Author

Katie Lee

construction and designNewsretailers

La-Z-Boy Completes New Store Openings & Acquisitions

by Katie Lee

Monroe, Mich. — La-Z-Boy Incorporated, a global leader in the retail and manufacture of residential furniture, has completed its previously announced acquisition of two La-Z-Boy stores in New Orleans. This acquisition continues the recent expansion in both acquisitions and new company-owned store openings across the U.S. including in Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Colorado and Arizona. The company-owned store count has grown to 237, which is an all-time high. Over the last 12 months through fiscal 2027 Q1, the company has added 32 new company-owned stores, including 14 that …

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Newspeoplerestaurants

Snooze Eatery Appoints New COO as Brand Nears 70 Locations

by Katie Lee

Denver — Snooze Eatery has named Amy Hom chief operating officer, effective Sept. 28. With more than two decades of restaurant and hospitality experience, Hom has led operations for some of the industry’s most recognized brands. At Snooze, Hom will lead restaurant operations and work closely with field leaders and teams across the organization to elevate hospitality, strengthen operational accountability and ensure restaurants have the tools and support to deliver an exceptional guest experience. Her appointment represents an intentional investment in experienced operational leadership. “Amy understands that great restaurant operations …

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disaster recoveryfacilities managementfire protectionIndustry Voiceskitchen exhaust/grease controlrestaurantsvendors

Grease Happens

by Katie Lee

— By Lauren McCormick — Why smart facilities stay ahead of the mess. There is a lot to love about a great restaurant — the food, the atmosphere, the satisfied customers. But behind every busy kitchen is something most people never think about: the grease trap. It is not glamorous and when ignored, it quickly becomes everyone’s problem. What Is a Grease Trap, and Why Does It Matter? A grease trap is a device that catches fats, oils and grease (often called FOG) before they flow into the city’s sewer …

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construction and designNewsretailers

Barnes & Noble to Open New Store in Atlanta

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — On Oct. 21, Barnes & Noble will open its newest Atlanta bookstore in the neighborhood of Toco Hills. The new Atlanta store will be located in the Toco Hills Shopping Center in a space formerly occupied by Westside Market. Barnes & Noble has had its share of drama in Atlanta recently. In August, it was forced to close its historic and much-loved bookstore in Cumberland. More happily, it reopened in Edgewood in July, bringing back a bookstore to the neighborhood in which it closed in 2022, and the …

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construction and designNewspeople

Integrate Construction Partners Hires Director of Construction Operations 

by Katie Lee

St. Louis — Integrate Construction Partners has hired Shane Miller as director of construction operations. He will be responsible for the daily management, coordination and completion of all active construction projects. Miller will work with all project teams to ensure that projects are completed on schedule in accordance with Integrate’s quality standards and goals. “Shane will play a proactive role in shaping Integrate’s direction, policies and strategic planning as a member of our management team,” says Scott Zola, president of Integrate. “He will also aid in the development, refinement and …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Hawaiian Bros Signs 52-Unit Development Agreement to Enter Florida

by Katie Lee

Florida — Hawaiian Bros Island Grill, a fast-growing, island-inspired restaurant concept, has signed a 52-unit development agreement with Southern Rock Restaurants, LLC/Southern Rock Hawaii, LLC. The deal marks the brand’s entry into Florida, with Southern Rock planning to develop the 52 restaurants across Jacksonville, Gainesville, Tampa and Orlando during the next 6 years, including 24 restaurants planned in the next 3 years. Leading the development is Southern Rock CEO Max Piet, a restaurant industry veteran with more than 35 years of experience and extensive knowledge of building and running multi-unit …

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Newsremodelsretailers

Spirit Christmas to Open Seasonal Stores in 44 Locations

by Katie Lee

Egg Harbor Township, N.J. — Spirit Christmas is back for its third season, bringing holiday magic to 44 locations across 15 states, from New England to Florida and west to the Great Lakes. “The holidays are so much more than what’s under the tree. They’re about the traditions families return to year after year and the magic of creating new ones,” says Kym Sarkos, executive vice president of Spirit. “Spirit Christmas was created to celebrate that feeling. From decorating your home and trimming the tree to family game nights and …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsremodelsrestaurants

Subway® Unveils Blueprint, a Reimagined Restaurant and Brand Experience for EMEA

by Katie Lee

Amsterdam — Subway® has unveiled Blueprint, a reimagined restaurant and brand experience that modernizes how guests order and eat to support growth across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Beginning on Jan. 1, 2027, every new Subway restaurant and remodel in the region will be built to Blueprint, the centerpiece of the company’s multi-year business strategy. The concept began with listening to guests and franchisees. The result is a blueprint for how Subway and its restaurants will look, work and feel as the brand continues to grow. Blueprint covers …

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Newspeopleretailers

Follett Higher Education Names New Chief of Stores

by Katie Lee

Westchester, Ill. — Follett Higher Education, a leading educational service provider and the largest campus retailer in North America, has named Roger Francis as its new chief of stores. He brings more than 25 years of executive experience leading transformation across retail, healthcare, foodservice and distribution. In his new role, Francis will lead the teams that operate Follett’s 1,000+ retail locations, focusing on creating exceptional customer experiences for the students, faculty, fans and alumni Follett serves through its partnerships with campuses across the U.S. and Canada. Francis succeeds Stephen Bone, …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Dave’s Hot Chicken Opens 500th Restaurant

by Katie Lee

Pasadena, Calif. — Dave’s Hot Chicken opened its 500th restaurant, in Phoenix, on Oct. 8. The growing brand had reached its 400th restaurant earlier in 2026; shortly after, the brand opened a record eight restaurants in a single day in April across markets from Connecticut to Utah. In total, Dave’s has added approximately 100 restaurants since April. What started in 2017 as a late-night pop-up, Dave’s made the leap to brick-and-mortar within months, eventually catching the attention of Wetzel’s Pretzels co-founder Bill Phelps, who partnered with the founders to begin …

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