— By Jude Charles — Retailers and restaurants all around the country are slowly considering the prospect of reopening their doors as federal, state and local restrictions begin to relax. While welcoming customers and employees back to your business should be met with excitement, it’s important to consider the risks associated with gradually increasing in-person operations. If your retail store or restaurant is like many others who temporarily paused operations or reduced staff, consider the following ideas for a safer, more successful return to work. Manage Onsite Visitors Due …
Minneapolis — Minnesota-based discount retailer Target has temporarily closed six stores in four states in response to protests that turned violent over the weekend. The looting and destruction of commercial property took place in the days following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died May 25 following an encounter with Minneapolis police during which an officer knelt on his neck for several minutes. On Sunday, several other retailers, including CVS, Apple and Walmart also announced temporary closures or adjusted hours in major cities where rioting had …
Rosemont, Ill. — US Foods Holding Corp. is giving away free reopening kits to qualifying independent restaurant owners to help support restaurant reopening efforts in communities across the U.S. The reopening kits provide independent restaurant operators with must-have supplies such as masks and safety guidance posters as well as resource guides to navigate state and local COVID-19 reopening requirements and help create a safer environment for staff and customers alike. This initiative builds on the company’s ongoing commitment to providing foodservice operators with the expertise, resources and tools to help …
Philadelphia — Five Below, Inc., an extreme-value retailer for tweens, teens and beyond, has reopened 75% of its 900+ store fleet. In addition to reopening over 700 stores since April 21, Five Below has opened 40 brand new stores so far in 2020 and continues to expect to open 100 to 120 new stores this year. “We are thrilled to be in a position to have reopened over 75% of our stores with strict health and safety protocols implemented, and to have resumed our new store program,” says Joel Anderson, …
Glendale, Calif. — The board of directors of Dine Brands Global, Inc. has retained executive search firm Spencer Stuart to assist the company in identifying an individual to succeed its chief executive officer, Steve Joyce. Joyce’s employment agreement expires February 1, 2021. “I am proud of the growth that we have experienced during my tenure as chief executive officer,” says Joyce. “Since 2017, we have established and executed on strategic plans, strengthened the franchisee base, completed a $1.3 billion securitization transaction and returned significant capital to stockholders. With the occurrence …
Plano, Texas — J. C. Penney recently reopened 150 stores in 27 states, bringing the total to 304 reopened stores nationwide after temporarily closing due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Additionally, five stores are currently offering contact-free curbside pickup only. The company plans to have almost 500 reopened by June 3. “We’ve now reopened a third of our stores and plan to have nearly 500 reopened by June 3. To do this, we’re operating differently and taking a strategic and consistent approach, keeping associate and customer safety as our top …
— By Matthew Mabie — While retail & restaurant construction is considered essential business, it’s still a far cry from “business as usual.” The federal government deemed construction an essential industry during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it hasn’t been business as usual for restaurant, grocery and retail construction projects. In some states and smaller jurisdictions, construction in these particular industries is not considered essential and has been forced to stop. Where construction is permitted, many businesses have been shuttered or are operating under severely strained conditions. Our firm …
— By Aaron Birney and Lara Marrero — Returning to the store in a post-pandemic world. The retail landscape has changed dramatically in the last few weeks. Many brands went from welcoming a solid holiday season to shuttering their doors with lightning speed. Today, retailers are dealing with store closures, layoffs and the question we all have: How long will this pandemic last? Many are still recovering from the shock of the last [few months], with their focus split between safety of family and employees and the real …
Baltimore — Under Armour has laid out details for the phased reopening of its owned stores in North America. The company reopened its first U.S. stores to customers on May 15th and opened additional stores the week of May 18th. By May 29, Under Armour plans to welcome customers back to nearly 50% of its North America stores. In regular consultation with government and public health officials, the company will continue to reopen additional stores on a case-by-case basis. “We are excited to begin reopening our doors in North America. …
Cleveland, Ohio — Repair and maintenance contractors who service commercial buildings often perform all or part of their work on the roof, which presents several dangers if the roof has not been properly outfitted to prevent falls and protect the safety of workers. Legacy Roofing Services, one of the largest commercial roofing service providers in the United States, will begin offering fall prevention and safety protection as a standalone service to commercial building owners and facility managers to ensure the safety of HVAC, plumbing, electrical, maintenance, construction and other workers …