Industry Voices

Make the Switch

by Katie Lee January 14, 2026

— By Sarah Clifton — Why smart operators are switching from spreadsheets to vendor management systems. If you’re managing staffing vendors across multiple retail or restaurant locations, you know it can be challenging. The beginning of the week can start with a flood of emails from various agencies. Next, you’re dealing with conflicting invoices. By mid-week, you’re reconciling timesheets that don’t match. And by the end of the week, you’re trying to figure out why labor costs are over budget — again. Does this sound familiar? You’re not alone. Many …

January 14, 2026

construction and design flooring/floor care Industry Voices vendors

Flooring For The Future

by Katie Lee January 7, 2026

— By Jordan Munro — Flooring strategies for retail & restaurant facilities: balancing aesthetics, durability and long term ROI. In today’s retail and restaurant environments, flooring decisions are no longer purely aesthetic choices. Facility managers, operators and designers are increasingly aware that the surfaces beneath our feet play a critical role in shaping customer experiences, operational efficiency and long term financial outcomes. Whether it’s a boutique retailer, a bustling quick-service restaurant or a luxury dining establishment, flooring must withstand relentless foot traffic, align with evolving design trends and deliver measurable …

January 7, 2026

exterior services/landscaping facilities management Industry Voices management parking lots vendors

Solid Foundation

by Katie Lee December 31, 2025

— By Chuck Stamm — Pavement thickness is the foundation of a long-lasting investment. For commercial property managers and facility directors, few investments impact curb appeal, safety and long term costs as much as your pavement. From parking lots to access roads, asphalt is the first impression your property makes — and one of the most expensive assets to repair or replace. One of the most important factors determining whether that investment lasts 5 years or 20 is pavement thickness. It’s not just a technical detail — it’s the foundation …

December 31, 2025

energy management HVAC/R Industry Voices kitchen equipment Product Spotlight restaurants software/technology vendors

Remote Work

by Katie Lee December 17, 2025

— By Tony Albers — How Café Zupas remotely manages energy usage in 82 stores. With 82 stores across eight states, Café Zupas restaurant chain delivers “house-made happiness” with its healthy menu designed to “nourish the good life,” which is its tagline. Headquartered in Sandy, Utah, Café Zupas sought to control energy usage at all 82 of its nationwide stores. By standardizing the installation of commercial thermostats with remote management, the company achieved reduced energy costs while maintaining indoor comfort for its customers and staff. Challenge: Remotely Manage Energy Usage …

December 17, 2025

construction and design disaster recovery Industry Voices management property management remodels waste management/recycling

From Liability to Opportunity

by Katie Lee December 10, 2025

— By Keith Etchells — Revitalizing Diamond Bar Shopping Center through strategic remediation. In retail real estate, environmental contamination can be a deal breaker. For property owners and investors, subsurface pollution such as solvents, hydrocarbons, heavy metals and other industrial byproducts can restrict the asset’s current and future uses and commonly comes with significant regulatory management costs. With the right combination of strategy, funding and technical expertise, resolving environmental challenges can be accomplished in ways that support long term property goals. The owner of the Diamond Bar shopping center in …

December 10, 2025

construction and design energy management HVAC/R Industry Voices restaurants vendors

The Silent Upgrade

by Katie Lee December 1, 2025

— By Marc Mascarello — How hidden air diffusers are changing commercial interiors. Walk into a beautifully designed restaurant or retail space, and your eyes are drawn to the details — the layered lighting, the textures and materials, the sense of flow and spatial balance. But when HVAC components like air vents or grilles jump into view, they can interrupt that visual harmony in an instant. Mechanical systems are essential to occupant comfort, yet they’re often considered late in the design process or treated as background elements to work around. …

December 1, 2025

energy management facilities management Industry Voices restaurants retailers software/technology vendors

From Reactive to Proactive

by Katie Lee November 19, 2025

— By Etrit Demaj — Smart tech rewrites the retail maintenance playbook. Retail and restaurant operators have long accepted reactive maintenance as the cost of doing business. When equipment breaks, facility teams respond, often at high cost and with little warning. But this break-fix cycle no longer works in today’s environment of shrinking margins, energy mandates and rising customer expectations. A growing number of multi-site operators are shifting to a proactive, tech-enabled maintenance model that prevents problems, instead of waiting for them to arise. This approach turns building systems into …

November 19, 2025

energy management green building/LEED HVAC/R Industry Voices Product Spotlight software/technology vendors

The Big Chill

by Katie Lee November 12, 2025

— By Ramez Naguib — Exploring the benefits of glycol chillers in restaurants. Glycol chillers are specialized refrigeration systems and often involve the use of antifreeze. A popular application is in beverage production, wherein the food grade chemical propylene glycol is used.i Glycol is not a refrigerant; instead, it is a fluid that is used to carry heat from one location to another in much the same way as a conventional refrigerant does. But, unlike a refrigerant, glycol does not undergo a state change (from a liquid to a gas, …

November 12, 2025

construction and design disaster recovery Industry Voices restaurants roofing vendors

High Impact

by Katie Lee November 5, 2025

— By Tom Dawson — The true cost of a roof leak. When most businesses think about the cost of a roof leak, they typically focus on the expense associated with the roofing contractor who comes out and fixes the roof. However, leading brands are beginning to look deeper — quantifying the impact of roof leaks to your organization is not just an issue for the facilities team, but is a challenge that impacts culture, operations and guest experience. For hospitality groups like Brinker International, the impact of a roof …

November 5, 2025

Industry Voices retailers security/loss prevention software/technology vendors

AI in Retail Security

by Katie Lee October 29, 2025

— By Scott Thomas — Improving security and the customer experience. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been discussed in the physical security industry for years and offers strong potential for retail security automation and management. It may be surprising to discover that many retailers already use some form of AI in their security technologies. Analytics engines process massive amounts of data, such as images, text or numbers — using AI algorithms to produce actionable insights. For example, analytics can automatically flag vehicles linked to previous incidents upon arrival and streamline the …

October 29, 2025

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