Business

These businesses are changing how you spend your money in South Florida

Stories by Miami Herald journalists, with AI summarization

This collection of stories highlights businesses that are changing consumer spending habits.

Publix has upgraded its Briar Bay locationt. Rooms to Go is replacing a longstanding Kendall bookstore with one of the largest showrooms in the country. Tim Hortons plans to resurface in Florida. And the Fort Lauderdale drag restaurant 'Lips' transforms into 'Aquaplex,' preserving its cultural significance while undergoing significant renovations.

Read the stories below.

Drag queen Asheeria Pryce performs as Gladys Knight during a celebrity impersonation show at Aquaplex on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Aquaplex, formerly known as Lips, offers guests a variety of drag shows along with food and drinks. By Photo by Matias J. Ocner

NO. 1: AN ICONIC FORT LAUDERDALE DRAG RESTAURANT WAS ON ITS LAST LEG. IT JUST GOT A FACELIFT

The owners of Key West drag destination Aquaplex bought and remodeled the drag restaurant Lips in Fort Lauderdale. | Published January 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Amanda Rosa

A contemporary Tim Hortons restaurant serves coffee, donuts and fast foods like sandwiches, wraps and chicken strips. There is talk about opening locations of the Canadian landmark eatery in South Florida.

NO. 2: THIS DOUGHNUT AND COFFEE RESTAURANT IS COMING BACK TO FLORIDA. TAKE A LOOK AT THE PLANS

What to know about the chain. | Published February 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jason Dill

Publix greeted customers at the 7 a.m. grand opening of its long-awaited rebuilt Briar Bay store with custom bags on Feb. 27, 2025.

NO. 3: A NEW PUBLIX JUST OPENED IN THE FALLS AREA, AND SHOPPERS HAVE BEEN TALKING. TAKE A LOOK

The Briar Bay Publix is just one of several opening in March around Florida. | Published February 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Howard Cohen

In this file photo from Oct. 30, 2024, comedian Brittany Brave is photographed outside of the Barnes & Noble bookstore in West Kendall. Brave grew up in Miami’s Kendall neighborhood and worked at this store as a barista during high school and had a stand-up performance at the Adrienne Arsht Center on Nov. 23, 2024. By MATIAS J. OCNER

NO. 4: COULD ONE OF THE BIGGEST ROOMS TO GO IN THE COUNTRY REPLACE A BELOVED KENDALL BOOKSTORE?

The closing plans coincide with other plans for expansion. | Published March 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Howard Cohen

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.