Latest reporting from the Business desk.
Chipotle Mexican Grill opened its eighth Manatee County restaurant on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 16680 State Road 64 E. in Lakewood Ranch's Northchase Center, marking the company's 1,500th location with a Chipotlane drive-thru.
Business
Allegiant Air scheduled 32 departing flights from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport during the week of Sept. 24, serving 15 nonstop destinations, with a new seasonal Providence route and expanded Flint service launching in February 2027.
Business
Brazilian anti-corrosion firm Rustless Technology announced Monday it will base its North American headquarters in Manatee County, with plans to hire 200 workers once it finds a permanent site.
Business
Lodgco Hospitality has completed a $3 million overhaul of all 122 rooms and public spaces at Hyatt Place Lakewood Ranch, the only hotel inside the community, after work that ran from May through August 2026.
Business
CYou Luxury Boutique Coffee and Wine Bar in Lakewood Ranch has hosted 350 events in its first year, and owner Cyndi Garza is adding her own coffee brand called Coast Roast.
Business
Fort Myers-based Backyard Social is building a 12,500-square-foot "eatertainment" venue at 6400 Professional Parkway in Lakewood Ranch, with food trucks, games, live music and a target opening of early 2027.
Business
Gas prices in the Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice area jumped more than 12 cents overnight to a $4.22 average on Wednesday, Sept. 16, while diesel hit a record $6.38 per gallon, adding costs for area businesses and threatening consumer spending at Lakewood Ranch restaurants and retailers.
Business
Grove restaurant in Lakewood Ranch will host "A Taste of New Orleans," a five-course Creole dinner with live jazz and wine pairings on Oct. 2, built around General Manager Mark Armato's Louisiana roots.
Business
Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza, the Miami-based chain known for star-shaped pies and long-fermented dough, has opened at The Market at University Town Center on University Parkway near Lakewood Ranch.
Business
Lakewood Ranch resident Brian Crotty has grown a single yacht purchase into four boating businesses managing an estimated $24–$25 million in vessels, capitalizing on Sarasota's shortage of marina access.
Business
IKEA's planned store at University Town Center's West District has been pushed from a late-summer to a fall 2026 opening, with no firm date announced for the 48,000-square-foot location near Lakewood Ranch.
Business
The anonymous winner of the $800 million Mega Millions jackpot, drawn July 28 from a ticket sold at the Wawa on State Road 70 E. near Lakewood Ranch, has claimed a $344.2 million cash payout and chosen to remain anonymous under Florida law.
Business
Bread Bandits, a Sarasota artisan bakery known for sourdough and pastries, opened a takeaway location at 8130 Lakewood Main St., Suite 103, in Lakewood Ranch, expanding from its Farmers' Market presence to a permanent storefront.
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