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Briefs

Talk of the bay: Anniversary promises lunch for less than $1

By Times staff
Published March 8, 2008

Talk about a value meal. A South Tampa McDonald's is setting prices back 50 years today with 15 cent hamburgers, cheeseburgers and drinks for 20 cents and small fries for a dime. The occasion is the 50th anniversary of the opening of Tampa's first Mickey D's at 3515 S Dale Mabry Highway by Fritz Casper. The business, Caspers Company, now owns and operates 51 of the 188 McDonald's in the Tampa Bay area. Bargain prices run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Yes, there are limits: 10 hamburgers and cheeseburgers, and five drinks and fries. Urrrp.

Most Sweetbays had strong growth
Who says selling groceries is easy? Sales growth was reported "strong" at most Sweetbay Supermarkets in the fourth quarter. But 25 of the Tampa-based chain's 106 stores failed to meet financial projections. That triggered a $18.6-million charge against earnings at Delhaize Group, Sweetbay's Belgian owner that operates 2,455 grocery stores in seven countries.

Florida regulators back Patel deal
Will he soon be called the Comeback Kid? Dr. Kiran Patel said his acquisition of two private Medicare plans has been approved by Florida regulators. Patel, who built and sold Tampa's WellCare Health Plans in 2002, got back in the insurance business late last year with the purchase of Optimum Healthcare and Freedom Health. They will offer Medicare plans under separate names, but back-office operations will be combined under Patel's holding company, America's 1st Choice of Florida. Patel, the company's chief executive and a major Tampa Bay philanthropist, said the two plans have 23,000 members.

All about housing
James Thorner digs deeper into bay area housing news in his (Un)Real Estate blog at blogs.tampabay.com/realestate.

[Last modified March 7, 2008, 23:11:41]