Dallas and San Francisco — PICKUP, a leading last-mile delivery service and logistics platform, has partnered with Postmates to provide retailers and brands with the ability to elegantly scale local delivery capability to meet surging demand for store-to-door delivery. PICKUP Enterprise manages the end-to-end customer experience including access to the top-rated PICKUP Good Guy network, which specializes in delivery and assembly of big and heavy goods. The partnership between PICKUP and Postmates will further expand retailer’s fulfillment capabilities for all items — from holiday décor and gifts, to furniture. “Our …
COVID-19
Chicago — Dickey’s Barbecue Pit unveiled its first virtual kitchen on Oct. 30 in Chicago. This model, which services guests solely through online ordering and third-party delivery, is the first of its kind to open for the Texas-based, family-owned franchise. Barbecue fans in the surrounding 10-mile area can get their Dickey’s fix by ordering delivery directly to their doorstep through www.dickeys.com or the Dickey’s app. “As an industry leader we are continually adapting our restaurant models to fit the needs of both the economic climate and the fluctuations of guest …
Nantucket, Mass. — Oath Pizza, known for serving better-for-you craft pizza at 60 locations throughout the United States, opened its first ghost kitchen on Oct. 16. The pickup and delivery-only location is located at 1308 W. Girard Ave. in Philadelphia. “We are thrilled to open our first-ever ghost kitchen to offer safe and delicious contactless pick-up and delivery options to residents of the Greater Philadelphia area,” says Drew Kellogg, CEO of Oath Pizza. “This opening is one of many unique ways we continue to pivot during these changing times. We’re …
Plano, Texas — Cinemark Holdings, Inc., one of the world’s largest and most influential movie theatre companies, has reopened five of its Alameda County, Calif., theatres as of Oct. 27. Century San Francisco Centre 9 and XD as well as multiple Santa Clara County theatres will reopen Oct. 30. These theatres, which join the 13 Cinemark and Century theatres currently open in the Greater Bay Area, will reopen with enhanced cleanliness and safety protocols, Cinemark’s exclusive Private Watch Parties and this year’s newest films. With approximately 85% of its theatres …
Newport Beach, Calif. — Year-over-year revenue for Chipotle Mexican Grill increased 14.1% to $1.6 billion for third-quarter 2020. Digital sales soared 202.5% to $776.4 million, accounting for 48.8% of sales for the period. The company’s net income was $80.2 million. Despite the sales increase, the net income is a decrease from $98.6 million in third-quarter 2019 as expenses increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to increased revenue, the Newport Beach-based fast-casual chain opened 44 new restaurants and closed three locations during the third quarter, bringing the total restaurant count …
San Francisco — Gap Inc., a longtime apparel tenant in enclosed regional malls nationwide, has announced plans to close 350 stores under its Banana Republic and Gap banners in an effort to transition focus to e-commerce and off-mall retail locations. Store closures are scheduled for completion by fiscal year 2023, which ends Feb. 1, 2024, with 75% scheduled to close in 2021. By that time, the company expects 80% of its revenue to come from e-commerce and off-mall locations, including street-front retail stores and shops in strip and outlet centers. …
— By Doug Engel — Protecting guests from COVID-19 in restaurants and retail stores without breaking the bank. Restaurants and retail stores have been hit hard by plummeting business and consumers shifting to buy goods online. Ensuring safe physical spaces for dining and shopping is not just important, it’s essential to the recovery of these important sectors of the economy. What’s the best way to protect the health of customers and staff while being sensitive to the current financial challenges in these industries? Like the changing guidance associated with …
San Diego — QDOBA Mexican Eats®, the largest franchise opportunity in the fast-casual Mexican segment, has introduced new restaurant formats that set the stage for continued growth. QDOBA’s new concepts feature buildouts including mobile-order drive-thrus, walk-up windows, mobile-order pickup lockers, dedicated curbside pickup areas, ghost kitchens and concepts with updated outdoor seating. The new formats come on the heels of a major multi-unit franchise development strategy announced last month that is set to grow the brand to 2,000 units. “Today’s customer wants a frictionless, safe experience and we’re evolving to …
Scottsdale, Ariz. — As consumers across the country seek dining options to fit their changing habits, P.F. Chang’s is expanding its P.F. Chang’s To Go concept, which is now launching in New York. Now open as of October 19 at 240 W. 40th in New York City, the location marks the first of three P.F. Chang’s To Go openings in New York over the coming weeks. It follows three other openings in Chicago, which launched earlier in 2020. These new restaurant additions will allow more guests to experience P.F. Chang’s …
— By A.J. Dilenno — The importance of your parking lot during and after COVID-19. COVID-19 may have put dining out on hiatus in many areas, but that doesn’t mean customers have abandoned their favorite restaurants. To meet customer demand while practicing social distancing, many retail stores and restaurants have turned to curbside pickup and drive-thru, with some stores delivering groceries right to people’s cars. In fact, demand for alternative dining and delivery options have made the parking lot the go-to area for many businesses. For other establishments, weeks …