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Katie Lee

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Let’s Heat

by Katie Lee

— By Jaime Tuinstra — How to find the right heating solution for your restaurant. After a few rough years, the restaurant industry has quickly recovered from the turbulent business environment that took hold from 2020-22. According to the National Restaurant Association, 2023 sales were forecast to reach $977 billion in the United States. In addition, it is projected that 500,000 new jobs entered the industry in 2023. That is a testament to the recovery of a resilient industry that was devastated during the COVID-19 pandemic. This winter, it will …

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Smashburger Appoints New Chief Executive Officer

by Katie Lee

Denver — Smashburger®, a leading fast-casual better burger brand, has appointed Denise Nelsen as its new chief executive officer, the company’s first female CEO. She joins the company from Starbucks. Under this new leadership, Smashburger is primed to further drive culinary innovation to enhance the guest experience, while expanding its industry footprint. “We are thrilled to welcome Denise Nelsen as Smashburger’s newest CEO. With her extensive experience and proven leadership in the food and beverage industry, she is set to propel the brand into a new era of growth,” says …

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Academy Sports + Outdoors to Open 15-17 New Stores in 2024

by Katie Lee

Katy, Texas — Academy Sports + Outdoors will open 15-17 new stores in its fiscal 2024 year, starting with two new stores in the first quarter in Knightdale, N.C., and Greenwood, Ind. The new stores are part of Academy’s plans to open 160 to 180 new stores over the next 5 years.  Half of the new stores are expected to open in markets where the retailer has an existing footprint. The remaining 80 to 90 stores are planned for new and adjacent markets, with a focus on expanding to smaller …

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construction and designenergy managementgreen building/LEEDgreen newsHVAC/RlightingNewsrestaurantswaste management/recycling

Starbucks Announces 6,000 Greener Stores Worldwide 

by Katie Lee

Seattle — Starbucks has certified 6,091 Greener Stores, nearly doubling its portfolio in the past year, and a milestone achievement toward the company’s goal of certifying 10,000 Greener Stores globally by 2025. In markets around the world, Greener Stores’ energy and water savings and waste diversion help advance the company’s goal to reduce carbon emissions, water usage and landfill waste by 50% by 2030. The company has Greener Stores in 44 markets with new markets including India, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, Bahrain, Italy, …

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Vince CEO Resigns; Interim CEO Named

by Katie Lee

New York City — Vince Holding Corp., a global contemporary retailer, has announced that Jack Schwefel has resigned as chief executive officer. The company’s board of directors has appointed David (Dave) Stefko, current director and former CFO, as interim CEO, effective immediately, and has initiated a search process to identify a permanent chief executive officer. “The board thanks Jack for his work in positioning Vince for its next chapter of growth and wishes him the best as he pursues other opportunities,” says Michael Mardy, chairman of the board. “We are …

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Toastique Opens First Texas Location

by Katie Lee

Addison, Texas — Toastique, the vibrant, artisan toast and juice café conceptualized on the East Coast, launched its first Texas storefront last month, in Addison. The new location is fueled by the family team of Penny and Mike Mrva, alongside their daughters who boast backgrounds in the nutrition and wellness industries. This collective experience ignited a passion for advocating a health-conscious world, aligning seamlessly with the mission of the Toastique franchise. “Toastique’s commitment to excellence, from presentation to operations, reflects our meticulous approach to creating a space where the values …

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CBL Properties and MINISO Partner to Expand U.S. Presence to 13 CBL Malls

by Katie Lee

Chattanooga, Tenn. — CBL Properties has executed multiple deals with global lifestyle retailer MINISO, expanding the brand’s presence to a dozen new markets in the United States. The first wave of store openings started in November 2023 at Valley View Mall in Roanoke, Va., and Hanes Mall in Winston-Salem, N.C., followed by the January 2024 opening at Coastal Grand Mall in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Throughout the rest of 2024, stores will open in the following malls and locations: • CoolSprings Galleria (Nashville, Tenn.) • Hamilton Place (Chattanooga, Tenn.) • West …

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Papa Johns Names Interim CEO

by Katie Lee

Louisville, Ky. — The president and CEO of Papa John’s International, Inc., Rob Lynch, plans to depart Papa Johns to become CEO of Shake Shack. The board has appointed Ravi Thanawala, current chief financial officer of Papa Johns, as interim CEO. To ensure a smooth transition, Lynch will provide continued support in an advisory role until April 30, 2024. The board is conducting a search to identify a successor for the CEO role. “I am confident that we have a strong leadership team in place — led by Ravi Thanawala …

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Let’s Pave Launches VIBE: Women’s Empowerment Group

by Katie Lee

Oak Brook, Ill. — National parking lot contractor Let’s Pave, as well as its commercial roofing division, Let’s Roof, have recently launched the VIBE Women’s Empowerment Group. Established by Lana Halzel, business development manager, and Ashley Kuzlik, project coordinator, VIBE provides a platform for female colleagues to network, share experiences and support each other personally and professionally. “Paving and roofing are male-dominated industries,” says Halzel. “Let’s Pave and Let’s Roof have a unique advantage in that our team is 42% women and counting. The ladies in our organization bring valuable …

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Take 5 Car Wash Names New President and SVP, Field Operations

by Katie Lee

Charlotte, N.C. — Tim Austin joins Take 5 Car Wash as president from the retail hearing healthcare company, Lucid Hearing, where he served as president and COO, helping grow the company to over 500 worldwide locations. Take 5 Oil Change also has added a senior vice president of field operations, Missy McKinley. She most recently served as senior vice president of operations for Scooter’s Coffee. “Tim is a proven multi-unit leader with more than three decades of success at some of the world’s most respected retailers,” says Danny Rivera, executive …

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