Columbia, Md. – The board of directors of The Greene Turtle has named Geovannie “Geo” Concepcion, formerly COO of Minneapolis-based Famous Dave’s, as president/CEO. He plans to guide the 44-unit casual dining chain to the next stage in its growth and success. During his time with Famous Dave’s, Concepcion oversaw company and franchise operations, marketing, IT, culinary, franchise sales and training, and compiled a stellar track record overseeing initiatives in many areas on which The Greene Turtle is now focused. Under his leadership, same-store sales at company-owned stores grew for …
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North Plainfield, N.J. — Levin Management Corporation (LMC), a North Plainfield, N.J.-based commercial real estate services firm, has added Erika Toscani as vice president of property management. She brings more than 20 years of property management and industry leadership experience in the New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania markets to her new position. Prior to joining LMC, Toscani held key management positions at Transwestern and Newmark Knight Frank. In her current role, she will ensure the delivery of Levin’s best-in-class service standards at each of its managed commercial properties, while …
Tampa, Fla. — Restaurant Magic has promoted Michael Beck to vice president of sales & marketing. Prior to this promotion, Beck was Restaurant Magic’s director of sales. In his new role, Beck will work to grow, train and manage Restaurant Magic’s national sales team. He will also direct the organization’s brand and marketing strategy. Beck has over 20 years of hospitality operations, sales and leadership experience. Prior to joining Restaurant Magic, he had sales and leadership positions at Xpient and Altametrics. “Michael has continued to grow and embrace new challenges …
Chicago — Trader Joe’s will open a new store in the Hyde Park Shopping Center, expanding the grocery options available for residents of the South Side of Chicago. It is the goal of Trader Joe’s to open the store in fall 2019. “We recognize the importance of a grocery store in this location to the community, and we carefully selected Trader Joe’s based on a number of factors, including community input and timeline to opening,” says Angie Marks, associate vice president of real estate operations. “We look forward to working …
Costa Mesa, Calif. — Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar, the casual dining restaurant known for its handcrafted American food and drink, plans to open its first restaurant in Florida next year, which will be located at the Westfield Broward Mall in Plantation. Designed to feel like a Rocky Mountain Wyoming escape, Lazy Dog’s warm interior will feature lodge-inspired furnishings such as cozy fireplaces, ledge stone, a chandelier crafted from Aspen logs, and artwork reminiscent of the Cowboy State. Multiple flat-screen TVs will be installed throughout the bar and patio areas …
New York City — According to Brookfield Properties, Shakespeare & Co. will open a new bookstore at Brookfield Place at 230 Vesey St. in Lower Manhattan as part of its ongoing expansion plans. The planned opening date is January 2020. The store will be approximately 2,300 square feet and will feature Shakespeare’s thoughtfully curated selection of fiction, non-fiction and children’s books, as well as its signature café and Espresso Book Machine technology. The company will host weekly in-store book talks as well as monthly large venue book events in the …
Covington, Ky. — Braxton Brewing Co., a local brewery with national recognition, plans to expand its presence to Fort Mitchell, Ky., with the opening of the area’s first barrel-aging brewery and taproom. Expected to open in fall 2019, the Braxton Barrel House will offer a unique experience for patrons by giving them the opportunity to create custom private barrel picks of barrel-aged brews. The location of the brewery and taproom is a unique space. Once a Remke grocery store, the 2,000-square-foot loading dock will be redeveloped with large glass garage …
Union, N.J. — Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. has announced that Mary Winston, a seasoned public company executive who recently joined the Bed Bath & Beyond board of directors, has been appointed interim chief executive officer, effective immediately. Steven Temares has stepped down as CEO and resigned as a member of board. The board has formed a CEO search committee to identify a permanent CEO and will retain an executive search firm to assist in the search process. The board’s search process will focus on individuals who have transformation and …
Pacific Construction Services Transforms Parking Garage Space into Bar Louie Restaurant
by Katie Lee
Chicago — PCS, a Chicago-based fully-integrated construction management firm, has provided construction management and advisory services to Poag Shopping Centers, LLC that resulted in the transformation of a portion of a parking garage into a high-profile restaurant for its LaCenterra retail center in suburban Houston. Throughout the entire development process from lease negotiations to the opening of the restaurant, PCS advised the lifestyle center’s owners and the tenant on the various challenges for transforming a portion of the parking facility into a Bar Louie restaurant. With PCS’ support, the local …
New York City — On May 9, 2019, luxury handbag authority Rebag opened its third retail location in California and sixth brick-and-mortar location in the U.S., opening in the Westfield Santa Anita mall in Santa Anita, Calif. “When planning our retail expansion, we listen to our customers and essentially bring Rebag right into their own backyards,” says Charles Gorra, CEO and founder of Rebag. “I am particularly excited for Rebag in Westfield Santa Anita in order to expand our reach outside of the immediate Los Angeles area to a brand-conscious …