Cover Story

Unlimited Access

by Katie Lee March 22, 2023

— By Hayden Spiess — Wild Birds Unlimited offers backyard bird feeding retail for an increasingly diverse customer base, with a growing flock of franchised locations. Jim Carpenter’s aspirations were not always avian in nature. The founder and CEO of Wild Birds Unlimited originally had his sights set on medical school. However, in 1981 he pivoted, opening the first Wild Birds Unlimited store in Indianapolis, driven by a passion for nature and birding. This same passion unites Wild Bird Unlimited store owners, managers and customers across the …

March 22, 2023

construction and design Cover Story From The Magazine remodels restaurants software/technology

Variety Show

by Katie Lee February 23, 2023

— Interview with Eduardo Luz — Panera puts on a show with several new design formats catering to the needs of an increasingly digital and off-premise guest. If variety is the spice of life, the many evolving iterations of Panera these days is keeping its real estate and construction game pretty hot. Currently boasting more than 2,100 bakery-cafes (in 48 states and Ontario, Canada), Panera operates under the Panera Bread® or Saint Louis Bread Co.® names; roughly half of these cafes are company-owned. Never a brand to sit …

February 23, 2023

Cover Story From The Magazine retailers

Customer First

by Katie Lee January 12, 2023

— By Katie Lee — David’s Bridal exists for magical moments — and puts customers front and center its new store format. In November 2022, David’s Bridal announced plans to debut a new store format systemwide, following a hugely successful soft launch of this concept earlier in the year in select locations, including Torrance, California; West Chester Township, Ohio; Lexington, Kentucky; and Cool Springs, Tennessee. The Conshohocken, Pennsylvania-based bridal retailer reopened 25 stores in 2022 and anticipates an estimated 30 new format stores will open in 2023 …

January 12, 2023

construction and design Cover Story franchise development From The Magazine restaurants

Out To Brunch

by Katie Lee December 7, 2022

— Interview with Jeff Sturgis — Another Broken Egg Cafe understands that people crave more in-person, meaningful experiences post-pandemic — and its new “New South” prototype meets people exactly where they want to be. Even before the pandemic, Another Broken Egg Cafe had a sense of where the industry was headed, and what its customers would want. In 2019, it launched a new prototype designed to elevate the in-person brunch experience, with an expanded outdoor patio, as well as a more robust off-premise dining business. The decisions …

December 7, 2022

construction and design Cover Story From The Magazine retailers

Macy’s New Markets

by Katie Lee November 9, 2022

— By Katie Lee — To meet today’s retail consumers where they are, Macy’s offers a new smaller store format, expanded digital conveniences, and sustainable operations. Macy’s, the venerable New York-based department store chain we all know and love, is more than its storied 150-year history, more than its omnipresence in malls all over America, more than its countless Christmas tree lightings and Thanksgiving Day parades in New York and The Miracle on 34th Street movie. It’s a steady leader during unsteady times, an agent of change in a …

November 9, 2022

Cover Story From The Magazine people restaurants

Leading Ladies

by Katie Lee October 7, 2022

— By Paige Ward — Women who lead from executive-level positions are bringing much needed diversity, strength and stability to a rebounding restaurant industry during uncertain times. With the quick-service restaurant industry drastically shifting as a result of post-pandemic consumer trends, many brands are searching for innovative ideas that will keep up with the rapid change of pace. Four brands — Mongolian Concepts, Wetzel’s Pretzels, On the Border and Salata — are altering the very way their corporate suites think by diversifying their teams to place more …

October 7, 2022

Cover Story From The Magazine retailers

Keeping Up With Kohl’s

by Katie Lee August 30, 2022

— By Katie Lee — Kohl’s expands with smaller-format stores, including Sephora in-store shops; launches new digital conveniences; and reduces its environmental impact. Kohl’s is going big …by strategically going small. While some traditional discount department stores might bring to mind giant power centers with huge parking fields, Kohl’s is betting on the trend that a smaller footprint can better meet the demands of today’s savvy shopper. Just because the physical space is smaller doesn’t mean big things aren’t happening. With more than 1,100 stores across the …

August 30, 2022

Cover Story franchise development From The Magazine restaurants

It’s Grow Time

by Katie Lee July 28, 2022

— Interview with Eric Shomof — After a slowdown in franchising due to the pandemic, Los Angeles-based The Dolly Llama views 2022 as the “year of growth.” The Dolly Llama is synonymous with L.A. It’s funky and hip and Instagrammable…sports a really cool name…and offers a cool, unique vibe — and even cooler desserts. With delectable culinary influences that range from France and Belgium to Hong Kong, the one-of-a-kind concept can’t be pinned down to any one region — even in L.A. This year, The Dolly Llama …

July 28, 2022

Cover Story From The Magazine restaurants retailers vendors

Smart Solution

by Katie Lee May 19, 2022

— By Meg Mason — How Lowe’s has reduced water use and its carbon footprint with smart irrigation. Lowe’s is focused on reducing its environmental impact while also increasing the efficiency of its operations. To address these goals, Lowe’s installed HydroPoint smart irrigation controllers to optimize landscape irrigation at more than 900 of its stores. Each year, the controllers reduce water use at these facilities by about 650 million gallons, saving Lowe’s an estimated $5 million in total water costs.1 Because water treatment and pumping use a lot of …

May 19, 2022

Cover Story From The Magazine restaurants

At Your Service

by Katie Lee April 27, 2022

— Interview with Jeff Crivello — Famous Dave’s expands its first line-service model and even adds a drive-thru as it grows through ghost kitchens, virtual brands, dual concepts, and strategic acquisitions of complementary brands. Nearly 30 years after the first Famous Dave’s opened in Hayward, Wisconsin, BBQ Holdings, Inc. continues to innovate and invigorate. Testing new prototype designs — including its first drive-thru model — and acquiring complementary brands are just two of the ways in which Famous Dave’s propels its impressive growth trajectory. In mid-March, Retail & Restaurant …

April 27, 2022

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