Two Chic Beautique, a new salon concept, celebrated the grand opening of its downtown Orlando location.
The new salon opened its doors this past week at 619 Thornton Avenue. The business offers cosmetic services that include brows, lashes, waxing, nails, and skincare, among others.
Additional services include cosmetic tattoos, eyelash extensions, and manicures and pedicures.
The business is co-owned by Linh Van and Cecilia Nguyen, two mothers who bill themselves as “mompreneurs” that had a goal of creating a vision for a “beautique” while balancing their “other full time job as mothers.”
According to their website, the salon donates $1 for each service or item purchased to a charity at the end of every month.
Currently, the business operates Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information on products and services, visit the Two Chic Beautique website.
City of Orlando officials waived over $425,000 in accumulated rental debt and interest for Mad Cow Theatre this week and will allow the company to set the terms of its exit.
The matter came before the Orlando City Council during its regular meeting on Monday, February 21. With the approval, approximately $426,592.74 in accumulated debt will be taken off the books.
According to city records, the space, which is located at 54 W Church Street and is part of the 55 West retail space, has been subleased to Mad Cow Theatre, Inc. since 2011. In October of last year, the city issued a notice of default of the sublease for failure to pay the sums due under the agreement. In addition, Mad Cow entered into a Funding Agreement with the CRA for $480,000.
As part of that agreement, Mad Cow was required to reimburse the CRA the total with an additional five percent interest, or $504,000.
To date, the business has made contributions totaling just over $53,000. The business disputes that it owes the payments under the sublease and funding agreement.
According to the city, “in an effort to amicably settle the dispute,” officials have negotiated a settlement agreement in which Mad Cow has agreed to vacate the building by May 31 in exchange for forgiveness of the debt owed.
The settlement agreement also requires that Mad Cow leave certain property and equipment so that the premises can continue to be operated as a performing arts space under a new operator, according to city records.
Orlando City Council officials awarded $100,000 in deferred grants to a new dog-friendly pub planned for downtown Orlando.
The council unanimously approved the request by Pup’s Pub Orlando during its regular meeting on Monday, February 21. The new bar is looking to renovate the former Sir Speedy location, which is situated at 317 N Orange Avenue.
According to city officials, the business estimates that they will spend just under $600,000 to renovate the location. As a result, it qualified for $100,000 in deferred grants from the city.
Pup’s Pub applied for assistance through the city’s Downtown Commercial and Residential Building Improvement Program, which offers a three-year, interest-free deferred loan for façade and/or building stabilization improvements to existing properties within the Downtown Community Redevelopment Area (“Downtown CRA”).
The program provides reimbursement up to 50% of the project cost, but not to exceed $100,000, for certain exterior physical improvements and building stabilization improvements, including HVAC services, ad painting, among other modifications.
According to city records, the owner’s capital investment is just over $200,000, with the entire project estimated to cost approximately $594,745.50.
City officials are looking for feedback regarding a set of parklets that are designed to help local businesses.
According to a press release from the city’s Downtown Development Board, the city believes the parklets provide an opportunity for businesses to conduct safe operations as well as provide residents and visitors safe experiences while in downtown Orlando.
“Parklets allow downtown businesses to expand their retail sales and restaurant seating operations into adjacent on-street public parking spaces,” reads the release.
The Florida Department of Transportation announced the opening of the managed lanes, known locally as I-4 Express, to motorists on Saturday, February 26.
According to a press release from FDOT, crews will begin opening access points of I-4 Express early Saturday morning. All eastbound and westbound lanes of I-4 Express are anticipated to be open to traffic as soon as 10 a.m. that morning.
I-4 Express will open with an introductory rate of 50 cents per tolling segment. Traveling the entire length of I-4 Express will cost $3.50 eastbound and $3.00 westbound during the introductory period. Following the introductory rate, toll pricing will be adjusted based on traffic volumes in I-4 Express to manage congestion.
Pricing will not be a fixed rate and will vary based on the number of vehicles using I-4 Express.
The current toll rate will be displayed on overhead electronic signs in advance of each entrance. Nonstop electronic tolling will enable motorists to pay using an active, properly mounted SunPass or other Florida-accepted transponders. No cash or TOLL-BY-PLATE option will be available.
For more information, visit the I-4 Ultimate website.
Currently, unauthorized vehicles are not permitted in I-4 Express while crews remain active in the managed lanes to make final adjustments in preparation for this weekend’s opening.
I-4 Express extends from just west of Kirkman Road (State Road 435) in Orange County to just east of S.R. 434 in Seminole County and is separated from traffic by a concrete barrier wall with limited access points to support longer trips.
Pour House was forced to temporarily close its downtown Orlando location after a failed health inspection last week.
Downtown Pourhouse, which is located at 20 S Orange Avenue, was closed on February 14 after multiple health code violations were discovered.
According to a health inspection report from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, the business was cited for multiple high priority and intermediate violations.
Among the violations was the presence of a rodent and a roach. According to the report, the health inspector observed the rodent run between multiple areas within the establishment while on site.
The business was permitted to reopen the following afternoon.
It was the second downtown Orlando business to temporarily shut down due to health inspection violations, joining Napasorn.
A 21-year-old motorcyclist was ejected and killed after he was struck by a vehicle this afternoon in Orange County.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the accident occurred on Wednesday afternoon around 2:10 p.m. A sedan being driven by a 29-year-old female was traveling southbound on Dean Road, while the motorcyclist was driving northbound.
The woman attempted to make a left turn to travel east onto Bloomfield Drive and turned into the direct path of the motorcycle.
The front of the motorcycle struck the right side of the sedan and the motorcyclist was ejected from the vehicle. The man was transported to AdventHealth East where he later died from his injuries.
The crash remains under investigation. The name of the motorcyclist has not been released per FHP policy.
Vive at Eola, a new, multi-family apartment development planned for downtown Orlando, took additional steps towards becoming a reality last week in light of multiple residents expressing their support for the project.
During last week’s meeting of the Orlando Municipal Planning Board, city officials approved a proposed 13-story, 130-foot tall development to replace a single story office that currently sits at 205 S Eola Drive.
The proposed development will provide 144 dwelling units and ground floor retail, according to city records.
Along with 101 Eola Condominiums at 101 S. Eola Drive, the subject properties comprise the 201 Eola Planned Development. The 101 Eola Condominiums were constructed as Phase I of the existing development.
Multiple residents expressed their support for the proposed changes, which will bring 146 new dwelling units to the area.
“The mixed-use function of the building is perfect for residents and locals to have easy access to retail,” wrote resident David Godlewski in an email to city staff.
“This would be the first building in downtown Orlando with all efficiency units. This is a great opportunity to get more diverse housing into South Eola” said Dan Case in an email to city staff.
According to city records, Phase II was originally approved for 70 dwelling units, 7,040 square feet of ground floor commercial space, and approximately 120 parking spaces.
The history of the property dating back 100 years shows that it was platted into the Willmotts Plan subdivision in 1913. In 1945, the property was developed with the existing one-story office building.
Currently, a one-story office building is situated at the site (205 S Eola Drive)
In 2006, along with its sister property across the street, the properties were rezoned to allow for the construction of the 201 Eola PD.
The Orlando Municipal Planning Board makes recommendations that are considered by the Orlando City Council before a final decision is made during an upcoming meeting.
A commissioner recognized city staff during a recent meeting for addressing what she says is an ongoing problem regarding signs being broken by individuals across Orlando.
During Monday’s meeting of the Orlando City Council, District 4 Commissioner Patty Sheehan praised the city’s risk management department for their efforts in fixing broken signs around the community.
According to Sheehan, the risk management department brought in over $2.7 million in recouped damages last year from “property damage and worker’s compensation.” She took special note of broken signs that she says have been sprouting up everywhere.
“Signs keep getting hit in our neighborhoods,” said Sheehan. “I know Thornton Park’s got hit, College Park’s been hit.”
Remnants of broken signs are a frequent sighting in certain sections of the city. Whether the result of accidents, vandalism, or neglect, broken signs can be seen across main thoroughfares in multiple parts of downtown and the surrounding communities.
A motorcyclist was killed after he was ejected from his vehicle and thrown into a Denny’s in Winter Park.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the accident took place this afternoon around 2:45 p.m. A 27-year-old Debary man was driving the motorcycle eastbound along Lee Road.
According to witnesses, the man passed other eastbound traffic that was stopped by traveling into the left turn lane. As the man tried to travel back to the right and into the through lanes, he lost control of his motorcycle, struck a curb, and entered the parking lot of the Denny’s located at 2684 Lee Road.
The man was ejected and traveled through the glass window of the Denny’s, according to the report.
He was pronounced deceased at a local hospital.
The crash remains under investigation, according to law enforcement officials.
The identity of the deceased man was not released to the public, per FHP policy.
