Dallas and San Francisco — PICKUP, a leading last-mile delivery service and logistics platform, has partnered with Postmates to provide retailers and brands with the ability to elegantly scale local delivery capability to meet surging demand for store-to-door delivery. PICKUP Enterprise manages the end-to-end customer experience including access to the top-rated PICKUP Good Guy network, which specializes in delivery and assembly of big and heavy goods. The partnership between PICKUP and Postmates will further expand retailer’s fulfillment capabilities for all items — from holiday décor and gifts, to furniture. “Our …
Chicago — Dickey’s Barbecue Pit unveiled its first virtual kitchen on Oct. 30 in Chicago. This model, which services guests solely through online ordering and third-party delivery, is the first of its kind to open for the Texas-based, family-owned franchise. Barbecue fans in the surrounding 10-mile area can get their Dickey’s fix by ordering delivery directly to their doorstep through www.dickeys.com or the Dickey’s app. “As an industry leader we are continually adapting our restaurant models to fit the needs of both the economic climate and the fluctuations of guest …
Austin, Texas — Quality men’s apparel brand Texas Standard has opened its first-ever retail store, located in the Hyde Park area of Austin, Texas, which also contains its corporate offices. Texas Standard is a men’s premium clothing brand designed and developed in Texas, known as the “Outfitters of the Texas Gentleman.” It offers a wide range of menswear products, including button- down shirts, polos, tees, gameday gear, accessories and its newest additions: the Tejas Guayabera and Modern Western Shirts. While the brand is offered through dozens of retail partners throughout …
Chadds Ford, Pa. — RWS Facility Services (RWS), a provider of recycling, waste and managed facilities solutions for commercial and residential businesses, has appointed Danica Sierra to the role of business development manager. Sierra brings to RWS more than 20 years in the environmental services industry and is an expert in recycling and waste, environmental compliance and disposal for commercial, healthcare and residential facilities. In her new role, Sierra will work with RWS clients on selecting and implementing cost-effective recycling, waste and facilities services. Sierra launched her career with Waste …
Nantucket, Mass. — Oath Pizza, known for serving better-for-you craft pizza at 60 locations throughout the United States, opened its first ghost kitchen on Oct. 16. The pickup and delivery-only location is located at 1308 W. Girard Ave. in Philadelphia. “We are thrilled to open our first-ever ghost kitchen to offer safe and delicious contactless pick-up and delivery options to residents of the Greater Philadelphia area,” says Drew Kellogg, CEO of Oath Pizza. “This opening is one of many unique ways we continue to pivot during these changing times. We’re …
St. Augustine, Fla. — The Spice & Tea Exchange is looking to expand its presence in New York. The gourmet spice and tea retail franchise looks to bring at least four new locations to the Empire State through franchising. The brand succeeds in markets with a vibrant population of local foodies and year-round tourists, making New York an attractive region for growth. The Spice & Tea Exchange’s current Port Jefferson, Long Island, location — undergoing plans for reopening — is a prime example of this model within a bustling area …
Canton, Mass. — Shares of Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc. rose by more than 15% on Oct. 26 as the Massachusetts-based coffee and breakfast chain moved forward with talks to be acquired by Atlanta-based Inspire Brands, the parent company of chains like Arby’s and Jimmy John’s. The New York Post reports that the deal, which would take Dunkin’ private, is valued at $8.8 billion. Dunkin’s stock price closed at $89.80 per share on Oct. 23 and peaked at $104.87 per share in trading on Oct. 26 before closing just below that …
Plano, Texas — Cinemark Holdings, Inc., one of the world’s largest and most influential movie theatre companies, has reopened five of its Alameda County, Calif., theatres as of Oct. 27. Century San Francisco Centre 9 and XD as well as multiple Santa Clara County theatres will reopen Oct. 30. These theatres, which join the 13 Cinemark and Century theatres currently open in the Greater Bay Area, will reopen with enhanced cleanliness and safety protocols, Cinemark’s exclusive Private Watch Parties and this year’s newest films. With approximately 85% of its theatres …
Newport Beach, Calif. — Year-over-year revenue for Chipotle Mexican Grill increased 14.1% to $1.6 billion for third-quarter 2020. Digital sales soared 202.5% to $776.4 million, accounting for 48.8% of sales for the period. The company’s net income was $80.2 million. Despite the sales increase, the net income is a decrease from $98.6 million in third-quarter 2019 as expenses increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to increased revenue, the Newport Beach-based fast-casual chain opened 44 new restaurants and closed three locations during the third quarter, bringing the total restaurant count …
San Francisco — Gap Inc., a longtime apparel tenant in enclosed regional malls nationwide, has announced plans to close 350 stores under its Banana Republic and Gap banners in an effort to transition focus to e-commerce and off-mall retail locations. Store closures are scheduled for completion by fiscal year 2023, which ends Feb. 1, 2024, with 75% scheduled to close in 2021. By that time, the company expects 80% of its revenue to come from e-commerce and off-mall locations, including street-front retail stores and shops in strip and outlet centers. …