foster home for adoptable cats, and she recently increased the number of cats the cafe takes in at a time from 10 to 12.

He Zheng pets a goat, one of the numerous farm animals at the Farm Bureau Food and Agriculture Festival on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021.

METRO | BUSINESS

Local farmers grow community awareness of agriculture at farming festival

By Alexandra Harris | Nov. 22, 2021

Hosted by The Alachua County Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers, 21 vendors sold products ranging from varieties of cheese to succulents. Food trucks supplied global cuisine spanning Cuba to Venezuela and back home with American hot dogs, barbecue and ice cream.

Twins Aurora and Juniper Chong-Frisco, 1, paint during the 40th Downtown Festival & Art Show by Gainesville City Hall on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. A section of the festival was dedicated to children's crafts including painting, coloring and headband making.

METRO | BUSINESS

Gainesville celebrates 40th annual art show’s return to in-person

By Zachary Carnell | Nov. 8, 2021

Hundreds of people attended the event, where guitar players, cello players and Egyptian-style belly dancers performed, accompanying artists who exhibited paintings, pottery, sculptures, jewelry, clothing, caricatures, water fountains and wind chimes.

METRO | BUSINESS

Gainesville organization works to give educational boost to vulnerable children

By Omar Ateyah | Nov. 5, 2021

Eric Ramos started RamosStrong Motivational Group Inc. to help K-12 students gain a strong education despite difficult circumstances in their lives.

A cat is seen inside of the Alachua County Animal Services Building on Saturday, Oct. 23.

METRO | BUSINESS

Alachua County Animal Services bounces back from pandemic challenges

By Alan Halaly | Nov. 5, 2021

The Alachua County Animal Services shelter returned to a pre-pandemic normal with adoption rates as it resumed one of its in-person special events Saturday.

METRO | BUSINESS

Gainesville Nothing Bundt Cakes location to open in February

By Faith Buckley | Nov. 3, 2021

Amber and Derrick Robinson, the owners of the new Nothing Bundt Cakes franchise, will open a store in Butler Esplanade, located at 3228 SW 35th Blvd., in February 2022.