Celebrity Chef Mario Batali is in hot water. The former Iron Chef star has become the latest target of a labor campaign spearheaded by worker advocacy group Restaurant Opportunities Center of New York, according to an article coming in Monday's edition of Crain's New York Business.
Over the past eight years, ROC NY has played a central role in legal complaints against such high profile restaurateurs as Daniel Boulud, Shelley Fireman and Alan Stillman over alleged labor law violations involving discrimination and wages. The organization has won $4.5 million in settlements for restaurant workers and skewered many a reputation.
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Saturday, April 24, 2010
Huddle House to revamp its restaurants
NEW YORK (April 23, 2010) The 400-unit Huddle House is redesigning its restaurants with a new diner-like look, a revamped logo and a larger menu.
Chief executive Phil Greifeld, who unveiled the new look Friday at an event in New York, said the changes would enhance and modernize the 46-year-old brand.
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Chief executive Phil Greifeld, who unveiled the new look Friday at an event in New York, said the changes would enhance and modernize the 46-year-old brand.
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Harrah’s Said to Seek Offers for Rio Las Vegas Casino
April 23 (Bloomberg) -- Harrah’s Entertainment Inc., the casino company owned by Apollo Management LP and TPG Inc., is seeking bids for the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, people with knowledge of the situation said.
Starwood Capital Group LLC and Colony Capital LLC are among the companies that are weighing bids for the resort, said the people, who declined to be identified because the talks are private. Some bids value the Rio at about $500 million, two of the people said.
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Starwood Capital Group LLC and Colony Capital LLC are among the companies that are weighing bids for the resort, said the people, who declined to be identified because the talks are private. Some bids value the Rio at about $500 million, two of the people said.
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Restaurants Invest To Stay Ahead Of Consumer Rebound
NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- Restaurants are joining consumers in re-opening their wallets.
Several chains are showing more of an appetite to invest in new products, store remodels and more marketing as signs emerge that restaurants are cementing a recovery.
The willingness to invest comes after restaurants broadly reined in costs during the downturn by shutting stores, working employees less amid weak demand and cutting back on wasting ingredients. With expenses down to survival-mode levels, restaurants are now reaping healthy profits as consumers begin to emerge from a spending coma.
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Several chains are showing more of an appetite to invest in new products, store remodels and more marketing as signs emerge that restaurants are cementing a recovery.
The willingness to invest comes after restaurants broadly reined in costs during the downturn by shutting stores, working employees less amid weak demand and cutting back on wasting ingredients. With expenses down to survival-mode levels, restaurants are now reaping healthy profits as consumers begin to emerge from a spending coma.
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Tyler Florence set to open 3 restaurants
The septuagenarian servers at Sam's Grill on Bush Street are notoriously gruff, but one of them drops the act after Tyler Florence orders the Hangtown Fry.
"Hey, you're the guy on television, ain't you?"
Months later, when Florence strolls into the Financial District's crowded Barbacco during the Friday lunch swarm, heads swivel and fingers actually point at the celebrity chef. Florence is immediately greeted by owner Umberto Gibin.
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"Hey, you're the guy on television, ain't you?"
Months later, when Florence strolls into the Financial District's crowded Barbacco during the Friday lunch swarm, heads swivel and fingers actually point at the celebrity chef. Florence is immediately greeted by owner Umberto Gibin.
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Burger Chain Fuddruckers Files for Chapter 11
Burger chain Fuddruckers Inc. and its parent, Magic Brands LLC, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Wednesday to ease the sale of its assets to Tavistock Group.
Tavistock Group, a private-equity firm that owns other restaurant companies, has agreed to pay $40 million for the company, including the Koo Koo Roo restaurant brand.
None of the 135 franchisee-owned Fuddruckers restaurants are included in the filing. More than 200 restaurants operate under the Fuddruckers name. The company plans to close 24 of the corporate-owned Fuddruckers by April 30.
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Tavistock Group, a private-equity firm that owns other restaurant companies, has agreed to pay $40 million for the company, including the Koo Koo Roo restaurant brand.
None of the 135 franchisee-owned Fuddruckers restaurants are included in the filing. More than 200 restaurants operate under the Fuddruckers name. The company plans to close 24 of the corporate-owned Fuddruckers by April 30.
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Sagamore Hotel wants judge to halt sale
The Sagamore Hotel wants a judge to block its lender from auctioning off its delinquent mortgage to the highest bidder this week.
In a countersuit filed in Miami-Dade Circuit Court, the stylish South Beach boutique accused lender LNR Property of duping it into halting loan payments in hopes of restructuring its debt. LNR, a servicer that took over management of the loan when it went into default, plans to auction off the $32 million mortgage, setting the stage for a foreclosure on the 93-room hotel.
``They never would have stopped making the payments if it wasn't for LNR saying, `stop making payments so we can get the file,' '' said Sagamore lawyer Dennis Richard. The hotel owners have enough money to ``bring them current -- they always did.''
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In a countersuit filed in Miami-Dade Circuit Court, the stylish South Beach boutique accused lender LNR Property of duping it into halting loan payments in hopes of restructuring its debt. LNR, a servicer that took over management of the loan when it went into default, plans to auction off the $32 million mortgage, setting the stage for a foreclosure on the 93-room hotel.
``They never would have stopped making the payments if it wasn't for LNR saying, `stop making payments so we can get the file,' '' said Sagamore lawyer Dennis Richard. The hotel owners have enough money to ``bring them current -- they always did.''
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Sheraton Universal Hotel is put on the market
The long-troubled Sheraton Universal Hotel is officially on the market now, real estate brokers said Wednesday.
The 20-story tower in Universal City is one of the best-known hostelries in Southern California, but it has been in financial trouble since the recession brought the hotel industry to its knees. Los Angeles-based real estate developer and landlord Lowe Enterprises paid $122 million for the 451-room hotel at the top of the market in 2007 and spent $25 million on improvements to the guest rooms and public spaces.
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The 20-story tower in Universal City is one of the best-known hostelries in Southern California, but it has been in financial trouble since the recession brought the hotel industry to its knees. Los Angeles-based real estate developer and landlord Lowe Enterprises paid $122 million for the 451-room hotel at the top of the market in 2007 and spent $25 million on improvements to the guest rooms and public spaces.
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Waiter sues Ritz-Carton Naples, claiming discrimination
A Haitian-born food server at The Ritz-Carlton is suing the hotel chain and the Naples managing director, alleging they discriminated against him.
Wadner Tranchant, a food server and restaurant captain at the hotel, filed a federal lawsuit this week, claiming his bosses discriminated when they told employees that a visiting family didn’t want to be served by “people of color” or with “foreign accents.”
The Rodney Morgan family checked into the hotel Feb. 28 and a note in the hotel’s computers, directed by vice president and hotel manager Edward Staros, states, “as per Mr. Staros, this couple is very very prejudice [sic] and do like like [sic] ppl of color or foreign accents,” according to the lawsuit.
On March 12, Tranchant, who is a U.S. citizen, was prevented from his immediate supervisors from serving the Morgans in the Grill Restaurant
Wadner Tranchant, a food server and restaurant captain at the hotel, filed a federal lawsuit this week, claiming his bosses discriminated when they told employees that a visiting family didn’t want to be served by “people of color” or with “foreign accents.”
The Rodney Morgan family checked into the hotel Feb. 28 and a note in the hotel’s computers, directed by vice president and hotel manager Edward Staros, states, “as per Mr. Staros, this couple is very very prejudice [sic] and do like like [sic] ppl of color or foreign accents,” according to the lawsuit.
On March 12, Tranchant, who is a U.S. citizen, was prevented from his immediate supervisors from serving the Morgans in the Grill Restaurant
Wyndham Hotels and Resorts Welcomes Florida's Quorum Hotel-Tampa
PARSIPPANY, NJ, Apr 22, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Continuing its expansion in key markets, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, a subsidiary of Wyndham Worldwide /quotes/comstock/13*!wyn/quotes/nls/wyn (WYN 27.04, +0.62, +2.35%) , today announced that one of Florida's most widely known hotels, the 272-room Quorum Hotel-Tampa, will join the Wyndham(R) system in late May.
The hotel, to be renamed Wyndham Tampa Westshore, is located in the heart of Tampa's Westshore business district, just minutes from Tampa International Airport and Raymond James Stadium.
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The hotel, to be renamed Wyndham Tampa Westshore, is located in the heart of Tampa's Westshore business district, just minutes from Tampa International Airport and Raymond James Stadium.
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Marriott International Reports First Quarter Results
First quarter 2010 net income totaled $83 million, a 5 percent decline compared to first quarter 2009 adjusted net income. Diluted EPS totaled $0.22, down $0.02 from adjusted diluted EPS in the year-ago quarter. On February 11, 2010, the company forecasted first quarter diluted EPS of $0.15 to $0.21.
Reported net income was $83 million in the first quarter of 2010 compared to a reported net loss of $23 million in the year-ago quarter. Reported diluted EPS was $0.22 in the first quarter of 2010 compared to reported diluted losses per share of $0.06 in the first quarter of 2009.
Adjusted results for the 2009 first quarter exclude $129 million pretax ($84 million after-tax and $0.24 per diluted share) of restructuring costs and other charges and $26 million of non-cash charges ($0.07 per diluted share) in the provision for income taxes.
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Reported net income was $83 million in the first quarter of 2010 compared to a reported net loss of $23 million in the year-ago quarter. Reported diluted EPS was $0.22 in the first quarter of 2010 compared to reported diluted losses per share of $0.06 in the first quarter of 2009.
Adjusted results for the 2009 first quarter exclude $129 million pretax ($84 million after-tax and $0.24 per diluted share) of restructuring costs and other charges and $26 million of non-cash charges ($0.07 per diluted share) in the provision for income taxes.
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