News from Lexis Nexis
Western Sizzlin announces share repurchase and withdrawal of Jack in the Box exchange offer
Western Sizzlin Corporation (Nasdaq: WEST), a franchiser and operator of restaurants, announced on Wednesday (19 November) that the company plans to repurchase its common stock under its previously announced stock repurchase programme.
Western Sizzlin Corporation (Nasdaq: WEST), a franchiser and operator of restaurants, announced on Wednesday (19 November) that the company plans to repurchase its common stock under its previously announced stock repurchase programme.
Families seek out cheap eats in tough times
Julie Zmerzlikar isn't a big Starbuck's fan, but she was happy to line up for the promotional free cup of house blend coffee on Election Day. The Antioch mother of two girls can also rattle off her favorite deals with ease kids eat free nights, ice cream two-for-one bargains, coupon deals. Zmerzlikar has been cutting back on dining since her husband started commuting an hour and a half every day more than a year ago. Gas eats up more of the family budget, so the family eats out less. "We always look for the kids eat free nights," she said.
Julie Zmerzlikar isn't a big Starbuck's fan, but she was happy to line up for the promotional free cup of house blend coffee on Election Day. The Antioch mother of two girls can also rattle off her favorite deals with ease kids eat free nights, ice cream two-for-one bargains, coupon deals. Zmerzlikar has been cutting back on dining since her husband started commuting an hour and a half every day more than a year ago. Gas eats up more of the family budget, so the family eats out less. "We always look for the kids eat free nights," she said.
A few lines on waiting in line
If you're a patron of "fast casual" restaurants -- Caffe Baci, Corner Bakery, Panera, Potbelly and others of that ilk -- you may have found yourself wondering one or more of the following:
If you're a patron of "fast casual" restaurants -- Caffe Baci, Corner Bakery, Panera, Potbelly and others of that ilk -- you may have found yourself wondering one or more of the following:
THANKSGIVING 2008 check, please!; THESE RESTAURANTS ARE READY, WILLING AND ABLE TO TAKE ON THE TURKEY
One more thing to be thankful about: not cooking. Lots of Long Island restaurants provide the traditional turkey and trimmings. And they offer other choices, too. Reserve quickly. Here's a sampler. Prices generally don't include tax and gratuity. NASSAU
One more thing to be thankful about: not cooking. Lots of Long Island restaurants provide the traditional turkey and trimmings. And they offer other choices, too. Reserve quickly. Here's a sampler. Prices generally don't include tax and gratuity. NASSAU
Once open all night, restaurant cuts hours -- again
Jack's restaurant in Skokie -- a 24-hour coffee shop until it started closing overnight after the suburb banned smoking in 2003 -- has cut its hours again, closing at 3 p.m. every day. Owner George Koretos blamed the economy.
Jack's restaurant in Skokie -- a 24-hour coffee shop until it started closing overnight after the suburb banned smoking in 2003 -- has cut its hours again, closing at 3 p.m. every day. Owner George Koretos blamed the economy.
Corkheads: Wine books for your holiday consumption
FOR MOST of us, mid-November means it's time to think about holiday gifts. Unless you found your sparkling-junkie-best-friend's perfect gift over the summer yes, a Champagne bottle opener may I make a suggestion? Get him a book. It doesn't break like a gadget; it doesn't run out like a bottle of wine; and it doesn't cost as much as a Crushpad membership. Your loved one can consume his book over and over again and then re-gift er, pass on the knowledge. Of the dozens of books I receive for review, here are the most interesting, useful and gift-able from the past few months.
FOR MOST of us, mid-November means it's time to think about holiday gifts. Unless you found your sparkling-junkie-best-friend's perfect gift over the summer yes, a Champagne bottle opener may I make a suggestion? Get him a book. It doesn't break like a gadget; it doesn't run out like a bottle of wine; and it doesn't cost as much as a Crushpad membership. Your loved one can consume his book over and over again and then re-gift er, pass on the knowledge. Of the dozens of books I receive for review, here are the most interesting, useful and gift-able from the past few months.
Supermarkets Stay Healthy Despite Gloom
Sure, it's bad out there. But no matter how awful the economy gets, people still have to eat.
Sure, it's bad out there. But no matter how awful the economy gets, people still have to eat.
Support your local restaurant
Mimi Sheraton, the former New York Times restaurant critic, told me that when she gave up reviewing restaurants, she couldn't wait to cook -- and stay -- at home again. She relished the thought of not having to go out every night. But on her third or fourth night at home, she and her husband sat down at the dinner table, looked at each other, put down their napkins -- and acknowledged the inevitable. "Let's go out," she said. And they did. Cabin fever had set in. And it can happen to any of us. Now that broad swaths of folks across the country are tightening their belts, negotiating a budget (sometimes for the first time) and deciding where to cut expenses, dining out might be getting the ax. Never did staying home and cooking your way through that stack of cookbooks gathering dust by the bed ever look so, well, virtuous. Why go out when we can cook just as well as most restaurants for less than half the price?
Mimi Sheraton, the former New York Times restaurant critic, told me that when she gave up reviewing restaurants, she couldn't wait to cook -- and stay -- at home again. She relished the thought of not having to go out every night. But on her third or fourth night at home, she and her husband sat down at the dinner table, looked at each other, put down their napkins -- and acknowledged the inevitable. "Let's go out," she said. And they did. Cabin fever had set in. And it can happen to any of us. Now that broad swaths of folks across the country are tightening their belts, negotiating a budget (sometimes for the first time) and deciding where to cut expenses, dining out might be getting the ax. Never did staying home and cooking your way through that stack of cookbooks gathering dust by the bed ever look so, well, virtuous. Why go out when we can cook just as well as most restaurants for less than half the price?
Wholesale prices slide in October
Wholesale prices in October experienced the biggest one-month drop on records that go back more than 60 years. They dropped 2.8 percent last month -- following smaller declines of 0.9 percent in August and 0.4 percent in September. "I don't think we will get an actual period of deflation because the Federal Reserve will be working very hard to make sure that doesn't happen," said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com. Core inflation, which excludes energy and food, showed a 0.4 percent increase in October. The Labor Department releases its Consumer Price Index for October today.
Wholesale prices in October experienced the biggest one-month drop on records that go back more than 60 years. They dropped 2.8 percent last month -- following smaller declines of 0.9 percent in August and 0.4 percent in September. "I don't think we will get an actual period of deflation because the Federal Reserve will be working very hard to make sure that doesn't happen," said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com. Core inflation, which excludes energy and food, showed a 0.4 percent increase in October. The Labor Department releases its Consumer Price Index for October today.
Douglas Keane pits his Asian-style Thanksgiving against Michael Mina's traditional meal
Between Michael Mina's Prada loafers and Douglas Keane's bribery scheme, we didn't know what to expect from our competing four-star chefs. But when one of the judges asked if he could bring a doggie bag for leftovers, we knew this might be our most inspired Turkey Training Camp yet. The Chronicle Food section's quasi-annual Thanksgiving event was different from previous years. Instead of inviting readers to participate in the cooking, we offered them a chance to judge a Nov. 3 "Iron Chef"-type contest between Mina, of his eponymous San Francisco restaurant, and Keane, of Cyrus in Healdsburg. More than 200 candidates answered our call, "So You Think You're a Food Critic." It seems everyone wanted a chance to sample Thanksgiving done by the experts. In the end, we chose five judges and an alternate to represent the Bay Area eating public.
Between Michael Mina's Prada loafers and Douglas Keane's bribery scheme, we didn't know what to expect from our competing four-star chefs. But when one of the judges asked if he could bring a doggie bag for leftovers, we knew this might be our most inspired Turkey Training Camp yet. The Chronicle Food section's quasi-annual Thanksgiving event was different from previous years. Instead of inviting readers to participate in the cooking, we offered them a chance to judge a Nov. 3 "Iron Chef"-type contest between Mina, of his eponymous San Francisco restaurant, and Keane, of Cyrus in Healdsburg. More than 200 candidates answered our call, "So You Think You're a Food Critic." It seems everyone wanted a chance to sample Thanksgiving done by the experts. In the end, we chose five judges and an alternate to represent the Bay Area eating public.
Government Must Give Hospitality Staff Fair Tips
LONDON, November 19 /PRNewswire/ -- On the day the Government starts its consultation (Wednesday 19th November) on tipping in the hospitality industry, Unite is demanding that they do not allow the industry to continue to drag its feet in giving their staff all the tips customers leave for them.
LONDON, November 19 /PRNewswire/ -- On the day the Government starts its consultation (Wednesday 19th November) on tipping in the hospitality industry, Unite is demanding that they do not allow the industry to continue to drag its feet in giving their staff all the tips customers leave for them.
T.G.I. FRIDAY'S RESTAURANTS; T.G.I. Friday's Restaurants Offer Gift Cards With Bonus Bites
T.G.I. Friday's restaurants (http://www.fridays.com/) announced a great way for their guests to give and receive this holiday season: Gift Cards with Bonus Bites, plus an added bonus (see also T.G.I. Friday's Restaurants).
T.G.I. Friday's restaurants (http://www.fridays.com/) announced a great way for their guests to give and receive this holiday season: Gift Cards with Bonus Bites, plus an added bonus (see also T.G.I. Friday's Restaurants).
Pizza at the click of a TiVo button
Coming soon to a couch near you: dinner that you've ordered by picking up the remote. TiVo Inc. and Domino's Pizza Inc. on Monday launched a service that allows consumers to order food delivery from their TV set-top boxes.
Coming soon to a couch near you: dinner that you've ordered by picking up the remote. TiVo Inc. and Domino's Pizza Inc. on Monday launched a service that allows consumers to order food delivery from their TV set-top boxes.
Domino's to sell pizza via TiVo
Digital video recording company TiVo Inc. said yesterday it is teaming up with Domino's Pizza Inc. to allow subscribers to order pizza for delivery or pickup from their TV sets.
Digital video recording company TiVo Inc. said yesterday it is teaming up with Domino's Pizza Inc. to allow subscribers to order pizza for delivery or pickup from their TV sets.
Taco Mac: a chain ahead of its time
Bob Campbell, president of Atlanta-based Tappan Street Restaurant Group, has learned to be careful with the changes his company makes to its Taco Mac restaurants. Taco Mac managers decided a few years ago to fix the storefront clock at the original Virginia-Highland location. It had been stuck at 7 for years. "We got all kinds of phone calls and e-mails from people saying, 'As long as I've been going to Taco Mac in Virginia-Highland, it's always been 7 o'clock'," Campbell said. "We fixed it for like a day." As Taco Mac grows, Campbell and Tappan walk a line between preserving an Atlanta fixture and opening some of the area's most modern sports restaurants and bars.
Bob Campbell, president of Atlanta-based Tappan Street Restaurant Group, has learned to be careful with the changes his company makes to its Taco Mac restaurants. Taco Mac managers decided a few years ago to fix the storefront clock at the original Virginia-Highland location. It had been stuck at 7 for years. "We got all kinds of phone calls and e-mails from people saying, 'As long as I've been going to Taco Mac in Virginia-Highland, it's always been 7 o'clock'," Campbell said. "We fixed it for like a day." As Taco Mac grows, Campbell and Tappan walk a line between preserving an Atlanta fixture and opening some of the area's most modern sports restaurants and bars.
SODEXO; Sodexo Launches New Employee, Customer Reward Program in the U.S.
Sodexo, a leading global foodservice and facilities management company, has announced the launch of Esteem Pass(TM) (www.EsteemPass.com), a new U.S. gift card program that provides a unique way to recognize, reward and motivate employees, clients and customers, while offering new features in the gift card sector. The move marks the first offer in North America by Sodexo's successful global Service Vouchers and Cards business, Sodexo Pass, which posted $10 billion in issue volume recently (see also Sodexo). Offering flexibility and choice to consumers, Esteem Pass gift cards are different than typical gift cards because users have one single card that can be used at over 20,000 locations operated by 35 well known and popular retailers. Sodexo's Esteem Pass program offers companies competitive pricing and customization to meet the different criteria that businesses have for reward and recognition programs.
Sodexo, a leading global foodservice and facilities management company, has announced the launch of Esteem Pass(TM) (www.EsteemPass.com), a new U.S. gift card program that provides a unique way to recognize, reward and motivate employees, clients and customers, while offering new features in the gift card sector. The move marks the first offer in North America by Sodexo's successful global Service Vouchers and Cards business, Sodexo Pass, which posted $10 billion in issue volume recently (see also Sodexo). Offering flexibility and choice to consumers, Esteem Pass gift cards are different than typical gift cards because users have one single card that can be used at over 20,000 locations operated by 35 well known and popular retailers. Sodexo's Esteem Pass program offers companies competitive pricing and customization to meet the different criteria that businesses have for reward and recognition programs.
Superior Grill in talks to lease Copeland's site in N.O.
The former Copeland's restaurant at St. Charles and Napoleon avenues that's been empty for more than three years could be back in use again soon.
The former Copeland's restaurant at St. Charles and Napoleon avenues that's been empty for more than three years could be back in use again soon.
Besh to open restaurant at Roosevelt Hotel in N.O.
Chef John Besh intends to add another name to his growing roster of restaurants with the opening of the Roosevelt Hotel downtown.
Chef John Besh intends to add another name to his growing roster of restaurants with the opening of the Roosevelt Hotel downtown.
Americans are digging deep to save money
Spendthrift (spend ' thrift') n. a person who spends money carelessly; squanderer. Frugal (froo' gel) adj. not wasteful; not spending freely; thrifty. As economic news has worsened and recession appears inevitable, Americans' spending habits have swung from one definition to another. Spendthrift to frugal, in record time. After years of free-spending and saying "charge it" at every turn, Americans are using words such as "scrimp and save" and "scrape up some cash." Now, they're cutting back on almost all fronts, regardless of how much they earn. According to a recent USA TODAY/Gallup Poll, 55% say they've cut household spending as a result of lower prices in the stock market and fears about the economy. Just slightly more say they'll spend less on Christmas gifts this year than last.
Spendthrift (spend ' thrift') n. a person who spends money carelessly; squanderer. Frugal (froo' gel) adj. not wasteful; not spending freely; thrifty. As economic news has worsened and recession appears inevitable, Americans' spending habits have swung from one definition to another. Spendthrift to frugal, in record time. After years of free-spending and saying "charge it" at every turn, Americans are using words such as "scrimp and save" and "scrape up some cash." Now, they're cutting back on almost all fronts, regardless of how much they earn. According to a recent USA TODAY/Gallup Poll, 55% say they've cut household spending as a result of lower prices in the stock market and fears about the economy. Just slightly more say they'll spend less on Christmas gifts this year than last.
Business lunches feel the crunch
Step into one of Chicago's tonier dining rooms at noon, and you'll likely see plenty of empty tables sheathed in white linen. Just the other day, advertising executive Jim Schmidt ventured into a well-known seafood spot and found "you could roll bowling balls through the aisles at 12:15." The business lunch, already a pallid salad or fish version of its former beefy, boozy self, is shrinking in popularity as the economic crisis sends shivers down the spines of companies big and small.
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Step into one of Chicago's tonier dining rooms at noon, and you'll likely see plenty of empty tables sheathed in white linen. Just the other day, advertising executive Jim Schmidt ventured into a well-known seafood spot and found "you could roll bowling balls through the aisles at 12:15." The business lunch, already a pallid salad or fish version of its former beefy, boozy self, is shrinking in popularity as the economic crisis sends shivers down the spines of companies big and small.
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