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Former PepsiCo President and entrepreneur Derek Lewis has added another franchise to his portfolio. Lewis secured a deal with Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks, granting him ten locations in Central Florida, AFROTECH™ previously told you. He is also the restaurant’s first franchisee, which Derrick Hayes founded. According to information shared with AFROTECH™, Lewis celebrated the grand opening of two locations at Camping World Stadium in November 2024. “This expansion represents our commitment to bringing authentic Philly-style cheesesteaks to sports and entertainment venues across Florida,” said Derek Lewis in a news release. “We’re creating more than just restaurants; we’re building community gathering spots where food brings people together.” More recently, Lewis partnered with Philly Pretzel Factory and is spearheading its expansion throughout the Orlando area. “Soft pretzels are woven into Philadelphia’s cultural fabric, and I’ve craved their distinctive taste since childhood,” said...
College basketball coach Leonard Hamilton is being sued for allegedly defrauding several players. According to Yahoo! Sports, former Florida State University (FSU) basketball players Darin Green Jr., Josh Nickelberry, Primo Spears, Cam’Ron Fletcher, De’Ante Green, and Jalen Warley have filed a lawsuit against their former coach. The players claim Hamilton owed them $1.5 million in total through name, image, and likeness (NIL) payments. They say he made promises of payments starting in April 2023, when he held a meeting and allegedly told the players they would receive compensation of $250,000 each. The money was expected to be disbursed by March 2024, but the players claim those funds never materialized even though he continued to assure them that they would be paid. “Every player on the 2023-24 FSU men’s basketball team roster relied on the promises that Hamilton made when they either decided to transfer to FSU or remain enrolled at FSU and play out the season,” the suit said, per...
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have been vital in offering quality education, fostering leadership, and promoting cultural heritage within the African American community. Florida is home to several HBCUs that have made significant contributions to higher education and the development of their students. These institutions provide a diverse range of programs, helping to prepare students for successful careers in various fields. Florida A&M University (FAMU) Florida A&M University (FAMU), located in Tallahassee and established in 1887, is one of the most notable HBCUs in Florida. It offers a wide array of programs, including pharmacy, journalism, agriculture, and engineering. FAMU has recently expanded its STEM offerings by introducing graduate degrees in aerospace engineering , starting in the fall of 2025, through a partnership with Florida State University. This initiative aims to prepare students for careers in aerospace and defense. Additionally, FAMU offers...
Entrepreneur Victor G. Harvey is behind what could be Florida’s first Black-owned distillery. According to a press release, Harvey has secured a $2.45 million loan issued by Fort Lauderdale’s Community Redevelopment Agency to create the Victory Entertainment Complex project, which will house various Black-owned businesses. The venture will cost about $6 million to build, and Harvey plans to support the rest of the cost through his personal investments. The two-story, 15,000-square-foot facility is projected to take 16 months to complete and will include a restaurant, cigar bar, whiskey lounge, event space, a rooftop bar, lounge, and a craft distillery named The Old Sistrunk Distillery, which Harvey believes to be the first Black-owned distillery in Florida. The craft distillery will include products from his company Victor George Spirits, such as VG Vodka, which is available in 44 states at retailers like Total Wine, Kroger, and Trader Joe’s. “This will bring the Black community a...
Keith Lee is back with another food review, but this one is special because it hits home. According to Dexerto, the beloved TikTok food reviewer left fans stunned after sharing a video of him testing out his brother’s new restaurant, Braised by Kevin Lee, located in Florida. “Me and my family are in Hollywood, Florida and the food in this bag is from my brother’s restaurant,” Keith said in the May 27 video. “When I say my brother, I mean the same mom and dad. But I didn’t order it and he doesn’t know we’re here.” @keith_lee125 Braised By Kevin Lee taste test 💕 would you try it ? 💕 #foodcritic @Kevin Lee ♬ original sound – Keith Lee What’s more, before their foray into the food business, both of the Lee brothers were heavy in the competitive martial arts world. Keith spent a good amount of his life as a Bellator MMA fighter, and Kevin gained a lot of attention in the UFC before retiring in July 2023. “We all lived in [Las Vegas, NV] but he moved to Miami and opened his own pop-up,”...
A first-of-its-kind NIL lawsuit is brewing. Forbes reports that Jaden Rashada is suing Hugh Hathcock and his business, Velocity Automotive; University of Florida football coach Billy Napier; and Florida’s NIL director, Marcus Castro-Walker, for alleged “fraud, negligence, and interference.” As previously shared by AFROTECH™, Rashada was initially committed to the University of Miami in Florida for a reported $9.5 million deal. However, in 2023, he pivoted to signing with the Florida Gators for $13.85 million, but the Gator Collective ultimately terminated the binding agreement. After the failed deal, Rashada moved on to Arizona State University and most recently transferred to the University of Georgia as quarterback. Now, Forbes details that Rashada has sued Hathcock, Napier, and Castro-Walker for allegedly causing him to not only lose out on the Miami deal but also potential offers from other colleges and universities. Moreover, he is seeking punitive damages. In Rashada’s...
Florida A&M University (FAMU) will be taking more strides to diversify student education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). According to the Tallahassee Democrat, the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) will be adding new graduate degrees in aerospace engineering beginning in fall 2025 . The decision was solidified during a virtual Academic and Student Affairs Committee meeting held on May 20, 2024, with the introduction of a master’s degree and a Ph.D. program in aerospace engineering through the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. The joint engineering college with Florida State University is the only shared school of its kind. The degree offerings will also support the mission to increase education and degrees in STEM fields at FAMU in accordance with the Florida Board of Governors. The hope is that students will be qualified to pursue careers in aerospace and defense, space missions, manufacturing, spacecraft operations, and architectural...
Excellence is in the DNA for twin sisters Llayna and Saniah Maul. According to WTXL-27, the sisters have been named valedictorian and salutatorian of Amos B. Godby High School Class of 2024 in Tallahassee, FL. “It’s just been both of us trying really hard at school,” valedictorian Llayna said, per the outlet. The accomplishments were driven by the sisters’ respect for education and their teachers. Llayna commented, “They’re dedicating their lives to be able to teach you. It’s worthwhile to just focus and pay attention and really put forth that effort to make them proud.” While the twins are set to walk the stage, they are already preparing for their journey ahead. They are currently enrolled in classes at Tallahassee Community College so they can have a head start on their studies in college. “I don’t work for the A or the high GPA, I work just so I can be the best I can be,” Saniah expressed , per WTXL-27. As for their motivation to continue striving for greatness, the sisters...
The humble beginnings of Herman Moore were not going to stop him from achieving greatness, even beyond his playing days in the National Football League (NFL). According to Detroit Free Press, the former Detroit Lions player was taught by his mother the habit of looking at life from a broader perspective, a practice he maintained even in the face of financial difficulties. “She had me at 21 and worked so many jobs,” Moore told the outlet about growing up in Danville, VA. He continued, “We were a low-income family. We lived on less than $18,000 a year. But she made sure my sister and I always knew the endgame. We lived in government housing and were on food stamps, but that is not an excuse to not excel in life and to also help others.” Moore would lay his own foundation for generational wealth-building in 1991 after being drafted to the Detroit Lions and signing a three-year $2.4 million contract with the team, which included a $1.2 million signing bonus, according to Spotrac. Moore...
The shine of Amanda Gorman’s work can’t be dimmed. Following a Florida school banning “The Hill We Climb,” sales have skyrocketed for the presidential inauguration poem as well as the poet’s “Call Us What We Carry” and “Change Sings,” according to Variety. The pieces of work have even taken over Amazon’s best-seller list. Plus, the pre-order for Gorman’s upcoming children’s book “Something, Someday” is No. 2 on Amazon’s list of best-selling new releases in children’s books on prejudice and racism, as of this writing.
