Orlando, Fla. — Orlando, Fla.-based Williams Company Southeast has started seven more Target store remodels in Florida and Texas for a total of 15 Target stores in 2019. The newest work in Florida involves stores in Brandon, Deerfield Beach, Ft. Myers, Ocala and St. Petersburg, while the Texas stores include Houston and Pearland. The scope of work includes exteriors and interiors and follows Target’s next-gen store design to further enhance the guest shopping experience. Since 1990, Williams has constructed over 100 new Target stores plus more than 200 Target store …
— By Jeff Hill — The growth of self-service kiosks presents new challenges for quick-service restaurant facilities teams. Do you like self-service kiosks, or would you prefer to interact with a human cashier when visiting your favorite quick-service restaurant (QSR)? Your answer to that question, unsurprisingly, is likely driven by your age: 18- to 24-year-olds are more than 70% likely to visit a restaurant if it had a kiosk option; 25- to 34-year-olds are 65% more likely to visit; 45- to 54-year-olds are 60% more likely; and Over 55-year-olds …
— By Robert Kravitz — What if electric hand dryers sometimes do more harm than good? The men’s room in a Chicago restaurant included a sign many of us have seen before in other restaurants, movie theaters and similar locations. Above the electric hand dryers were these words: “We hate them too. But they save trees and help us keep the restroom clean as well.” Signs like this will probably slowly disappear if for no other reason than customers have gotten used to seeing electric hand dryers in all …
Los Angeles — The Dolly Llama, a popular waffle concept that currently dominates the Los Angeles dessert-scene with its own unique take on Hong Kong’s iconic Bubble Waffle, has signed with DCV Franchise Group as its franchising partner to expand the unique and exciting brand to major media markets across the country. “Having proven ourselves by dominating the ice cream & waffle scene in one of the most competitive markets in the country, Los Angeles, we are thrilled to be working with DCV to continue to grow and expand the …
Hoffman Estates, Ill. — Sears Holdings Corp. plans to close 96 underperforming stores by February 2020, according to the retailer’s parent company, Transform Holdco LLC. The closings will consist of 51 Sears stores and 45 Kmart stores, leaving 182 operational Sears and Kmart stores remaining in the United States. The closing stores are scattered throughout all regions of the country, including 28 located in California. A full list of store closures can be found here. “Since purchasing substantially all the assets of Sears Holdings Corp. in February 2019, Transformco has …
Atlanta — This is it! Southern Kitchen and BBQ, an Atlanta-based Southern home-style restaurant brand, has launched its franchising program and signed professional NBA player Paul Millsap as its first area developer for Greater Atlanta. The newly revamped Southern food brand has also appointed Tamala Fowler as its CEO and partnered with renowned BBQ restaurateur and Food Network star Pat Neely to assist in recipe development and new menu offerings. This Is It! was founded more than 35 years ago by the Anthony family, which has a rich, 80-year history …
San Francisco — Gap Inc.’s president and chief executive officer, Art Peck, will step down from his position and from the company’s board. Peck will leave Gap after a brief transition. Effective immediately, Robert J. Fisher, the company’s current non-executive chairman of the board, will also serve as president and CEO on an interim basis. Additionally, the board has appointed Bobby Martin, chair of its compensation and management development committee, as lead independent director. “On behalf of the entire board, I want to thank Art for his many contributions to …
Woonsocket, R.I. — CVS Health plans to close 22 underperforming drugstores during the first quarter of 2020. The pharmacy chain is shifting its model to provide more healthcare services. In its third quarter results of 2019, the Rhode Island-based drugstore giant reported a 36.5% increase in revenue from $47.3 billion in 2018 to $64.8 this year. During 2018, CVS closed 46 underperforming stores and acquired health insurance and Medicare company Aetna for approximately $70 billion. The integrated companies moved forward with major asset redevelopments, including a “hub-and-spoke” model wherein smaller …
Kansas City, Mo. — Service Management Group (SMG), a global customer, patient and employee experience management provider to more than 500 brands, has hired customer experience practitioner and thought leader Brian Dennis as senior vice president, retail customer engagement. He will collaborate with major retailers to change the way they do business, using customer feedback to deliver actionable insights across their enterprise. Dennis has more than 20 years of experience in customer feedback and retail management at Kohl’s Department Stores, Albertsons and SUPERVALU. As a best-selling author and keynote speaker …
Reading, Pa. — Ambius, the global leader in creating enhanced commercial spaces and North America’s largest interior landscape organization, has acquired Marshall Gardens of Lake Oswego, Ore., and Glenn’s Greenery of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. These acquisitions expand the Ambius presence in the Pacific Northwest and Florida markets to better serve a growing customer base, and further cement Ambius as the nationwide provider of interior landscapes. The deals were finalized in August and September, respectively; terms were not disclosed. Marshall Gardens was founded in 2009 by Abigail Marshall and Patrick Alexander. …