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LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS

Akino brings flavor, Japanese culture to Orange Park

ORANGE PARK — Members of the Clay County Chamber of Commerce helped to officially cut the ribbon on the Akino Japanese Cuisine during its grand opening on Friday, Nov. 6. The locally owned …

Live your life with color, outside the lines on Walnut Street

GREEN COVE SPRINGS — As long as you have a paint brush and canvas, opportunities to thrive are never few and far between. Especially when you're living in the moment and expressing your innermost …

Business Spotlight: Tony’s Pizza

Server Janae O'Neal cuts a large pizza for a to-go order.

Authentic New York-style menu features homemade dough, sauce, attitude

MIDDLEBURG – You don’t have to fly 960 miles for an authentic New York-style slice of pizza. That’s because Tony and Sicily Zori’s family brought New York to the Silo Shoppes of Middleburg. …

TownePlace Suites by Marriott is located at 1625 Jeremiah St. in Middleburg.

Middleburg's TownePlace Suites celebrates year of successful hospitality, service

MIDDLEBURG — Welcoming hotel guests with comfort and excellent service is key to any successful hospitality model. TownePlace Suites by Marriott knows that best. That's why celebrating its one-year …

Business Spotlight:

Wawa is now open on Fleming Island at 1510 Merchant Blvd.

Fleming Island Wawa brings $7.5 million investment to Clay County

FLEMING ISLAND — After months of anticipation, the new Wawa at 1510 Merchant Boulevard opened with great fanfare on Thursday, Oct. 15. And while many arrived bright and early to fill up their …

Lumpia is one of many authentic dishes served at Lola's Filipino Cafe and Mini Store.

Traditional Filipino cuisine, culture live at Orange Park café

ORANGE PARK – When you walk into Lola’s Filipino Cafe and Mini Store, you’re welcomed with the rich smell of fresh food, and a welcoming atmosphere that feels like home. That’s what Nino …

The challenge on the Blockbuster hole on the pink course is to use two ropes on pullies to navigate a VHS tape with the golf ball attached to the cup at the top without letting it slip through a landmine of other holes.

Burlesons open two courses where they 'create memories'

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – There are no windmills, snapping alligator mouths, spinning barriers or volcanoes at Retro Putt Indoor Mini Golf. But you will find a zip line, pool table, drum set, basketball …

Xfinity brings high-speed, reliable internet to more than 2,300 rural homes in Clay

CLAY COUNTY — Although it's hard to imagine a world without being online, an estimated 24 million Americans still lack access to the internet, according to the Network Installers . But …

Whitey's, Encore refresh their looks, menus

FLEMING ISLAND – What was old is now new again along Swimming Pen Creek. Whitey’s Fish Camp and Encore Fleming Island both recently refreshed their restaurants, menus and their futures with …

Michelle Smith dedicated to a holistic treatment of mind, body

FLEMING ISLAND – After a successful career as a surgical assistant, Michelle Smith decided to branch out on a more holistic and natural approach to wellness. Glow Wellness and Rejuvenation was …

Sweet treats, delicacies live boldly at pop-up dessert cart

FLEMING ISLAND – It's small, blue, colorful and filled with special treats. Can you guess what it may be? Salty Air Treats i s open every weekend …

Yoga is more than exercise at the Yoga Den

MIDDLEBURG — Yoga Den franchisee Belinda Lynn-Bryant plans to open a studio in Middleburg this fall, bringing a range of yoga classes to a community she said is growing. Lynn-Bryant and her …

Local bakery reimagines generational family recipes into fresh favorites

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— Everything at the Bakery II is made with customers in mind. That means it's baked with love, cooked to perfection and served to the …

Stylist invests in trims, coloring, styling at new salon on Wells Road

ORANGE PARK – Chad Eagan was concerned when he broke away from the safety and financial security of working for an owner of one of the most successful salons. But deep down, he decided to invest in the only thing guaranteed to payoff – himself. He opened Chad’s Beauty Bar at 1801 Wells Road, and he quickly learned success travels well. “Anytime you make a change, it’s always scary,” he said in between a steady flow of regulars who also made the move with him. "But I knew it was the right move, and I knew it would work out. I just had faith and put one foot in front of the other, and it took off running.”
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Baby safety revered every day at local children's store

FLEMING ISLAND — Prioritizing baby safety is never a question at MoonBabies Children's Resale. That means double- and triple-checking for safety recalls, and educating new and expecting …

Shopping tells a charming story at local thrift store

FLEMING ISLAND — On U.S. Highway 17 lies Hive and Seek Boutique, where every corner tells a story. From vintage items imported straight from Ireland to art sourced from just across …

Previous Business News

Winning at business

Report: 82% of new small businesses have insurance, but many SMBs remain at risk

ERGO NEXT reports that 82% of new small businesses have insurance, yet 73% remain underinsured, often due to cost, confusion, and compliance issues.

AI took 86% of private funding in the first half of 2026. How you sell has to change

ZoomInfo reports that in the first half of 2026, 86% of private funding went to AI firms, leading non-AI companies to self-fund growth as funding gaps widen.

D8TAOPS Brings Governed Knowledge to Amazon Quick, Now Generally Available in AWS Marketplace

(Troy Wyatt, Founder and CEO, and Dr. Navid Kalantari, PhD, Chief AI Officer, D8TAOPS) - Built with Mark Relph's team at AWS, the integration lets Quick customers govern the data and the agents …

Entrepreneurship

What’s the most efficient way to manage email campaigns for a large team?

Validity reports on efficiently managing email campaigns for large teams, emphasizing clear workflows, defined roles, centralized tech stacks, and modular designs to enhance productivity.

Hiring a first employee before year-end? How to set up payroll in 8 steps

Xero reports that setting up payroll for your first employee involves eight steps, starting with obtaining an EIN and registering with state tax agencies.

Companies spend six figures on AI. A third of employees don't know what it costs

Zapier reports that companies are significantly investing in AI, with 52% spending over $100K monthly, yet a third of employees are unaware of these costs.

Get Ahead in Business

How to get bonded quickly and keep your projects moving

Surety Bond Professionals reports that understanding bonding requirements is crucial for contractors bidding on government projects.

The 2027 growth opportunity for e-commerce and why wellness brands are positioned to benefit

Passport reports that by 2027, e-commerce growth hinges on AI product discovery and cross-border commerce.

How to manage cash flow with a business or corporate credit card

Brex reports that a business credit card can help startups manage cash flow gaps by allowing up to 51 days of interest-free payments, increasing cash availability.

How AI is changing holiday shopping and what advertisers need to know

elk Marketing reports that AI is transforming holiday shopping, influencing product discovery and advertising strategies as consumers increasingly seek personalized gift suggestions through AI tools.

Flat budgets, bigger targets: 7 ways businesses are finding money they already have

Higgsfield AI reports on how businesses with flat marketing budgets can optimize spending.

The dashboard nobody opens: How AI assistants are moving sales analytics to the moment of decision

Apollo reports that AI assistants are transforming sales analytics by shifting focus from traditional dashboards to real-time decision-making tools, enhancing reps' efficiency.

The invoice-to-pay process explained for accounts payable teams

Brex reports that the invoice-to-pay process is vital for accounts payable teams, ensuring streamlined workflows from invoice receipt to payment, enhancing cash flow and control.

The growth of clean beauty: Market data breakdown

Ogee reports the clean beauty market is projected to hit $10.5 billion by 2025, driven by consumer demand for transparency and organic ingredients.

6 real retail owners share what works on Small Business Saturday

Global Payments reports six retail owners share tips for Small Business Saturday, emphasizing unique experiences and community engagement over simple discounts.