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construction and design

construction and designNewspeopleretailers

Books-A-Million Names Real Estate Leadership Promotions

by Katie Lee

Birmingham, Ala. — At Books-A-Million, Rick Franz has been promoted to executive vice president of real estate, while Jack Fleming has been promoted to vice president of real estate. The company has also welcomed Pete Turner to the team as real estate manager. Since joining Books-A-Million, Franz has made significant contributions to our stores and our team, bringing strategic insight and leadership to the real estate department. In his new role, Franz will continue to shape the future of Books-A-Million’s store positioning and growth. Fleming has been a valued member …

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construction and designNewsretailers

Wayfair Accelerates Retail Expansion with New York Metro Location

by Katie Lee

Boston — Wayfair Inc., the destination for all things home, plans to open its next large-format retail store in Yonkers, N.Y., in early 2027. The news comes as the company celebrates the 1-year anniversary of its inaugural large-format store in Wilmette, Ill. — a milestone that underscores Wayfair’s growing success in physical retail and its evolving omnichannel strategy. The Yonkers announcement follows the previously revealed plans for Wayfair’s Atlanta store, slated to open in 2026. “Over the past year, we’ve seen firsthand how a thoughtfully designed physical store can deepen …

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construction and designenergy managementgreen building/LEEDgreen newsHVAC/RIndustry Voicesretailersvendors

Navigating a Changing Climate

by Katie Lee

— By Kyle Klahre — The world of refrigeration is rapidly changing — here’s what grocers need to know. Refrigeration systems in the U.S. are rapidly evolving due to new government regulations affecting residential, commercial and industrial systems. To understand current changes, it’s helpful to look back at the history of refrigerant regulation. This regulatory journey can be traced back to the middle of the 1980s. The Baby Boomer and Generation X readers likely remember hearing NASA discovered a hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica. Well, the cause of …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Sweet Paris Debuts in Arkansas and Missouri with 4-Unit Agreement

by Katie Lee

Rogers, Ark. — Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café, a restaurant brand serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and specializing in sweet and savory crêpes, hot drinks and more, is expanding its national presence by entering two new states: Arkansas and Missouri. In a four-unit signed agreement, two restaurants will be opening in Arkansas metropolitan cities, and two restaurants will be opening in Kansas City, Mo. The first restaurant is slated to open in fall 2025, at Pinnacle Hills Promenade in Rogers, Ark. Pinnacle Hills Promenade is a luxury retail lifestyle center …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Nothing Bundt Cakes Marks 700th Bakery Milestone

by Katie Lee

Dallas — Nothing Bundt Cakes is celebrating the opening of its 700th bakery, located in Rosenberg, Texas. The Dallas-based company has grown to the nation’s largest specialty cake company with locations throughout more than 40 states and Canada. The brand has ambitious plans to open its 1,000th location by 2027. Nothing Bundt Cakes opened 101 bakeries in 2024 and is on pace to do the same this year as this bakery opening is the 40th in 2025. The brand is on track to become one of the highest-growth companies in …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsremodelsrestaurants

Huddle House Unveils Brand Renovation, Including New Drive-Thru Prototype

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Huddle House, an iconic family dining brand for the last 60 years, is undergoing a transformative evolution. Under the leadership of CEO James O’Reilly and Chief Operating Officer Blain Shortreed, the brand unveils a reimagined brand identity that includes a trio of new restaurant prototypes to accelerate the brand’s geographic expansion. “As we celebrate 60 incredible years, we lay the foundation for the next 60 in a big way, stepping confidently into our evolution,” says James O’Reilly, CEO of Ascent Hospitality Management, the parent company of Huddle House. …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsremodelsrestaurants

Moe’s Southwest Grill Marks 25th Anniversary with 4 Straight Years of Growth

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — This May, Moe’s Southwest Grill®, one of the seven brands within the GoTo Foods platform company, unveils a record-breaking average unit volume (AUV) of $1,235,422 in 2024, showcasing 4 consecutive years of growth. It is also the brand’s 25th anniversary. Under the recent leadership of its chief brand officer, Mike Smith, who was appointed in October 2024, Moe’s continues to revolutionize the fast-casual Mexican dining space. Key Initiatives Driving Significant Brand Evolution: • Strengthening Franchise Development: Over the past year, Moe’s opened 15 new locations across the country. …

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construction and designNewsretailers

Bob’s Discount Furniture to Open 20 New Stores in 2025, Including Debuts in Vermont and North Carolina

by Katie Lee

Manchester, Conn. — Bob’s Discount Furniture plans to open 20 new stores in 2025, further expanding its presence in the U.S. The new locations will include Bob’s first-ever stores in Vermont and North Carolina. Among the 20 stores, six will be located in North Carolina, marking Bob’s entry into the Southeast. Its Vermont location in Williston will be Bob’s first in the state, reinforcing the company’s strong ties to the Northeast, where it was founded in 1991. “We’re excited to bring our on-trend assortment of furniture, mattresses and home accents …

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construction and designNewspeoplerestaurants

Local Kitchens Names New CEO; Plans to Open First L.A. Location in June

by Katie Lee

San Francisco — Local Kitchens, a category-defining restaurant brand known for its menu collaborations with award-winning chefs, has appointed Jay Gentile as its new chief executive officer. This leadership transition comes as its co-founders, Andrew Munday and Jon Goldsmith, step away from day-to-day operations, with Goldsmith continuing as chairman of the board. Gentile brings a wealth of experience in scaling and evolving restaurant brands, most recently leading Veggie Grill and its family of concepts. With a deep background in operations and market expansion, he successfully introduced and grew Caffè Nero …

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construction and designNewsretailerssoftware/technologyvendors

Walmart, Alquist 3D Complete Second 3D-Concrete Build in Alabama

by Katie Lee

Huntsville, Ala. — Walmart Inc. and Alquist 3D LLC, in partnership with FMGI, Inc., have completed the team’s second groundbreaking 3D concrete printing (3DCP) build that sets a new industry record for speed of commercial construction. The walls of the 5,000-square-foot expansion at Walmart Supercenter #5197 outside Huntsville, Ala., were “printed” in just 75 hours, significantly faster than traditional CMU (cement masonry unit) building methods. “In a commercial construction world that pays so much attention to project timelines and costs, our work with Walmart shows that 3D printing isn’t just …

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