Seattle — LevelTen Energy has closed a three-project renewable energy portfolio purchased by Starbucks, comprising wind and solar farms in North Carolina, Oklahoma and Texas. The power purchase agreement portfolio will provide clean power to the electricity grids that serve more than 3,000 U.S. Starbucks stores and communities by 2021, when all three projects are online. The portfolio was purchased from developers ALLETE Clean Energy, Apex Clean Energy, BayWa r.e. and Cypress Creek Renewables. Custom-built for Starbucks using LevelTen Energy’s technology-enabled procurement platform, the portfolio aggregates three strategically-located power purchase …
— Interview with Anthony Vross — R&R: Where are you based and how long has Simon Roofing been in business? Anthony Vross: Simon Roofing is a family-owned commercial roofing company being operated today by third- and fourth-generation family members. Founded more than 100 years ago, our company is headquartered in Youngstown, Ohio. R&R: What is your title and how long have you been with Simon? Vross: Co-owner, 41 years. R&R: What trades/services do you offer retailers and restaurants? Vross: Simon Roofing’s customer list includes many large retailers and restaurants who …
— Interview with Sean Gillespie — R&R: Where are you based and how long has the company been in business? Sean Gillespie: Harrison Contracting Company began in 1995 and recently celebrated 20 years in business. Our main national office is based in Villa Rica, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta. We also have offices in Destin and Tampa, Florida, and Savannah, Georgia. R&R: What trades/services do you offer retailers and restaurants? Gillespie: We are a commercial painting contractor serving both new construction and repaint/reimage projects across all of our office …
Santee, Calif. — BLAIR SIGN PROGRAMS, a leading design/build sign and graphics company, has created a new “Comprehensive Sign Program” developed especially for new urban commercial retail and mixed-use projects. “The new urban realities require a new approach for comprehensive sign programs designed for commercial retail and mixed-use projects. It is no longer enough for a sign program to be only an exposition of static, traditional sign types. Our clients need solutions to the ‘clicks vs. bricks’ challenge in today’s retail environments,” says Scott Blair, founder of Blair Sign Programs. …
Irvine, Calif. — KTGY Architecture + Planning recently received a “special award of excellence” from the judges of the 2019 Gold Nugget Awards for its rebuilding and restoration of Anaheim White House Restaurant in Anaheim, Calif. The builder was Placa Construction Inc. Following a devastating fire, the KTGY team worked with historic restoration consultants and property owner to rebuild and restore the 1909 Colonial-style mansion and side house. A second architectural team rebuilt the kitchen and interior dining room. Careful consideration had to be made during the process as the …
Ankeny, Iowa — The board of directors of Casey’s General Stores, Inc. has appointed Darren Rebelez, president of IHOP®, as Casey’s next president and chief executive officer (CEO), effective June 24, 2019. Rebelez will also join Casey’s board of directors. He will succeed Casey’s president and CEO, Terry Handley, who will retire from the company and board, after a 38-year career with Casey’s. Rebelez joins Casey’s with over 25 years of business leadership experience focused on operations, marketing and merchandising for large corporations in each of the convenience store, fuel …
Ocala, Fla. — Beverly Hills, Calif.-based Celebrity’s Soul Food has selected Southlake, Texas-based N3 Real Estate and affiliates as its exclusive national developer and master broker for the United States. N3 will be responsible for all aspects of Celebrity’s real estate selection and development process across the country. With 200 units planned within the next 24 months, founders Dr. Fredrick Jacobs (a.k.a. Dr. J, The Counselor) and Taja Jacobs, along with their franchisee partners, will bring soul food cuisine to the nation in a classy and elegant atmosphere that treats …
Plano, Texas — J. C. Penney Company, Inc. has hired Victor Ejarque Lopez, a 25-year veteran of merchandising, product, supply chain and operations, as senior vice president, general merchandise manager for women’s apparel, reporting to Michelle Wlazlo, chief merchandising officer. He will join the company June 10. In this role, he will be responsible for overseeing and developing all of the company’s women’s apparel merchandising strategies and programs. “I am delighted to welcome Victor to our team. His appointment fills a vital component of our merchandising leadership team, and we …
Houston — Russo’s New York Pizzeria, the nation’s only chef-driven New York-style, Italian restaurant and pizzeria franchise concept, announces its latest franchise opportunity: an authentic Italian microbrewery. Conceptualized by Chef Anthony Russo, Russo’s New York Italia Pizza Kitchen & Brewery will open its first location in 2019. The innovative Pizza Kitchen & Brewery will feature Russo’s infamous Italian menu with pizza and pasta-focused dishes, as well as unique craft beers, brewed in-house. The brewery will range from 3,500 to 5,000 square feet; the new design features a full view pizza …
— By Jennifer Morris — Fast-casual concepts breathing new life into historic buildings. In the competitive restaurant industry, it’s often a challenge for concepts to break away from the pack. The dining experience and brand identity aren’t solely limited to the cuisine and culinary approach, but rather also developed through the site, decor and ambiance. Looking to differentiate themselves, many fast-casual concepts are taking the approach of choosing older, historical buildings to invest in, as opposed to commercial space that is new, modern or sleek. In the process, …