Mortgage Broker in Brevard County, FL

Is Dave & Buster's coming to Viera?

Permit records indicate the restaurant and entertainment giant may have its eyes set on Brevard County.

A permit was filed in October with Brevard County seeking a proposed Dave & Buster’s sign at Napolo Drive in Viera, with attached information stating Bromley Drive as the site location. The document also states the intention to apply for a food and alcoholic beverage license for the proposed entertainment center that will include a full-service restaurant, arcade gaming and billiard tables.

No other permits appear to have been filed.

This comes amid growing development in this area, including the recent county approval of a permit for popular entertainment enterprise Topgolf.

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Representatives of Dave & Buster's could not be reached for comment. A Viera Company spokeswoman said she had no additional information. Brevard County planning and development also said they could not provide any additional information.

More:Get ready to shop! We're excited about these 8 retail spaces coming soon to Brevard

What is Dave & Buster's?

Dave & Buster's is a full-service restaurant with arcade gaming, billiard tables and other gaming experiences. Known to be family-friendly, they also have an array of televisions to watch sporting events, as well as a bar and restaurant service.

The company describes their concept as: "Dave & Buster's has a broad demographic appeal, serving as an attractive entertainment value for fun-seeking, casual-plus dining customers who enjoy spending time with friends and family."

With over 170 locations, including 10 in Florida, the closest one Dave & Buster's to Brevard is located at 8986 International Drive, Orlando.

More:What is Topgolf, that company planning to build $28 million golf attraction in Viera?

What other venues are in that Viera area?

Currently, Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux is located on Napolo Dr., serving Louisiana classics, burgers, sandwiches and wraps. It also features a full-service bar and game day entertainment.

Buffalo Wild Wings resides nearby at 7191 Lake Andrew Dr., and features a sports theme, beer, wings and more.

Close to this proposed site, Topgolf is looking to build a $28 million golfing and entertainment center in Viera. That project would be located near The Avenue Viera's movie theater and is situated on the north end of Bromley Drive.

Nordstrom Rack is also looking to make The Avenue Viera its first ever Brevard location, and Whole Foods has a planned opening for 2025 on Viera Blvd.

Amber Olesen is FLORIDA TODAY's food and dining reporter. Reach her at aolesen@floridatoday.com.

The Brevard Cultural Alliance will be coming to the County Commission Tuesday, seeking approval of a $202,000 contract for 2024-25 to help promote arts in the county.

The proposed contract has the same dollar amount as BCA's contract with the county for the 2023-24 budget year, which ended Sept. 30.

Funding would come from money generated by Brevard County's 5% tourist development tax on hotel room rentals, vacation rentals and other short-term rentals.

The request comes at a time when the County Commission has sometimes balked at funding for the arts. The commission, for example, in November unanimously voted to table proposed recommended county-funded marketing support for 44 major events, arts and cultural organizations and events, and sports events, under a revamped grant program.

Those grants — which totaled $805,000 — had been recommended by the Brevard County Tourist Development Council.

The County Commission instead delayed its vote until after it holds a workshop in January about the guidelines to qualify for the grants. The County Commission previously had approved those guidelines.

Role of Brevard Cultural Alliance

As the designated local arts agency for Brevard County, the Brevard Cultural Alliance aims to ensure thecurrent and ongoing growth of art and culture through its mission to build and sustain a vibrantand dynamic arts and cultural sector integral to Brevard County’s quality of life.

"The arts enlighten our lives with beauty, emotion and understanding," Brevard Cultural Alliance Executive Director Catherine Esrock said, in a recent presentation to the Tourist Development Council, an advisory board to the County Commission.

Esrock the arts "cultivate a sense of identity and belonging. They foster creativity and innovation, and promote social interaction, all necessary to a vibrant region, attracting investment from visitors, residents and industry. With Brevard Cultural Alliance as a beacon, we can ensure continued cultural arts and cultural vibrancy in Brevard County. Together, we shine brighter and ensure that tomorrow does launch here."

BCA's proposed contract with the county notes that "art is an essential element to a thriving community. With the arts generating over $123 million annually and employing more than 1,500 individuals, BCA works to fuel our arts-powered economy. Recognizing the influence of the arts on our lives and collective health, we support the well-being of our artists and audiences; develop our arts ecosystem; and advance arts education, forming the next generations of innovators and creatives."

Proposed projects for coming year

Among the BCA's projects, detailed by Esrock in the organization's proposal to the County Commission, are:

Esrock said BCA also plans to work with the five county commissioners to develop new arts and culture projects in each of their districts, as well as to find ways to help support smaller arts organizations that might not be able to qualify for state or county grants.

In addition, the BCA plans to work on providing a fine-arts component to the Palm Bay Recreation Department's 2025 multicultural festival.

The County Commission agenda item noted that the BCA "is important to the ability of Brevard County to promote tourism."

The BCA has a staff or four — two full-timers and two part-timers — and a total budget of $365,725.

Support from Tourist Development Council

The Tourist Development Council on Nov. 13 voted unanimously to recommend that the County Commission approve the $202,000 in funding for the BCA for the current budget year.

Tourist Development Council member Julie Braga, a hotel general manager, said it's important to support the arts sector, both to attract visitors to the Space Coast and to give them reasons to stay in the area longer through cultural programming.

Hotel owner and Tourist Development Council Vice Chair Tom Hermansen said the BCA offers the community great programming, and has been "doing great work for many, many years," adding: "We should have more of this."

But Hermansen indicated to other Tourist Development Council members that "there's headwinds at the board level — the County Commission board — with respect to funding cultural grant and cultural funding in general, as we all are aware of."

Some of those concerns about arts funding initially were triggered by then-Florida Rep. Randy Fine, who questioned why the County Commission was awarding a $15,000 cultural grant to the LGBTQ+ organization Space Coast Pride for its 2024 Pridefest event in downtown Melbourne. Fine objected to the inclusion of a drag-queen story time program in some previous Pridefests. It was not part of the 2024 event.

Space Coast Pride received its grant for the 2024 event. But, because of stricter guidelines implemented for tourism marketing grants for the 2024-25 cycle, the organization no longer qualifies for a grant.

Dave Berman is business editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Berman at dberman@floridatoday.com, on X at @bydaveberman and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dave.berman.54

With Downtown Produce Market and More announcing plans to permanently close at the end of this month so the owners can enjoy retirement, many in Brevard began lamenting other grocery closures over the years.

Readers took to FLORIDA TODAY's Facebook page, 321 Flavor: Where Brevard Eats to discuss the closure of the beloved market, and reminisce about other favorite small markets that are sorely missed.

Petty's Meat Market

After more than four decades in Brevard County, the Pettigrews sold both Petty's Meat Market locations. The Suntree location closed in 2019, while the Babcock Street location changed owners, but later closed in 2022.

Both stores were known for their high-quality meats, cheeses, prepared meals, wine tastings and free beer while you shopped.

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Green Turtle Market

This beachside market specialized in gourmet to-go foods, prime meats, fresh seafood and fine wines. Green Turtle Market closed earlier this year. Tim Dwight and Ercan Ekinci were the original owners, dating to 2000. In 2019, Ekinci sold his portion and went on to open Urban Prime Marketplace + Restaurant in Viera. Dwight retired in January 2022.

Evans Community Market

After five years, Evans Community Market closed in 2023. The full-service market provided fresh produce, groceries and hot deli food. The market came to fruition to serve the needs of low- and moderate-income neighborhoods near Florida Ave. in Palm Bay.

Lucky's Market

After Winn-Dixie closed in 2015 on W. New Haven Ave., in Melbourne, the Colorado-based Lucky's Market invested roughly $3 million in interior and exterior renovations, only to close in February 2020. Between the beer tasting and the bacon, the store was an experience and many in Brevard still mourn its closure.

Soon —Downtown Produce Market and More

Downtown Produce's owners announced that the popular market and grocery store on Ellis Road will close its doors on Dec. 31. Providing groceries, fresh prepared foods, baked goods, imported cheese and olives, specialty beers, wine, and more, Downtown Produce filled a niche in Melbourne since 1982. The owners said they plan to retire.

Shoppers mourn closure of local markets

When asked "what will you miss and why do you like to shop at local markets," 321 Flavor: Where Brevard Eats readers had plenty to say.

Erica Good wrote, "Why I shop local — they generally care more about their employees and their customers. These small businesses work to have a dream to open this business that they take pride in."

"With independent stores —the employees, owners and management become like friends. You smile walking in — knowing you will be greeted with a friendly hello. You see firsthand what the money you're spending is going towards. The sense of community is real when shopping local," wrote Sherri Beshelli.

Carol Bowlby wrote, "Sad we will lose another icon of a store ... We will miss our meats, salsa, veggies and their yummy premade food."

Independent markets still thrive in Brevard

But all is not lost for Brevard shoppers who want to spend their money at independent markets. Here are some that remain available on the Space Coast:

Amber Olesen is FLORIDA TODAY's food and dining reporter. Reach her at aolesen@floridatoday.com

Brevard County is home to one of the country best companies to work for, according to a new study.

U.S. News & World Report ranks the companies by factors such as quality of pay, benefits and professional development. According to them L3Harris, which is one of Brevard’s largest employers, is among the best places to work.

"’Best’ is a subjective term relative to career satisfaction, and there are many aspects that factor into someone’s decision to apply for a job with any given company,” the report stated. “But there are some universally desired factors that can contribute to a good workplace, such as quality pay, good work/life balance, and opportunities for professional development and advancement. Characteristics like these, which reflect what employees look for in companies today, were used in evaluating employers for the Best Companies to Work For list.”

Why was L3Harris selected as one of the best places to work?

L3Harris received a 5 out of 5 for “quality of pay” and “stability.”

Headquartered in Melbourne, the company received a ranking of 3/5 in “work life balance,” “comfort,” “belonginess” and “professional development.”

What is L3Harris?

L3Harris Technologies describes itself as an “agile global aerospace and defense technology innovator, delivering end-to-end solutions that meet customers’ mission-critical needs. The company provides advanced defense and commercial technologies across air, land, sea, space and cyber domains.”

It has more than $19 billion in annual revenue and 48,000 employees, with customers in more than 100 countries.

What other Florida companies made the list?

Some of the others were:

Spitzer is a trending reporter. She can be reached at MSpitzer@Floridatoday.com.

The retail footprint in Brevard County is expanding.

A slew of new businesses are expected to open on the Space Coast in 2025, with many of them in the booming area of Viera. From spas to grocery stores to clothing stores, there will be plenty of shopping options.

Now, this doesn’t include a bunch of new restaurants also opening in Brevard in 2025. That’s a whole different discussion.

On the way

Here are some retail places we’re excited for in the new year:

Southern Tide: The apparel store known for its southern charm and coastal lifestyle will open in The Avenue Viera.

Air & Anchor: Also opening in The Avenue Viera is this jewelry store that blends vintage craftsmanship with a modern design.

Nordstrom Rack: This will be the first Brevard location for the retailer that sells on-trend apparel, accessories, beauty products, home de?cor and more at up to 70 percent off. It will be located in The Avenue Viera.

Whole Foods Market: The 43,164-square-foot grocery store will be located on Viera Blvd., just east of Interstate 95. It was originally scheduled to open in 2024, but delays pushed that back. An opening date hasn’t been announced, but it’s looking like it will be sometime in 2025.

Hand & Stone Spa and Facial Massage: The spa will open its third location in Brevard County in The Crossings at Viera, located on Viera Blvd. east of Interstate 95.

Venetian Nail Spa: This also will open in The Crossings at Viera.

Spouts Farmers Market: The “healthy grocery, organic food and supplement store,” is opening in the new Pineda Commons. It’s located on Wickham Road just south of Pineda Causeway.

EOS Fitness: The gym that prides itself as a better gym at better prices, will open its first Brevard County location. This also will located in the new Pineda Commons plaza.

Spitzer is a Trending Reporter. She can be reached at MSpitzer@Floridatoday.com.