Trader Joe's new store plans top busy grocery week; More lanes coming to I-4; Epic Universe shows off food, drink options & 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.

For a region with a grocery scene where Publix can seem ubiquitous, the past seven days were quite busy with news about its competitors.

First, we learned discount grocer Aldi — which bought more than 400 Winn-Dixie grocery stores in 2024, including 40 here — is readying to offload hundreds of those locations to a group led by New Hampshire-based C&S Wholesale Grocers.

Next, we got word another growing grocery chain — Sprouts Farmers Market — had a timeline to hire for and open its Poinciana store.

Perhaps the biggest news for Central Floridians came Wednesday, however, when OBJ confirmed Trader Joe's plans to bring a third location for the ultra-popular chain to the region.

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Real estate news of the week

• Southeast Steel plans major redevelopment in downtown Orlando
• Creative Village mixed-use building moves forward in downtown Orlando
• Longtime I-Drive attraction goes on the market
• Downtown Produce Market building in Melbourne sells. Here's who bought it.
• Apartments may rise near The Villages as land is bought
• Park Square buys land within $400 million Four Corners development
• Neo at SoDo: New development with retail and compact living
• Seminole County industrial center sells for $125 million
• Tech firm puts office on market for $17 million, courts relocating buyer
• Orlando firm First Capital Property Group merges with Sarasota real estate company

Orlando news bites

Don't miss these other top stories:

• Interstate 4 construction to ramp up near Disney
• Full Sail grad gets a Grammy for Christian album
• Airport adds 9 flights despite passenger dip
• AdventHealth plans cancer center for Winter Garden hospital campus
• Orlando International Airport seeks developer for air taxi vertiport
• Orlando nightlife fix? NeJame suggests privatizing downtown streets.
• Economic stability in Orlando: Top ZIPs revealed
• New German flight leads Orlando company to add jobs here
• Kissimmee lines up $17.3M downtown project with parking, more
• SunRail adds local funds for key Sunshine Corridor train service step

Restaurant and retail news & notes

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

• PHOTOS: Universal Orlando reveals what's on menu at Epic Universe
• Wall Street Plaza revival? Bosko Lazic has a plan.
• Shuttered downtown Orlando Walgreens space eyed for restaurant project
• First Watch brunch café returns to Altamonte Springs in new location
• Downtown Orlando to get taste of Blue Coast Burrito and Just Love Coffee
• Latest restaurant closures hit I-Drive, Winter Park, Seminole County
• Warped Pour rocks downtown Orlando's Wall Street with alternative vibes
• Virally famous PopUp Bagels pursues Central Florida locations
• Judge to weigh Joann Fabric’s plan to close 8 Central Florida locations
• Here's who bid on 5 Party City leases in Central Florida

On the cover: Meet five founders shaping Orlando through innovation

Budding, experienced and veteran entrepreneurs interviewed by Orlando Business Journal have something in common. Though at different stages of their careers, they all highlight the importance of passion, persistence and community engagement in achieving success.?

Markys Mackey, founder and CEO of Verity Construction Co., launched his firm in 2020 and quickly made strides across multiple sectors.

Laine Powell, founder of Tech Sassy Girlz, shared her story of transitioning in 2014 from a stationery business to a nonprofit focused on increasing the representation of girls and women in STEM.

Ruffin Rhodes and Max Brito, founders of Rhodes+Brito Architects, started their firm in 1996 and have grown it into one of Central Florida's most notable architectural firms.

Harold Mills founded ZeroChaos in 1999 and now leads the venture capital firm VMD Ventures, where he invests in entrepreneurs growing their own companies.

All four ventures have had outsize influence on the Orlando business community.

Read on to see how they built companies helping shape the way business is done in Orlando.

Nominate now for the OBJ awards programs!

GUIDE: Best practices and key details to nominate for OBJ's 2025 awards

• 2025 Best Places to Work (deadline: April 4)
• 2025 Family-Owned Business Awards (deadline: April 17)
• 2025 Most Influential Leaders (deadline: June 5)

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 [email protected].