Colliers retail expert Jorge Rodriguez on making the most of his parents' sacrifices

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

Jorge Rodriguez doesn't lose sight of what his parents went through to bring him and his three brothers to the United States from El Salvador in 1992.

The executive vice president of Colliers' Orlando office said his father, who was an accountant in El Salvador, took his first job in the U.S. cleaning airplanes with his mother at the airport. "That's a big transition."

That sacrifice, which originally led the family of six to a two-bedroom apartment in Winter Park, formed the work ethic Rodriguez brought to his real estate career.

Today, nearly two decades into that profession — and some 30 years after arriving in America — the opportunity his parents sought for their sons appears realized. Rodriguez rose the ranks of his company and is regarded one of metro Orlando's retail real estate experts.

Read the rest of the story here.

And now, on to other big business deals, transactions and activity headlines from the week.

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Real estate news of the week

• MetroWest apartments sell in one of region's priciest sales of 2023: Chicago-based LivCor LLC sold the apartments after acquiring the property in fall 2020.
• Apopka property sells for eye-catching tag: An industrial park developed by Oakmont Industrial Group for $50 million in an Orlando suburb has sold for an impressive sum. Here's why the deal is important.
• Lithuanian chocolatier opens its 1st US shop on Park Avenue: There are 25 AJ Chocolate Houses in Europe, and owners Edwin and Katherine Jablonskas have plans for more in Florida.
• Has Live Local Act put the kibosh on city's big industrial project? Florida's new law has been hailed as the answer to the affordable housing problem by preempting local land-use and zoning regulations while providing more funding and tax exemptions for such developments. Now, DeBary officials say it could cost the city millions in lost tax revenue — along with hundreds of new jobs.

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Orlando news bites

Don't miss these other top stories:

• FDOT to start these new road widening projects on I-4: The state has allocated funds from its revenue surplus to help start construction.
• See Orange County Public Schools’ highest-paid employees: The district has an average annual pay of $48,214 among its 23,337 employees with data available. See who earns the most.
• Here are the first winners for Orange County hotel tax funds: Two entities were among the first projects to land approval for Orange County tourist development tax funding to kickstart projects envisioned to bring billions of dollars in local economic impact. See what's next for the other projects that didn't receive funding.

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Restaurant news & notes

Check out the latest news on popular local places to eat:

• DoveCote plans move to bigger space: The French-inspired eatery has been open in downtown Orlando since 2016.
• Tijuana Flats founder launches new restaurant concept: Brian Wheeler, who also founded Tibby's New Orleans Kitchen restaurant chain, is partnering with his oldest son Jake Wheeler on his latest concept.
• See which metro Orlando restaurants have had health inspection violations: Approximately 3,000 restaurant health violations were given out in 2022 across Florida.
• Torchy's Tacos delays 1st local restaurant opening date: The chain has plans for multiple new locations in the region.

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Nominations & Events

Things to put on your busy calendar:

• Nominate now for Orlando Business Journal's 2023 Veterans of Influence , which?recognizes military veterans who have made a significant achievement in their careers in the past year, have a strong record of innovation or outstanding performance in their work, and are involved in our community. The deadline is today, Oct. 6.
• Orlando Business Journal's 2023 C-Suite Awards event will be held Oct. 19 to recognize Central Florida’s top CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, CMOs, COOs and others who are outstanding in business and the community.
• Nominate now for the 2024 Women Who Mean Business , which honors the top businesswomen in Central Florida. The deadline is Nov. 9.
• Orlando Business Journal's 2023 Power Players event will be held Nov. 9 to honor business leaders and executives who are helping grow and innovate the way business is done throughout the region.
• Nominate for the 2024 Fire Awards , Orlando Inno’s premier recognition program, honoring the companies and organizations setting the local innovation economy ablaze. Deadline: Jan. 25, 2024.
• Nominate for the 2024 Inno Madness , when Orlando Inno will bring the innovation, tech and startup community together for some healthy competition…bracket-style! Deadline: Feb. 2, 2024.

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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 Susan Lundine, managing editor. Questions? Comments? Concerns? News tips? Send them to [email protected].