Tampa, Fla. — As of June 7, 2020, more than 760 company-operated U.S. restaurants (approximately 74% of U.S. restaurants) have reopened with limited in-restaurant dining capacity in accordance with local mandates, according to a business update from Bloomin’ Brands, Inc. “Since the onset of the pandemic, we have been nimble in adapting our business,” says David Deno, chief executive officer. “This included a pivot to an off-premises model as dining rooms were forced to close. We were able to triple our off-premises sales per restaurant while our dining rooms were …
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Bonita Springs, Fla. — GATES Construction has added Nicole Robinson, CPA, as controller. She will oversee the firm’s accounting staff, including staff and project accountants, and will manage the production and management of all reports and accounting records. As a Certified Public Accountant with over 20 years of diversified accounting experience, Robinson will help guide the firm’s strategic financial decisions. She will be based out of GATES Construction’s headquarters in Bonita Springs, Fla. For over 25 years, GATES Construction has provided award-winning construction management, general contracting and design-build services throughout …
Leawood, Kan. — AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. plans to reopen almost all of its U.S. and U.K. theaters in July. The Leawood, Kan.-based movie theater chain has already reopened 10 theaters in Norway, Germany, Spain and Portugal, and expects to be fully open globally in July ahead of the release of Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” on July 17 and Disney’s “Mulan” on July 24. AMC is working closely with local, national and international officials to coordinate timing and requirements of reopening. It is consulting with the Harvard University School of Public …
Dover, Del. — Lululemon, a provider of athletic apparel that is based in Canada but incorporated in Delaware, has now reopened 295 of its 489 stores, or roughly 60% of its worldwide locations. The company released the results of its fiscal first quarter, which ended on May 3, and posted a decline of 17% in net revenue from approximately $785 million to $652 million relative to the first quarter of 2019. In February, at the beginning of the company’s fiscal year, Lululemon closed all of its stores in mainland China …
San Diego — Garden Fresh Restaurants, LLC, operating as Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes, is liquidating all assets under their Chapter 7 Bankruptcy filing. The chain, which employed thousands, was a popular place to dine with self-service food bars but was not able to survive the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and permanently closed all 97 restaurants and three distribution centers nationwide in early May. It is to-date the largest restaurant bankruptcy and liquidation as a result of the pandemic. The restaurants’ equipment and other contents are being auctioned online from …
East Rutherford, N.J. — Hudson, a travel experience leader with more than 1,000 stores in airports, commuter hubs, landmarks and tourist destinations across North America, has expanded the retail offerings at LaGuardia Airport Terminal B, bringing the spirit and vibrancy of New York City to life within the terminal while reaffirming the company’s long-standing commitment to its local roots and airport partners. As part of the new, 7-year contract with LaGuardia Gateway Partners (LGP), the private operator and developer of Terminal B, Hudson is debuting two of its new localized …
Lexington, Ky. — A&W Restaurants posted double-digit, year-over-year sales in May, with some franchise locations doubling their sales. Other burger chains, on average, managed only a 2% increase, according to Black Box Intelligence. The iconic brand’s performance comes as it reduces royalties for new franchisees. The incentive program lowers royalties in the first year of all new development agreements from the standard 5% to 3%. Second year royalties are 4%. Initial fees on multi-unit agreements also are being discounted. “The incentives give franchisees extra cushion in their first few years …
Indianapolis — Simon Property Group has terminated its Feb. 9 merger agreement with Taubman Centers Inc. Simon also filed an action on June 10 in Michigan’s Oakland County Circuit Court saying Taubman breached the covenants in the merger agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, Simon was to acquire an 80% interest in Taubman for approximately $3.6 billion. Indianapolis-based Simon says its termination of the merger agreement is based on two separate grounds. “First, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a uniquely material and disproportionate effect on Taubman compared with other …
North Miami Beach, Fla. — FRONTIER Building has completed a new Wawa convenience store and gas station located at 530 NE 167th St. in North Miami Beach, Fla. The new 6,119-square-foot outpost is located on a corner lot which formerly housed a Krispy Kreme. It has an outdoor sitting area and six pumping stations. FRONTIER was hired to demolish that store earlier this year and recently completed the ground-up construction of a larger, more modern Krispy Kreme next door to this Wawa. This is the second Wawa FRONTIER has built …
Riverside, Calif. — Farmer Boys®, the farm fresh fast-casual chain, has named David Wetzel, its current senior vice president of operations, as its new president and chief operating officer. The promotion comes alongside the announcement that Farmer Boys’ current president and COO, Karen Eadon, has retired after 6 years with the company and nearly 40 in the restaurant industry. In his new role as president and COO, Wetzel will be responsible for driving overall brand strategy, corporate and franchised development and restaurant performance. Wetzel joined the Farmer Boys team in …