construction and design

Pomona, Calif. — Apex Imaging Services has welcomed Blake Kelly to the position of business development director. He has spent over 10 years in the industry of reimaging as a vice president of national accounts and is now dedicating his expertise to Apex Imaging Services. In his previous role, Kelly created and implemented a “CEO Ready” concept to ensure high-level customer service throughout all projects. He has an extensive portfolio, including managing national accounts over $300 million worth of projects. Previously, Kelly has spent his career focusing on exterior work …

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Atlanta — Krystal unveiled its much anticipated smaller prototype at its new company location in Center Point, Ala., on January 10. The 1,700-square-foot drive-thru features the first company store opening in more than 6 years with an advanced, sleek design using a smaller footprint. There is no dining room in the new prototype. Whereas a traditional Krystal is 2,700 square feet, this prototype uses 20% less kitchen space — making it both cost-efficient and operationally strategic. Without a dining room, the design makes it convenient for hungry guests with its …

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San Leandro, Calif. — Ghirardelli Chocolate Company has started its second flagship store renovation at Ghirardelli Square. [Read about Phase I here.] The project will highlight Ghirardelli’s legacy as a U.S. chocolate pioneer and the company’s deep roots in San Francisco that date back to the 1850s. Last year, the company unveiled a completely reimagined Chocolate Experience Store, Ghirardelli’s other flagship retail space at Ghirardelli Square. The Original Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop will be closed during the renovation until its reopening in summer 2023.   Introduced in 1966, the …

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Denver — Teriyaki Madness, the Seattle-style Teriyaki Shop franchise system, is wrapping up the year at 37 new franchisees with 103 new units on tap. These openings helped the brand break into several new markets for the first time, including Louisiana, Georgia, Missouri and Massachusetts. In other words, Teriyaki Madness saw a 24% increase in open shops systemwide — growing its footprint by nearly a quarter. “People keep talking about a recession?” says Michael Haith, CEO of Teriyaki Madness. “We are closing out yet another groundbreaking year for our franchisees …

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Fairview Heights, Ill. — IMPACT Strategies has completed renovations to two retail suites for U.S. Properties Group (USPG). The space, totaling 5,721 square feet, is located between the Dollar Tree and Kohl’s stores on Beltline Road in Collinsville, Ill. Construction was completed on schedule in 3 months. The firm’s work will allow for the expansion of Dollar Tree and the creation of a new space for a future tenant (Suite A). TR,i Architects was the architect-of-record for the project. IMPACT Strategies was the original general contractor for the 19,590-square-foot retail …

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Fairview Heights, Ill. — IMPACT Strategies has promoted Derek Hinrichs from senior accountant to controller. Prior to joining IMPACT Strategies in 2021, Hinrichs spent more than 10 years at a public accounting firm where he was a tax manager and consultant. His role as controller involves a wide range of critical responsibilities in support of the company’s growth strategies. Hinrichs will oversee all financial functions of the business involved in the accounting process, including accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, budgeting, forecasting and compliance. “We are excited to see Derek move …

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— By Jason Narod —   Why it pays for your retail and restaurant facilities to be grid-interactive.     Rising costs, energy mandates, electrification trends and more prevalent power disruptions — as seen recently in California and Texas — are all trends putting the energy transition at the forefront of business stakeholder priorities. More energy demand due to mass electrification collides with needs to decarbonize existing buildings as much as possible. Commercial businesses will be disproportionately burdened by the costs and forced to adapt to these quickly changing trends …

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Phoenix — Discount Tire, a leading independent tire retailer, intends to develop a new corporate headquarters in Phoenix following the acquisition of 35 acres located near Loop 101 and State Route 51. Plans for a more than 300,000-square-foot office building and campus amenities are in the early stages. Discount Tire purchased the site at a recent Arizona State Land Department public auction. Proceeds from the sale will be invested by the state in the Permanent Land Endowment Trust Fund to benefit K-12 education in Arizona. “Our commitment is to create …

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Newport Beach, Calif. — Clean Energy Fuels Corp., the largest provider of the cleanest fuel for the transportation market, has opened another renewable natural gas (RNG) fueling station that will provide an anticipated 1.4 million gallons of the clean fuel annually for Amazon and other truck fleets in the greater Chicago area. “The addition of the Romeoville station to our fueling network represents another step in the pathway for Amazon to realize significant carbon reduction for its transportation fleets,” says Chad Lindholm, senior vice president, Clean Energy. “Trucks that operate …

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Skokie, Ill. — Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield is underway on the redevelopment of the Westfield Old Orchard shopping mall in Skokie, Ill. Plans call for retail, apartments, restaurants, gourmet markets, health and wellness amenities and entertainment space. The project will also include a park and event space designed as the center’s focal point and social gathering space. The multi-phase project began in fall 2022 with the modernization of the existing shopping center, starting with enhancements to the common areas as well as the opening of new restaurants, health and wellness components and retailers …

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