Business Archive

Although construction had stopped for several weeks at the new Beef O’Brady’s planned in Gulf Breeze, the owner said the work resumed on Monday and the restaurant may open as soon as January.

Pensacola is one step closer to having a ferry service.

Longtime Navarre Pullum YMCA Branch Director, Dottie Thomas, resigned last week much to the surprise of her board of directors. Thomas has been at the Navarre YMCA for eight years and has been the branch director for five years. During that time the Navarre YMCA has grown to the point that it has outgrown its facility and an expansion is planned for 2016. “We hate to see her leave. She has done an amazing job. I hope she reconsiders and I’m working toward that end,” said Maurie Reynolds, chairman of the Pullum Family YMCA Board of Directors. Reynolds also emphasized that the expansion of the Navarre YMCA needed to move forward regardless.

Members of the Navarre Beach Chamber of Commerce take issue with Santa Rosa County Commissioner Rob Williamson’s recent depiction of the organization as lacking stability.

The Florida Retail Federation, the state’s premier trade association representingretailers for more than 75 years, announced today that the average person celebrating Halloween this year will spend $74.34, compared with $77.52 last year. Total spending nationally on Halloween is expected to reach $6.9 billion, according to the National Retail Federation’s Halloween Consumer Spending Survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics.  

The Gulf Breeze Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the 3rd Annual Taste of Gulf Breeze last Friday evening in conjunction with the Gulf Breeze Community Expo.  Over 600 people attended this year’s event and sampled delicious appetizers, beverages, and desserts from 18 area restaurants and food and beverage providers while they visited with area businesses.  Awards were given for Best Appetizer, Best Beverage and Best Dessert in Restaurant and Specialty Divisions, along with the overall Best of Taste award.

United Way of Santa Rosa (UWSR) recently named Debra Baez as operations & campaign director. Reporting directly to executive director, Guy Thompson, in this dual-role position she assists with day-to-day operations and manages the annual county-wide workplace giving campaign.

The August jobs numbers released Friday in Tallahassee reflect continuing momentum for Santa Rosa County, where employment grew by about 500 from the same period a year earlier and the joblessness rate fell to 4.8 percent from 5.7. 

Cutler Dawson was in town Tuesday to check out the latest Navy Federal Credit Union branch. It opened in June in Gulf Breeze and is one of eight concept branches in the company.

In the wake of the largest infestation of Oriental Fruit Flies in Florida’s history, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Adam Putnam has declared a state of agricultural emergency.