Restaurant

St. Charles, Mo. -- Cullinan Properties continues its growth in the St. Charles, Missouri, region with the announcement of three new restaurants joining the Streets of St. Charles.

Wasabi Sushi Bar and Picasso's Coffee House are targeted to open September 2015 and P.F. Chang’s China Bistro is expected to open in spring 2016. The restaurants will join a growing list of eateries at Streets of St. Charles: Prasino, Bar Louie, Tucano’s, Dewey’s Pizza, and Five Guys Burgers and Fries.
 

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is questioning whether to use a broader definition of the term “joint employer,” a move that could bring sweeping changes to the restaurant and retail/wholesale franchisor model. Whether a large fast-food company exhibited more control than it should have over its franchisees was the most recent catalyst for the proposed change, but several earlier cases have challenged the more than 30-year-old standard for determining joint employment.

On-trend apparel brand Rebecca Minkoff has opened a 4,600-sq.-ft. tech-savvy flagship — its largest space to date — on Melrose Avenue.

Starbucks Coffee Company's first store in Panama is located in Panama City, in the Street Mall shopping center.

Click here to see slideshows of Rebecca Minkoff's "store of the future" concept in Los Angeles and Starbucks' new Panama City location.

Taco Bell has developed a new store design and banner for the brand’s expansion into urban markets.

The new model — designed in house — eliminates the drive-thru and uses technology to help simplify and modernize the restaurant experience. The format, called Taco Bell Cantina, will debut in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago on Tuesday, Sep. 22. The second will open in San Francisco later this month. And in a big change for the company, Cantina customers will be able to buy wine or beer to accompany their tacos.  

Bentonville, Ark. – Five Walmart stores in central Florida are reportedly getting ready to serve the needs of hungry customers.

New York -- The administration of Gov. Andrew Cuomo approved a wage increase that will gradually raise the minimum wage for fast-food workers in New York to $15 an hour. And now Cuomo wants the hike to be even broader.

Speaking Thursday at a labor rally in New York City, Cuomo proposed a $15 minimum statewide wage for all industries, with the increase to be enacted over time. It would give the Empire State the highest statewide minimum wage in the country. New York’s minimum wage is now $8.75 an hour.

Dallas -- Corner Bakery Café is expanding in Pennsylvania with the addition of eight stores throughout northern Pittsburgh. A group of franchisees with extensive real estate and retail experience is opening the new stores.

Corner Bakery Café is also targeting southern Pittsburgh for franchise growth. The retailer has more than 190 company-owned and franchise stores currently open, and franchise agreements representing commitments for 398 units.
 

Amazon is priming the appetites of customers in Seattle with a new feature as part of its Prime Now one-hour delivery service.