New York City — Authentic Brands Group (ABG), a global brand owner, marketing and entertainment company, has emerged as the successful bidder to purchase the intellectual property of Barneys New York (Barneys). Through this acquisition, which closed on November 1, ABG will enhance its luxury footprint and further establish its position as a leader in contemporary fashion. “We are thrilled that our offer for Barneys has been accepted,” says Jamie Salter, founder, chairman and CEO of Authentic Brands Group. “Barneys is one of the most recognizable and iconic names in …
Philadelphia — Global commercial real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield has welcomed food, beverage and hospitality industry veteran Chef Michael Traud, J.D., Ed.D., to its national Specialty F&B, Entertainment & Hospitality Consulting team. In his new role as specialty food & beverage project management director, Traud will focus on food hall development, operations and programming, strategic restaurant curation, and music and special events procurement for real estate owner and investor clients across the U.S. He will be based in Philadelphia and will work directly with consulting team leaders Phil …
Latham, N.Y. — DWM Construction & Renovation has promoted Andrew Carnes to field project manager and on-site trainer. Carnes previously served as project manager, where he was responsible for overseeing and completing projects on time and to customers’ satisfaction. Carnes joined DWM in 2017 with 11 years of construction project management experience. “Since joining DWM, Carnes has been instrumental in the expansion of DWM’s Construction & Renovation Division,” says Ryan Knapp, director, Construction & Renovation. “Carnes’s experience and solutions-focused mindset have assisted in the division’s growth into new markets.” In …
Chicago — Pinstripes, Inc., a best-in-class experiential dining and entertainment concept, has formed a partnership with Simon Property Group that includes new leases for three future locations within the Simon portfolio, in addition to its existing Clearfork development in Fort Worth, Texas (pictured), and a minority equity investment in Pinstripes. The parties have also identified several potential Pinstripes locations at various Simon assets throughout the United States, all to be announced at a later date. Pinstripes currently has 10 locations throughout the U.S., with three new openings slated for 2019 …
Brooklyn, N.Y. — The first Wegmans Food Market in New York City opened on October 27, 2019 in Brooklyn. The beloved suburban grocer, which has almost a cult-like following, debuted to a long line of fans waiting in the rain for the grand opening. The 74,000-square-foot store is located in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Named “America’s Favorite Supermarket” in a 2018 Market Force study of more than 12,800 shoppers nationwide, Wegmans is a 103-year-old family company widely recognized for its fresh, high-quality ingredients, restaurant foods, consistent low prices and incredible …
— Interview by Katie Lee — At Blink Fitness, it’s not just another gym — it’s a better approach to customers, to franchisees and to facility operations overall. As Thomas Flaherty of Blink Fitness likes to say: “There’s always a better way for everything. Find it!” In Blink, the founders seem to have created that “better way.” From understanding why people join gyms — because it makes them feel good — to utilizing technology to keep customers happy and labor demands low, the New York City-based concept differentiates itself …
Chicago — Aloha Poke Co., a fast-casual brand that 3 years ago pioneered Poke concept restaurants in the Midwest, plans to expand through franchising. Solidified already in five U.S. markets as the top spot for innovative poke bowls inspired by the popular Hawaiian diced, marinated seafood dish, Aloha Poke is targeting its next growth wave in a concentrated set of markets. The goal is to have 100 locations open and in development by 2022. At the onset of franchising, the brand will focus growth in areas where existing locations have …
Glen Allen, Va. — Hamilton Beach Brands Holding Co. will close all stores of its retail subsidiary, The Kitchen Collection, by the end of the year. Kitchen Collection employs approximately 800 people at 160 stores across 37 states. The company previously closed about 35 underperforming stores in an effort to maintain long term profitability, but higher operating losses in the first half of 2019 have prompted Hamilton Beach Brands to shutter the chain entirely. “Despite our best efforts to return Kitchen Collection to profitability through footprint consolidation, further deterioration in …
Boston — Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh, a leading fast-casual Mediterranean franchise, is coming to Boston. This will be the fast-growing brand’s first location in New England. The restaurant is opening this winter at 134 Boylston St. and will be followed by several other locations in the market. “I’m so excited to open our first location and share our fresh cuisine with Bostonians,” says Derek St. George, co-owner of the new Boston locations who will be opening the restaurants with brother and sister duo Karl and Leigha Schmidt. “Today’s consumer is very …
Mt. Angel, Ore. — Wilco, a farmer-owned cooperative, plans to open a new store in Petaluma, Calif., in May 2020. This opening will mark the retailer’s entrance into California and will expand the specialty retailer’s footprint to 22 locations on the West Coast. Committed to nurturing the passions of rural living families, the brand will occupy the former Orchard Supply Hardware space. Similar to that long-time Petaluma retailer, Wilco carries a wide range of hardware supplies alongside land, lawn, garden, livestock and pet-related products and services. The retailer plans to employ …