Manatee County OKs plans for grocery store, daycare and more in booming area
A commercial complex with a grocery store, daycare center, storage facility and more is coming to State Road 64 after approval from Manatee County officials. The 195,000-square-foot project at the intersection of State Road and Uihlein Road could also include a restaurant. After commissioners originally denied the project in December, developers presented new information at the commission’s April 23 land use meeting...
1 dead, 2 hospitalized after early morning crash in St. Pete
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA)— One person is dead and two others are hospitalized after a crash in St. Petersburg early Wednesday morning. The St. Petersburg Police Department responded to a crash on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street South and 9th Avenue South around 2 a.m. According to SPPD, a white Toyota Camry was attempting […]
Mixon Swirl food truck finds a new home in Polk County
Just as saltwater taffy is a staple of the New Jersey shore and New Orleans is famous for its sugar sprinkled beignets, the sweet treat most synonymous with Manatee County has to be the Mixon swirl — orange juice swirled into vanilla soft serve ice cream. The signature ice...
Sarasota Moves Toward Longer Paid Parking Hours Downtown
Sarasota city commissioners moved forward Monday with a plan to extend paid parking hours downtown and raise many parking fines, advancing an effort to shore up a parking system that city officials say is supposed to pay for itself. The proposed ordinance, approved unanimously on first reading May 4, would...
Waterfront restaurant opens on Manatee River
A restaurant on the Manatee River has opened with a new name and new ownership. I’Lunie’s Dockside Bar & Grill held a grand opening celebration May 2 and is open for lunch and dinner daily at 955 Riverside Drive in Palmetto. Melanie Warner owns the restaurant, which used...
Sarasota County backtracks after schools sue over withheld tax money
Just days after the Sarasota County School Board sued Tax Collector Mike Moran over millions of dollars withheld from a voter-approved school tax, county commissioners Tuesday voted to reverse course and resume covering the cost of collecting the tax. The 3-2 vote marked a shift from a decision commissioners made...
Ditch Your Daily Grocery Store and Swap It for a Pass Through a Global...
If you’ve fallen into a food rut lately, sick of the same old stuff at skyrocketing prices, break up with your usual supermarket and head to an international grocer instead. Once you start looking, you’ll see Latin, Asian, Indian and Middle Eastern markets on many corners throughout the area. You’ll also find specialty ingredients alongside familiar favorites, often at much lower price points. Many...
Sarasota single mother receives fully furnished Habitat for Humanity home
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - A Sarasota single mother received a brand new home that came fully decorated, saving her family thousands of dollars. Aveon Polk helped build the house herself to create a better life for her family. “Words can’t explain. I’m just so happy,” Polk said.
Sarasota County approves $21M purchase of Stickney Point Plaza for future waterfront park
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Sarasota County is moving forward with a major acquisition at a key gateway to Siesta Key. County commissioners approved spending just under $21 million to purchase Stickney Point Plaza, a colorful cluster of buildings at 1500 Stickney Point Road, on the mainland side of the south bridge. The long-term plan: demolish the existing structures and create a public park with...
At Gulf Gate Sushi Spot SuShark, an Eclectic Mix of Flavors Comes Together in...
Gulf Gate’s latest sushi addition, SuShark, opened on Gateway Avenue in mid-2025, sandwiched between a boxing gym and an alterations shop. If it’s anything like its sister location in Tampa, this sushi spot and its extensive menu with offerings like poke bowls, sushi rolls, sashimi and hibachi-style entrées, will be a hit.
