Author

Katie Lee

St. Petersburg, Fla. — Foot Locker, Inc., a leading footwear and apparel retailer (previously) based in New York City, has signed a 110,998-square-foot, long term office lease to relocate its global headquarters to 570 Carillon Parkway, a premier Class A office property in St. Petersburg, Fla. The building is owned by The Feil Organization, a premier national real estate investment firm. “We’re thrilled to learn that Foot Locker has secured its move to St. Petersburg with a major presence in the Carillon area,” says Kenneth T. Welch, the mayor of …

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Louisville, Ky. — The chief executive officer of Yum! Brands, Inc., David Gibbs, has informed the board of directors of his intention to retire from the company in the next year. He has been with Yum! for 36 years and its CEO since January 2020. The board has established a succession planning committee and will work deliberately to identify and appoint the best candidate to lead the company’s next chapter. Gibbs will continue leading the company throughout the search process until his retirement, expected in the first quarter of 2026. …

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Katy, Texas — Academy Sports + Outdoors has surpassed 300 stores after opening its first locations in York, Pa., Harrisburg, Pa., and Hagerstown, Md. These stores also mark Academy’s first locations in Pennsylvania and Maryland, increasing the retailer’s footprint to 21 states. In addition, Academy opened a new store in Kansas City, Mo., in March, and will open another new location in Charlotte, N.C., in April. The company plans to open a total of 20-25 new stores in its 2025 fiscal year. “Academy’s continued new store expansion reinforces our commitment …

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Dallas — Joe Hummel, chief executive officer, and Clay Mingus, chief legal officer, both intend to resign from Twin Hospitality Group Inc., the parent company of Twin Peaks Restaurant. The date of their departures will be effective April 10, 2025. Ken Kuick, chief financial officer, has been appointed interim CEO, and Allen Sussman, general counsel of FAT Brands Inc., has been appointed interim chief legal officer. “We would like to thank Joe and Clay for all that they have done for Twin Peaks over the last 14 years,” says Kuick. …

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Grand Rapids, Mich. — Meijer plans to open a new neighborhood market, called Independence Market, in the Independence Township of Clarkston, Mich., on April 30. The new 50,000-square-foot market will serve customers from Clarkston and all of Independence Township, including the new Waldon Village development. “Independence Market is committed to serving our new neighbors with value and convenience that makes it easy to get in and out quickly,” says Robert Lajcaj, store director of Independence Market. “Our team has been working hard to get the store ready to open with …

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Denver — REGO Restaurant Group, a leading fast-casual restaurant platform, has named Neel Patel as chief executive officer to lead Quiznos, the quick-service sandwich chain, and Taco del Mar, a fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in coastal Mexican cuisine. He joins the group from Church’s Texas Chicken. Previously, Patel served as senior vice president, strategy & growth at Church’s Texas Chicken. He brings a wealth of experience in business transformation, growth strategy and commercial excellence, positioning him to drive the brands’ continued expansion and innovation. “Both Quiznos and Taco del Mar …

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New York City — Foot Locker, Inc. has named Franklin R. Bracken, currently its executive vice president and chief commercial officer, to the role of president, effective immediately. Bracken will continue reporting to Mary Dillon, Foot Locker, Inc.’s chief executive officer. In his new role, Bracken will work alongside Dillon to accelerate the execution of the Lace Up Plan, the company’s strategy to elevate the omni-retail experience, enhance productivity and create long term shareholder value. Bracken will also continue to oversee global retail operations, merchandising, marketing, digital, loyalty and real …

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Dallas — Nearly 20 years after cementing a spot in pop culture history thanks to a beloved group of employees at a fictitious Pennsylvania paper company, Chili’s® Grill & Bar is opening its doors to the Chili’s “Scranton Branch” on April 7. The brand-new, permanent restaurant will pay homage to some of Chili’s most notable on-screen moments, with throwback nods and decor, in addition to being the only Chili’s location to include the fan-favorite Awesome Blossom® on menus. “For decades, Chili’s has inserted itself in culture — introducing the now-famous …

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— By Katie Lee — Krystal sets the stage for new growth by focusing on fundamentals: people, processes and prototypes. Atlanta-based Krystal, the second-oldest fast-food chain in the U.S. — and the original home of the slider in the South — is forging a comeback. As it modernizes with new store layouts, technologies and processes, the heritage QSR brand also honors its 92-year history by embracing its roots and prioritizing “good old-fashioned hospitality” and people-first strategies. Leading this brand reinvention is Amanda Hyde, who was promoted to senior vice president …

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Atlanta — NCR Voyix Corporation, a leading global provider of digital commerce solutions, has appointed Nick East as its new chief product officer, effective immediately. In this key executive leadership position, East will oversee product innovation and marketing across the company’s broad technology product portfolio. “Nick’s achievements in driving innovation uniquely position him to lead our product team as we focus on delivering leading products and features to meet our customers’ needs,” says Jim Kelly, NCR Voyix’s chief executive officer. “Nick has the right experience to ensure product remains at …

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