Airports plot opportunities for available land; Downtown businesses sue city; Busy suburb's 15,000-home development pipeline & more

Welcome to Orlando Business Journal's LinkedIn newsletter. I'm Associate Managing Editor Steven Ryzewski, rounding up business news to keep you in the know when time is short.

As one of the country's busiest travel hubs, Orlando International Airport has plenty of passengers and plenty of flights coming and going. The other thing it has plenty of is underutilized land with the opportunity for development and courting business — as does the executive airport near downtown.

As OBJ's Ryan Lynch details, Greater Orlando Aviation Officials are exploring any number of possibilities, including the opportunity for commercial development and much more. Get the full story here.

Sign up for Orlando Business Journal's emails to get the latest business news for the metro Orlando area in your inbox twice a day. Already signed up and loving the work we do? Consider subscribing for less than $3 a week.

Real estate news of the week

• "It is the spot." So said Sandi Bargfrede, managing partner for Acre Commercial Real Estate, with regard to the development momentum in Apopka. OBJ Commercial Real Estate Reporter Trevor Fraser did a deep dive in the numbers of what's in the works in the northwest Orange County suburb. Give it a read here.
• Ambitious downtown mixed-use project goes belly up
• Voxx International sells Lake Nona HQ property
• Waterford Lakes Town Center sells for $322 million
• Record-setting land deal closes in Lake County
• DeBary city manager dishes on what's next for from-scratch Main Street project
• Homes sell fastest in these Central Florida ZIP codes

Orlando news bites

Don't miss these other top stories:

• Three downtown Orlando businesses have filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Orlando and Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith, challenging the city’s after midnight alcohol sales land-use permit ordinance.?
• Tupperware filing in Austria hints at 'global dismemberment'
• How Darden came up with $750 million for the Chuy's deal
• Speaking of Darden, here's more on why the locally based restaurant group switched gears on how it views delivery and inked a high-profile partnership
• Orlando's Kia Center to host NCAA March Madness games again
• The Garden Theatre in Winter Garden closes
• Florida's top property insurers refuse to pay claims at outsized rate, report says

Restaurant and retail news & notes

Check out the latest news on popular local places to eat, drink, shop and be entertained:

• Winter Park restaurant group sets sights on new brand launch, acquisitions
• Panda Express brings revamped "Panda Home" look to Poinciana opening
• Kia Center welcomes new restaurant to replace Big Storm Brewing
• TGI Fridays near Mall at Millenia sued for eviction
• Big Lots announced nearly 60 more store closings, including location here
• Wawa tops Buc-ee's, others to take America's convenience store crown: Report

On the cover: How the growing Hispanic population creates business for Central Florida

Hispanic buying power in the U.S. is expected to hit $2.5 trillion in 2025, making it one of the largest consumer groups in the country. According to Hernan Tagliani, author and leader of The Group Advertising, companies who make the effort to market to this growing population now — and not solely during Hispanic Heritage Month — stand to benefit and earn a new audience.

Here, Tagliani and other local executives discuss going beyond the minimum and investing in connecting with the region's growing Hispanic population.

LAST CHANCE: Nominate for OBJ's Commercial Real Estate Awards

Now's your chance to celebrate the best in Central Florida real estate for Orlando Business Journal's 2025 Commercial Real Estate Awards. Go here to nominate before the Oct. 7 deadline.

Nominations are welcome from all sources, and companies are eligible for nomination in more than one category. Real estate categories will include five main fields of expertise: industrial, multifamily, land, office and retail.

That's all for this week's top headlines, and thanks for supporting OBJ. This weekly round-up of Orlando business news was compiled by Steven Ryzewski, associate managing editor. Questions? Comments? Concerns? News tips? Send them to sryzewski@bizjournals.com.