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Epcot may be home to retail store of future
Posted January 18, 2007
Behind-the-scenes scoops and nuggets on local businesses, events and people
Could a futurist retail store be the next big thing at Epcot? That's the hope of the National Retail Federation, which is kicking around the idea of establishing a store of the future at the Disney park. The concept store, dubbed "XO," now appears annually as a temporary pop-up boutique on the show floor at the trade group's annual convention in New York City.
The boutique typically shows off the latest tech advancements -- such as this year's popular demo of an interactive mirror that lets customers try on clothes in front of friends online. Federation spokesman Scott Krugman said the trade group hasn't formally presented the pie-in-the-sky idea to Disney.
Leaving Orlando
Orlando residents used to living in one of the world's vacation capitals are likely to greet with a shrug those annual travel lists touting Orlando as a top U.S. destination. But where do we like to go when it's time to escape life's grind? According to a study by Travelocity, Orlando residents' top destinations for spring break this year are Colorado and, yes, rival-vacation town Las Vegas.
Happy tunes
An offbeat, singing computer game developed by students at the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy in Orlando was chosen one of the 10 best at the Independent Games Festival, which included more than 100 entries from around the world. The computer-video game, called Opera Slinger, was created by 10 academy students over a period of four months.
Name games
The Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission is launching a new life-science council Monday, with a dozen or so representatives from Central Florida's biotech, hospital and academic communities meeting at EDC's Orlando office. One possible name for the group is BiOrlando, which showed up in a Sentinel story earlier this month and caught the eye of Orlando patent lawyer Henry Estevez. Realizing the Internet domain name was unclaimed, he paid $250 for it and is now offering it to the EDC. "It would be lovely if they'd reimburse me, but if they're not willing to do that, it's not a problem," said Estevez, who represents UCF's Burnett College of Biomedical Science. Commission spokeswoman Jennifer Wakefield said she appreciated the gesture, although a final decision on the council's name will have to wait until Monday. Nevertheless, she added, "this might grease the wheels."
New campus eateries
Pizza, a dietary staple for many college students, is now easier to find on the far north side of the University of Central Florida main campus. Red Brick Pizza recently became the first business to open in UCF's new, 89,000-square-foot retail center, built alongside the school's new Convocation Center. By the end of the month, Maggie Moo's Ice Cream and a Subway sandwich shop are also scheduled to open. The retail center is part of a $250 million project that includes the Convocation Center, a refurbishing of the adjacent UCF Arena, midrise student housing and more.
Brokerage expands
Olde Town Brokers, the real estate brokerage started by developer Phil Rampy to capitalize on downtown Orlando growth, has opened a new office -- in downtown Sanford. "Sanford is an up-and-coming city with great potential," Rampy said. The office, the company's fifth, is at 310 S. Magnolia Ave. in the historic district that's just steps from the heart of downtown Sanford.
Tim Barker compiled this report with contributions from Beth Kassab, Chris Cobbs, Jack Snyder, Harry Wessel and Mark Chediak. He can be reached at 407-420-5022 or tbarker@orlandosentinel.com.
Posted January 18, 2007
Behind-the-scenes scoops and nuggets on local businesses, events and people
Could a futurist retail store be the next big thing at Epcot? That's the hope of the National Retail Federation, which is kicking around the idea of establishing a store of the future at the Disney park. The concept store, dubbed "XO," now appears annually as a temporary pop-up boutique on the show floor at the trade group's annual convention in New York City.
The boutique typically shows off the latest tech advancements -- such as this year's popular demo of an interactive mirror that lets customers try on clothes in front of friends online. Federation spokesman Scott Krugman said the trade group hasn't formally presented the pie-in-the-sky idea to Disney.
Leaving Orlando
Orlando residents used to living in one of the world's vacation capitals are likely to greet with a shrug those annual travel lists touting Orlando as a top U.S. destination. But where do we like to go when it's time to escape life's grind? According to a study by Travelocity, Orlando residents' top destinations for spring break this year are Colorado and, yes, rival-vacation town Las Vegas.
Happy tunes
An offbeat, singing computer game developed by students at the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy in Orlando was chosen one of the 10 best at the Independent Games Festival, which included more than 100 entries from around the world. The computer-video game, called Opera Slinger, was created by 10 academy students over a period of four months.
Name games
The Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission is launching a new life-science council Monday, with a dozen or so representatives from Central Florida's biotech, hospital and academic communities meeting at EDC's Orlando office. One possible name for the group is BiOrlando, which showed up in a Sentinel story earlier this month and caught the eye of Orlando patent lawyer Henry Estevez. Realizing the Internet domain name was unclaimed, he paid $250 for it and is now offering it to the EDC. "It would be lovely if they'd reimburse me, but if they're not willing to do that, it's not a problem," said Estevez, who represents UCF's Burnett College of Biomedical Science. Commission spokeswoman Jennifer Wakefield said she appreciated the gesture, although a final decision on the council's name will have to wait until Monday. Nevertheless, she added, "this might grease the wheels."
New campus eateries
Pizza, a dietary staple for many college students, is now easier to find on the far north side of the University of Central Florida main campus. Red Brick Pizza recently became the first business to open in UCF's new, 89,000-square-foot retail center, built alongside the school's new Convocation Center. By the end of the month, Maggie Moo's Ice Cream and a Subway sandwich shop are also scheduled to open. The retail center is part of a $250 million project that includes the Convocation Center, a refurbishing of the adjacent UCF Arena, midrise student housing and more.
Brokerage expands
Olde Town Brokers, the real estate brokerage started by developer Phil Rampy to capitalize on downtown Orlando growth, has opened a new office -- in downtown Sanford. "Sanford is an up-and-coming city with great potential," Rampy said. The office, the company's fifth, is at 310 S. Magnolia Ave. in the historic district that's just steps from the heart of downtown Sanford.
Tim Barker compiled this report with contributions from Beth Kassab, Chris Cobbs, Jack Snyder, Harry Wessel and Mark Chediak. He can be reached at 407-420-5022 or tbarker@orlandosentinel.com.
