Restaurant

Milford, Conn. -- It’s getting harder and harder to keep track of all the activity in the mobile ordering and mobile payment space. The latest big announcement comes from Subway.

The fast-casual restaurant giant announced on Thursday new updates to its mobile app and website that include more mobile payment options, along with giving customers the ability to order on-the-go. Subway said it is adding PayPal as an option customers can use to pay for meals when they order remotely or pay in-store using the Subway app’s mobile payment feature.

North Bergen. N.J. - Vitamin Shoppe Inc. hired David M. Kastin as senior VP, general counsel and corporate secretary effective Aug. 17. Kastin will be responsible for overseeing all internal and external legal matters of the company and will serve as corporate secretary to Vitamin Shoppe's board of directors.  

Seattle - Starbucks Corp. is looking to increase its corporate ownership stake. The retailer has authorized the repurchase of an additional 50 million shares of the company's common stock under its ongoing share repurchase program.

This authorization has no expiration date and is in addition to the 11 million shares that remained available for repurchase as of June 28, 2015 under an existing authorization.

Germantown, Tenn. - Trademark Property Co. has broken ground on the second phase of redevelopment at its Saddle Creek shopping center in Germantown, Tennessee, focusing on enhancements to the north side of the property. Combined with the initial phase, which is nearing completion, the redevelopment efforts will add approximately 25,000 sq. ft. of new retail space to the property.

Houston - Transwestern represented Mod Pizza in five leases totaling approximately 13,662 sq. ft. in the Houston market. Grant Walker, VP, and Chris Reyes, broker associate, who serve as exclusive advisors for Mod Pizza in the Houston market, represented the retailer in the transactions.

Mod will be operating more than 100 stores across the U.S. by the end of 2015 and has plans to open more than 30 additional locations in Houston within the next four to five years.

Mod Pizza’s newest Houston locations include:

Seattle – Starbucks Corp. reported impressive financial performance in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 that could be described as downright perky. Net income jumped 22% to $626.7 million from $512.6 million the same quarter a year earlier, with higher pretax earnings offsetting higher income tax charges to produce profit growth.  

Maryville, Tenn. - Ruby Tuesday Inc. has appointed David Skena as chief marketing officer.

During the past nine years, Skena progressed through PepsiCo Inc. with increasing levels of responsibility, most recently serving as the VP of premium and value brands.

In the chief marketing officer role, Skena will be responsible for developing and implementing effective marketing strategies and initiatives to build brand awareness and customer loyalty through traditional media, digital and social channels, and other innovative platforms.

Irvine, Calif. - Irvine Company Retail Properties is opening new restaurants across its Orange County portfolio in California, including Fashion Island, Irvine Spectrum Center, The Market Place, and several community centers.