SHARE:
Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
› Dang Dude, new fast-casual Asian concept from Ferrell Alvarez, to open at Tampa’s Sparkman Wharf
The year 2022 is shaping up to be a busy one for Ferrell Alvarez. As early as next month, the chef and owner of celebrated Seminole Heights restaurant Rooster & The Till will open Dang Dude, a new fast-casual Asian concept at Tampa’s Sparkman Wharf. The new spot inside the sprawling waterfront outdoor food court will open as early as March and takes over the shipping container formerly occupied by Southern-inspired restaurant 7th + Grove.
› Fort Lauderdale getting a $190M U.S. courthouse, while efforts mount to save the old one
Solving a 20-year quandary, the federal government has unveiled plans for a $190 million U.S. courthouse in Fort Lauderdale that echoes the city’s signature Mid-Century Modern architecture and is expected to drive a wave of redevelopment on the funky south side of the city’s resurgent downtown. The release of the blueprint, by architectural colossus Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, or SOM, caps a long campaign by Fort Lauderdale’s civic and business leaders to keep a federal courthouse downtown.
› Tampa lighting firm raises its minimum wage to $20 per hour
Volt Lighting, a maker of indoor and outdoor lighting products and systems, has raised its minimum hourly wage to $20, saying Florida’s $10/hour minimum wage requirement is not sufficient to sustain workers and families amid rapidly rising inflation. In a news release, the Tampa-based company — which has distribution centers in Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas and Nevada — says it made the change not only to support its workers, but to improve their productivity and the company’s overall culture.
› Dunkin’ building a GO drive-thru and walk-up model in North Jacksonville
The Dunkin’ doughnuts and coffee shop under development in North Jacksonville is its GO model, which is a drive-thru and walk-up shop with no indoor seating. The city issued a permit Jan. 13 for the $425,000 construction project at 110 New Berlin Road in the Oceanway area east of Main Street. Suncoast Industrial & Construction Services Inc. of Atlantic Beach is the contractor.
In case you missed it:
