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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
› La Tropical, the first beer brewed in Tampa, is back in the area
Florida Brewing Company had a unique marketing strategy for the launch of its La Tropical beer in 1896. “They said you can drink as much as you want and not get drunk because the spring water they used was so pure,” said attorney Dale Swope, whose law firm restored and is located in the brewery’s former Ybor City headquarters. “That theory got blown apart on the first day of sales, when two guys got drunk and a fight turned deadly.” With a laugh, he said he hopes La Tropical’s official Tampa relaunch goes better.
› Port Miami sees 3% rise in rail cargo
Rail cargo volume at PortMiami has decreased slightly during the 2022 fiscal year, although it’s still the second largest ever recorded, trailing only last year. For the 2022 fiscal year, beginning October 2021 and ending in September, Florida East Coast Railway cargo volumes at PortMiami have slightly decreased by 1.2% from last year. Despite the decrease, this year’s volumes were the second largest ever recorded at PortMiami.
› Has Churchill’s Pub played its final song? Storied Little Haiti music venue draws bidders
Buyers are lining up at the chance to buy Churchill’s Pub, the legendary music venue in Little Haiti. Some of those include developers wanting to change the site. Several offers are on the table for the single-story popular pub at 5501 NE Second Avenue, since it landed on the market in early October for $4.6 million, owner Mallory Kauderer said. He hopes to sell by January to relieve his financial squeeze.
› PGT Innovations expanding into garage door market with latest acquisition
PGT Innovations, Inc. has moved into the garage door business with its acquisition of a Utah manufacturer. Venice-based PGT, which manufactures impact-resistant windows and doors, said this week that it has acquired Martin Door Holdings, Inc., of Salt Lake City, for $185 million. PGT entered into a new, five-year, $250 million revolving credit facility to fund the transaction, extend maturities and create liquidity; cash was also used in the purchase.
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