Readers are curious about what will happen to the Grand Hotel, which towers over the Pensacola Bay Center. For months, we have heard rumors that a deal was imminent. Commissioner Lumon May mentioned it in passing during a joint workshop between the Escambia County Commission and the Pensacola City Council at the Bay Center in July.
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ overhaul of Pensacola State College is meeting resistance from the business community.
Inside the Plan to Redevelop Grand Hotel
Developer George Hawthorne envisions remodeling the Pensacola Grand Hotel into an upscale establishment worthy of its name. He proposes to acquire, renovate, equip and furnish a 210-room full-service hotel in the 15-story Grand Hotel tower. Other project proposals include rehabilitating the adjacent 1912 Louisville & Nashville Railroad Station into a 14,000-square-foot food hall and creating a co-working space.
Just one problem. The City is balking at his financing proposal.
Former Trustee Calls Out New Pensacola State College Board
In a viewpoint published by the News Journal, Pensacola business leader Julian MacQueen calls out the four new trustees who believe have altered the college’s successful 77-year trajectory.
- “I expect that MJ Menge is rolling over in his grave to see this deeply committed institution, separating itself from 35% of our population and 39.1% of the student body of minority members, and 63% of the female population at PSC, and interrupting the last 13 years of progress ushered in by President Meadows.”
Little Support Tiny Homes Ordinance
District 4 Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger wanted to gauge the support among her colleagues for a Tiny Homes ordinance. Not much.
Florida’s $40 Million Question: How DeSantis Used Your Tax Dollars to Fight Ballot Measures
Readers have followed the investigation into alleged money laundering involving $10 million of a medicaid settlement being funneled through the Hope Florida Foundation to a political committee fighting a marijuana amendment. SeekingRents.com has found other state agencies used tax dollars to help defeat the amendment.
IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area Announces 2025 Grant Recipients
Good news attracted readers, too. IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area announced the 12 grant recipients selected at this year’s Annual Meeting. Each will receive a grant of $103,500 from the members of IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area.
INWEEKLY
Halloween To-Do List
Getting properly spooked looks different for everybody, but we can all agree it’s a crucial part of the October experience. To get you in the spirit, here’s a curated round-up of local events happening…
Winners & Losers 10/23/25
Winners: Bill Clark—The Pensacola legal community lost one of its most influential figures last week with the passing of William (Bill) H. Clark on Oct. 10. As a founding partner of Clark Partington…
Outtakes—Lacking Business Sense
Republicans often favor candidates with strong business backgrounds. Rick Scott’s business experience was key to his success in winning the Florida governor’s office. When Republicans championed Scott’s business experience in 2010,…
Wild Times for Wild Greg’s
Three months after NAS Pensacola declared Wild Greg’s Saloon off-limits to military servicemembers, NAS lifted restrictions on access to the downtown establishment. The ban lift comes shortly after the city…
Halloween at Large
The vibe is chaos. That’s how Drew Kennedy describes his shoegaze slash post-hardcore band [glsnr]’s annual Halloween music event, GLSNRWEEN. This year might be their most ambitious yet, featuring bands Lunar
Support Our Journalism
If you like our reporting, consider buying us a cup of coffee – here. Your donation will help broaden our reporting. Thank you.
