Author

Katie Lee

— By George Lessmeister —   We all know the quote, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” It can readily be applied to the current job market. Employers are desperate to find new team members and having a hard time staffing. Has your leadership team stopped to ask to refocus and find ways to retain current staff? Our staffing team works with business owners in the hospitality, franchisee, retail and warehousing markets in over 40 cities across the country. Staff have heard …

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— By Chad Gore —   Proactive steps to prevent rodent infestations in your facilities this winter.     As retail and restaurant facilities prepare for increased foot traffic over the holiday season, it is imperative for store operators to familiarize themselves with the signs of rodent infestations. If not properly monitored, rats and mice seeking shelter from cold temperatures can lead to costly structural damage, health and safety hazards, product contamination and a negative brand reputation. Facility managers can use these essential tips to understand the facts, anticipate the …

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— By Bryan Campbell —   When developing on potentially contaminated property, you can protect your new building from VOCs with a vapor barrier.     Historically, the term “vapor intrusion” was discussed only in association with the most heavily contaminated properties. Now, with the emergence of new stricter guidelines, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and many state regulatory agencies identify vapor intrusion as a major driver on many sites, including those with little to no soil or groundwater contamination. In some cases, potential vapor intrusion is not …

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San Leandro, Calif. — Ghirardelli Chocolate Company plans to renovate its flagship location in San Francisco’s iconic Ghirardelli Square. The project is led by Bay Area-based design firm Eight Inc., with all three Ghirardelli spaces within Ghirardelli Square being updated in a three-phase project slated to be finished by 2024. At least two of the three spaces, along with a pop-up shop, will be open throughout the entire process. “We can’t wait to unveil the first refreshed Ghirardelli Square space later this spring. Our flagship locations in Ghirardelli Square are …

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Fort Worth, Texas — Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream (Chill-N), the made-to-order nitrogen ice cream pioneer, is planning the construction and buildout of its first-ever store in Texas. The new Fort Worth Chill-N is set to open in the next several months at 2473 South Hulen St. in the Stonegate Crossing shopping plaza just down from Trader Joe’s. The new store is owned and operated by local resident and entrepreneur Harold Gernsbacher. “We’re ice cream, yogurt, alternative milk and toppings loving locals that live and breathe Fort Worth,” says Gernsbacher. “I …

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New York City — As part of its expansion plans and commitment to bringing a new kind of retail to young families nationwide, CAMP, The Family Experience Company, will open its newest location at Burlington Mall in Burlington, Mass. The retailer will bring its unique combination of play, product and programming, along with interactive-themed experiences that delight kids and adults alike. This will be CAMP’s eighth store and the first of many new brick-and-mortar locations set to open in 2022, including a flagship store in Los Angeles in early spring. Opening …

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Fayetteville, Ark. — Slim Chickens made brand history in 2021 by closing out the year with more signed development deals and openings than ever before. The past year, the brand celebrated a number of milestones including its 150th store opening, entered 65 new markets with development deals and had close to 40 openings. It also inked 350 signed agreements, bringing the total units in development to 750. On top of the rapid franchise growth, Slim Chickens also had a 25% positive comp store sales growth — in fact, the brand …

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Hartland, Wis. — The nation’s largest and fastest-growing battery, light bulb, key fob and phone repair franchise, Batteries Plus, has solidified a record-breaking year in 2021. Significant fourth quarter growth caps off 12 months of success for the retail brand which brought a total of 88 signings through multi-unit agreements and organic growth with current franchisees. Twenty-two new stores opened during 2021. Included in the 88 new store agreements were many multi-unit signings, including a 10-unit signing for Nevada and Utah; another 10-unit deal in Texas and Louisiana; an 8-unit …

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Toronto — Redberry Restaurants has promoted Christian Racine to the position of chief operation officer (COO), effective immediately. He will provide companywide leadership to the Operations, Marketing and Development teams, as well as provide his vision and guidance on Redberry’s strategic direction. “Christian is a passionate QSR veteran who is uniquely qualified to help Redberry achieve its vision to be Canada’s largest and fastest growing multi-unit QSR Franchisee,” says Ken Otto, CEO of Redberry Restaurants. “This announcement is a testament to Christian’s breadth of knowledge and commitment to excellence. We …

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Norcross, Ga. — Hera Lighting is welcoming Arthur Rollmann as its new regional sales manager. He will cover the North Central region as well as other key accounts. Rollmann lived and worked most of his life in Mönchengladbach, Germany, before moving to Atlanta in 2016. He is fluent in English, German and Russian. “Combining his MBA with significant industrial sales experience, Arthur brings considerable talent to Hera Lighting and our customers. We are delighted to have him on our team,” says Brad Stewart, executive vice president of sales for Hera …

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