Happy Monday, Orlando, and welcome back to the newsletter. Expect partly cloudy skies to start the day, leading into scattered storms this afternoon. Highs will reach about 94 degrees (and they’ll likely stay that way for the next couple of weeks 🥵). Here’s what’s on deck:

• Global Tech Outage Grounds Flights at MCO

• Orlando-Based Darden Restaurants Acquires Chuy’s for $605M

Let’s dive in.

TRAVEL

Global Tech Outage Grounds Flights at MCO

What happened: A global tech outage disrupted travel at Orlando International Airport on Friday, leading to flight cancellations and delays. The outage, stemming from a faulty update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, affected numerous airlines globally (along with banks, hospitals, and other vital businesses.)

The details:

• 65 flights were canceled and 74 were delayed at MCO on Friday.

• In total, over 2,600 US flights were canceled with another 9,200 delayed.

• Airlines like Spirit, American, Delta, and United reported significant disruptions, with outlier Southwest reportedly canceling only three of its 4,390 departures.

Airport response:

• The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority noted minimal impacts on the airport itself, focusing on assisting passengers impacted by the outage.

• Spirit Airlines, MCO’s second-largest carrier, reportedly saw its Terminal A packed with travelers waiting to speak with airline reps.

Lost cause… While MCO and airlines worked to mitigate the disruption, travelers were left coping with uncertainty, with many giving up on their travels altogether.

Read more here (Orlando Sentinel)

ON THE DOCKET

What’s Happening this Week?

First, a quick recap: On Saturday, Orlando City continued their unbeaten streak with a 1-1 draw against NYCFC, while the Pride scored a late equalizer to push their Summer Cup opener to penalties. North Carolina came out on top, winning 5-4.

Coming up this week:

1. The Monroe in Creative Village is hosting a coffee cocktail competition tonight at 5 PM. The event is free to attend.

2. Margaritaville Resort Orlando is hosting Christmas in July on Thursday from 5-7 PM, with the first 500 guests receiving free margaritas. Parking and admission are free.

3. Orlando’s Parks & Rec City Showcase is on Thursday at 7 PM at the Dr. Phillips Center. The event highlights local talent, and admission is free on a first-come, first-seated basis.

BUSINESS

Orlando-Based Darden Restaurants Acquires Chuy’s for $605M

Driving the news: Headquartered in Orlando, Darden Restaurants Inc. recently announced a $605 million all-cash acquisition of Tex-Mex chain Chuy's. The deal values Chuy's at $37.50 per share, a notable premium over its recent trading price.

Quick facts:

• Integrating Chuy's will cost Darden approximately $50-55 million pre-tax.

• The acquisition brings 7,400 Chuy's employees into Darden’s fold, adding to the company’s 175,000 current employees.

• Chuy’s currently operates 101 locations (three in Orlando) across 15 states.

Darden’s growth: Darden, which operates over 1,800 restaurants including Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, ended 2024 on a high note, with plans to open 50-55 new locations. The Chuy’s acquisition is part of the co’s strategy to expand its brand portfolio by leveraging its liquidity.

Zooming out: The restaurant industry remains robust in the Orlando area, with over 1,100 food and beverage licenses approved in Central Florida from March 2023 to February 2024.

Read more here (Orlando Business Journal)

QUICK HITS

In Other News…

1. A 100-year-old downtown Orlando building recently hit the market at 49 N Orange Avenue.

2. The Smart & Safe Florida committee raised $313K in a week to legalize recreational marijuana, adding to nearly $61.5M sine 2022.

3. Numbers released on Friday showed Florida’s June unemployment rate remained steady at 3.3% for the third consecutive month.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s edition of the newsletter. See you back here tomorrow.

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