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ST. PETERSBURG - A group of business people founded a coalition to help gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender business owners promote their enterprises, learn what help is available to them and contribute to the general community.
The coalition is called the Bay Area Business Alliance.
President Dan Fiorini said it is not a social group and that anyone is welcome to join.
The group's common themes are "nondiscrimination, community acceptance, education and philanthropy," Fiorini said. He owns Fiorini Gallery and Frame on Central Avenue in the Grand Central district.
The group believes business in general is strengthened by diversity.
"You don't even have to be a business person. You can be an employee of a business," he said.
However, prospective members have to be approved by the core group, and the main requirement for entrance is a willingness to work. Members will serve on different committees. Dues are $60 per year.
"Multibrand' restaurant to openPINELLAS PARK - A combination Long John Silver's/A&W Root Beer restaurant is scheduled to open Thursday or Friday at 7299 Park Blvd.
The new restaurant is one of the multibrand concepts of Yum! Brands Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Ky. It will serve the fish, chicken and shrimp associated with Long John Silver's and hot dogs and A&W root beer on tap.
The new store will employ 40 people.
Yum! Brands opened its first multibrand restaurant in Florida in Seminole in June. That one is a combination KFC/Long John Silver's.
Keep fit and defend yourselfST. PETERSBURG - The north end of the city has a new fitness center, one that specializes in helping people keep fit while teaching them how to defend themselves.
Elite Training Center is at 1144 94th Ave. N in the Northgate Center, across from Kmart.
Director Phil Beatty said his center can teach self defense techniques that don't take years of martial arts training. Elite offers step, cardio and strength training and more rigorous boot camps for what Beatty called the thrill seekers.
Dance studio opens in former storeST. PETERSBURG - Soulful Arts Dance Academy has taken more than 6,000 square feet in the renovated building at 290 Dr. M.L. King Jr. St. N, which used to be Mather Furniture Co.
The furniture store closed nearly four years ago, and the building has been under renovation. The dance academy has three large dance rooms, a homework room for students to use before and after classes and lockers. Also there is a family waiting area, juice and snack bar and retail dance shop.
Soulful Arts Dance is a nonprofit organization started by Tech Data chief executive Steve Raymund and his wife, Sonia.