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Business

Petty’s Market of Longwood

Siblings Jay and Mary Alysson Pettigrew were twenty-something entrepreneurs passionate about food. Their first venture was running a typical high-volume supermarket owned by their parents (Jerry and Rosemary) in St. Cloud. They sold that market around 1976 when a buyer...

Kappy’s Subs in Maitland is a Step Back in Time

During the Great Depression, restaurant owners began to use retired train cars as micro-cafes. These cars were only big enough for a grill top and two staff members. A long bar with stools was the only seating. This became the...

Origins of the Sonny’s and Fat Boys BBQ chains

Who says there is no such thing as Florida barbeque? Sonny's BBQ is the largest chain in the industry, and it all started in Central Florida. Where exactly? I reckon some would say Gainesville, but that depends on how far...

LuRae Hotel in Casselberry

The Lurae Tourist Court, known today as the Lu-Rae Motel, dates back to 1951. It is located at 3400 S US Hwy 17 92 in Casselberry, Florida. A 1953 postcard boasts the motel's amenities, which included a private beach on...

Hollieanna Groves in Maitland serving customers since 1953

There aren’t many patches of Old Florida left in the busy Orlando metro area. But smack dab in the heart of Maitland’s commercial district, you’ll find this throwback: Hollieanna Groves. And boy, is it a gem! It is located on the bend in...

Old South Bar-B-Q Ranch

Weary travelers for four decades were kept awake by the funny signs and nourished by the taste of this Clewiston oasis. There aren’t many roads more desolate and monotonous than going south on US 27. Once you pass Lake Placid,...

Fern Park, Florida and the Largest Industry Under One Roof

Fern cultivation gave rise to a new town with the Haines, Barnett, Casselberry and Vaughn families its royal court. Before Seminole County was created in 1913, the area that is today known as Casselberry was referred to as the Concord...