business

Gainesville has put plans to revitalize downtown into action. For many restaurant owners, downtown revitalization is measured in customers and orders.

On Oct. 10, Lake City will become the second location in the United States to host the international event.

“Brewing Thoughts” was initially a cafe on wheels. The pair started the business in October of 2025 out of an iconic green Kei mini-truck.

The virtual marketplace allows shoppers to order fresh foods and other locally made products online, then pick up their purchases within a couple of days.

The official new grand opening date, which includes a ribbon-cutting, is now expected in early November, but “we have a ways to go,” Mayor Harvey Ward said.

Many Gainesville shops have recognized that allowing their coffee shop to be known for something other than their menu may be the perfect way to gain attraction.

Farm stands have become a unique way for consumers to buy homemade baked goods, fresh eggs and handcrafted items.

The first Girls Night Out filled the pavilion with about 65 vendors. The events now accommodate around 90 booths and attract roughly 2,000 to 3,000 shoppers each month.

In 2025, a court put The Oaks Mall into receivership, placing it under the management of Spinoso Real Estate Group DLS LLC.

Nathan Wynn, 17, continues to grow Ripple Theatricals, opening his own space and building a community of performers who keep coming back.