Maryville, Tenn. — Ruby Tuesday Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with plans to permanently close 185 restaurants that were shuttered during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company’s 236 open locations will remain operational throughout the reorganization process. The Maryville, Tennessee-based chain is the latest restaurant group to fall victim to the economic pressures caused by the coronavirus pandemic. California Pizza Kitchen filed for Chapter 11 protection in July citing similar struggles. “This announcement does not mean ‘Goodbye, Ruby Tuesday’ — this is ‘Hello, to a stronger Ruby Tuesday’,” …
Goodlettsville, Tenn. — Dollar General will launch popshelf, a new shopping concept that will offer seasonal and home décor, health and beauty must-haves, home cleaning supplies, party goods and entertaining needs. The Goodlettsville-based retailer says 95 percent of the items will be priced at $5 or less. Each popshelf location will average 9,000 square feet and will house up to 15 employees. The first two locations will open near Nashville this fall with the company expecting to open another 30 locations by the end of fiscal year 2021, which will …
Ann Arbor, Mich. — Domino’s Pizza Inc. reported that its U.S. same-store sales grew 17.5 percent in the third quarter compared with the same period last year. The Ann Arbor-based pizza chain says it was positively impacted by customers ordering more takeout during the COVID-19 pandemic. Global retail sales increased by 14.4 percent in the third quarter to more than $3.7 billion. Revenues increased $146.9 million or 17.9 percent, while net income increased $12.8 million or 14.8 percent. As of Oct. 5, Domino’s estimates that fewer than 300 international stores …
Knoxville, Tenn. — Regal Cinemas will temporarily suspend operations at all of its 536 U.S. theaters beginning Thursday, Oct. 8. British owner-operator Cineworld owns Knoxville, Tennessee-based Regal Cinemas, which has about 7,000 screens across its U.S. portfolio of theaters. Cineworld also announced plans to close all of its theaters in the United Kingdom this week. The closures will impact about 40,000 employees, according to Cineworld. “This is not a decision we made lightly, and we did everything in our power to support a safe and sustainable reopening in the United …
Hummelstown, Pa. and Berlin Vt. — Heidenberg Properties Group is redeveloping two retail properties in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The Closter, New Jersey-based owner and developer is working to redevelop Hershey Square Shopping Center in Hummelstown and Berlin Mall in Berlin. Anchor tenant Kmart vacated 107,000 square feet within Hershey Square in March 2019. Heidenberg Properties has been underway leasing the space with 10-year leases to multiple tenants, including Planet Fitness, TJ Maxx, Big Lots and Five Below. Additionally, Chipotle Mexican Grill will occupy space at a new …
Burbank, Calif. — The Walt Disney Co. will lay off 28,000 employees who were previously furloughed due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to multiple media reports. Disney World in Orlando, Fla., and Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., both closed in mid-March due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Disney’s chief financial officer Christine McCarthy said in May that for every two weeks the parks were closed, the company lost $500 million. Disney World reopened in July with limited capacity, but Disneyland remains closed under California guidelines. A timeline for reopening has not been established. …
Beaverton, Ore. — Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE), the Beaverton-based footwear giant, has reported its revenues were $10.6 billion for its 2021 fiscal first quarter, which ended Aug. 31. The revenue represents a decrease of 1 percent from the same period in 2019, with its direct sales at $3.7 billion, up 12 percent, and Nike Brand digital sales swelling by 82 percent. The digital sales growth resulted from e-commerce increases across North America, Greater China, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. According to the company, its first-quarter …
Issaquah, Wash. — Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST) has reported a 12.5 percent increase in quarterly net sales in its fiscal fourth quarter, which ended Aug. 30. Costco’s sales jumped to $52.9 billion from $46.4 billion last year. Costco also experienced a 91 percent jump in quarterly e-commerce sales, resulting in a 50 percent increase over the previous year. The company’s net income for the fourth quarter was $1.4 billion, compared with $1.1 billion last year, even though this year’s fourth quarter was negatively impacted by $281 million in costs …
Orlando, Fla. — Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: DRI) has reported its sales fell 28.4 percent in its fiscal first quarter, which ended Aug. 30. The Orlando-based company owns restaurant brands including Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Yard House, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Bahama Breeze and Eddie V’s. Darden reported that sales in its fine dining restaurants fell 38.9 percent year-over-year. Sales at Olive Garden slid 27.7 percent, while LongHorn saw a decrease of 16.3 percent. At the beginning of its first quarter, Darden had 68 percent of …
Calimesa, Calif. — Upland, California-based Lewis Retail Centers, part of the Lewis Group of Cos., has opened The MarketPlace at Calimesa, a shopping center located Calimesa. Stater Bros. Market anchors the 105,000-square-foot retail center. Additional tenants include Starbucks Coffee, Del Taco, Cold Stone Creamery, Jack in the Box, Modern Nails, Skin Solutions Aesthetics and Supercuts. Lewis Retail Centers has started construction on a Safeway location at Damonte Ranch Town Center in Reno, Nevada. The new 62,000-square-foot Safeway will be the third anchor of the shopping center. Other tenants include The …