1. Buck & Rider seafood restaurant expanding to Naples later this year
Seafood restaurant Buck & Rider is expanding from the southwestern United States to Southwest Florida in late 2026.
The new location is set to open at Waterside Shops in Naples later this year.
“Naples was a natural first choice for our expansion of Buck & Rider. I have deep roots here—years ago I called this coast home, and I’ve spent countless days fishing the waters on the east and west coast of Florida and down to the Keys,” said Adam Strecker, CEO and founder of Hi Noon Hospitality in a press release.
“Fish from these waters have been on our menu since day one, so bringing Buck & Rider to Naples feels like coming home.”
Buck & Rider currently has three locations in Arizona. – Kendall Little/USA TODAY Network-Florida
2. Minimum wage to increase in Florida
Minimum wage workers in Florida are about to get a bump in their paychecks.
Minimum wage in Florida is currently $13 an hour for non-tipped employees and $9.98 for tipped employees. On Sept. 30, it goes up another dollar.
Thanks to the “Fair Wage” constitutional amendment voters narrowly passed in 2020, minimum wage in the state will increase by a buck every year until it reaches $15 an hour in 2026.
That’s considerably more than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, which hasn’t budged since 2009 despite dramatic increases in the cost of living. The federal minimum wage also includes a lengthy list of exceptions for jobs where employees can be paid less. – C.A. Bridges/USA TODAY Network-Florida
3. Two new restaurants opening in Coconut Point
Coconut Point is welcoming two new dining spots this fall: Alba Breakfast & Brunch and Casa Blu.
Alba Breakfast & Brunch is the first full-service restaurant at the mall that will be open for breakfast at 7:30 a.m. The menu is inspired by Mediterranean and European traditions, with signature dishes like crème brûlée French toast, lobster Eggs Benedict, Shakshuka, crepes, and Baklava. The restaurant is expected to open this October.
Casa Blu is a new Mediterranean restaurant that comes from Bolivian roots, offering fresh, wood-fired cuisine. It’s expected to open this November. – Kendall Little/USA TODAY Network-Florida
This article originally appeared on Marco Eagle: 3 To Know: Minimum wage to increase in Florida; new restaurants
Reporting by Marco Eagle / Marco Eagle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
