Windham, Me. — KONE, a global leader in the elevator and escalator industry, has acquired the service and repair business of Maine Elevator Specialists Inc. in Windham, Me., including its operations throughout the greater Portland metropolitan area.
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Dallas — CEC Entertainment, Inc., which operates Chuck E. Cheese’s and Peter Piper Pizza restaurants, has appointed James “Jim” A. Howell as chief financial officer, effective September 17, 2018. Howell will replace Dale Black, who is retiring effective September 21.
Huntsville, Ala. — REI Co-op will open its first location in the state of Alabama at MidCity Huntsville in fall 2019. With more than 150 stores across the U.S., REI will join a growing list of world-class brands at RCP Companies’ $500 million experiential, midtown district.
Manasquan, N.J. — Jersey Mike’s Subs opened two non-traditional restaurants the last week of August. The first opened on August 27 on the campus of Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J. The second opened the next day inside Washington Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C. (pictured)
Chicago — SMS Assist, one of Chicago’s fastest-growing technology companies, has opened a second area office in suburban Naperville, Ill. The expansion will allow SMS Assist, based in downtown Chicago, to accelerate investments in its industry-leading workforce and business solutions, which bring efficiency to multisite property management.
Austin, Texas — Austin, Texas-based fashion and lifestyle brand Kendra Scott opened its newest store location and East Coast flagship on September 5 in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood. After years of successful pop-ups and shop-in-shop retailer experiences, the new two-story, 1700-square-foot store is the brand’s first brick-and-mortar location in New York City.
Greensboro, N.C. — Biscuitville FRESH SOUTHERN® will enter the Fayetteville, N.C., market — its first new market expansion in 10 years — with two restaurants to open mid-year 2019 followed by an additional two restaurants later in the year, pending approval by local authorities. The first restaurant will open in the Spout Springs area late spring 2019, and the second will open mid-summer in Fayetteville.
Pittsburgh — DICK’S Sporting Goods has named Vidya Jwala as chief e-commerce and supply chain officer. In this role, Jwala will be responsible for the company’s digital integration of e-commerce and supply chain efforts, and will report to Lauren Hobart, president of DICK’S Sporting Goods.
Fayetteville, Ark. — Slim Chickens, a leader in the “better chicken” segment of fast-casual restaurants, has enjoyed organic growth since taking the brand from co-founder Tom Gordon’s garage to its first location 2 miles from the University of Arkansas in 2003. Now, as Slim Chickens has grown to more than 75 locations in 14 states (as well as the United Kingdom and Kuwait), the brand has expanded its growth strategy to non-traditional locations.