ATLANTA—Urging customers to eat the book cover to cover, a new diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative introduced Thursday by fast food chain Chick-fil-A replaced all chicken with copies of How To Be An Anti-Racist. “In an effort to elevate historically marginalized voices in our country, we have swapped out our famous fried chicken fillets for copies of Ibram X. Kendi’s seminal book How To Be An Anti-Racist,” said CEO Andrew Cathy, emphasizing that the nonfiction bestseller that mixes elements of social commentary with memoir to shine a light on the state of race in modern America would still be soaked in the restaurant’s signature pickle brine, seasoned to perfection, pressure cooked in 100% refined peanut oil, and served on a toasted, buttered bun for that same great taste. “We understand how it was problematic to use only white-meat chicken in our products, and for that we are sorry. But with this new menu item, we are challenging the traditional ideas of what it means to be a sandwich in this country.” At press time, Chick-fil-A was criticized as “woke” after following up the sandwich’s release with White Fragility nuggets, which are served with a Ta-Nehisi Coates–inspired Between The Polynesian Sauce And Me.
Money Is Tight This Week So Here’s A Recipe For Five Tortilla Chips And Ketchup In A Bowl
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
In the ever-evolving landscape of the restaurant industry Hart House is committed to creating a space where plant-based food options are more accessible to all.
“This is plant-based food for the people…” Hart House CEO and co-founder Andy Hooper tells host Shawn Walchef of CaliBBQ Media. “…an opportunity to take food that is objectively delicious in its own right that just so happens to be made from something different than it’s normally made from.”
Hart House is an innovative quick-service restaurant concept founded by Kevin Hart and partners. The company is committed to the future of food, as well as the overall wellbeing of its customers.
“I founded Hart House to create a good experience that combines the joy of coming together over food, with the power of purpose,” Kevin Hart said on the Hart House website.
Drawing inspiration from renowned restaurant brands, CEO Andy Hooper envisions a melding of their successes with a goal of creating a job structure that empowers individuals managing Hart House units. Therefore offering them real equity and the opportunity to thrive.
“What would it look like if we took the best of Chick-Fil-A, the best of Outback’s Managing Partner program, the best of what Darden (Restaurants) has done to build their brand with full service over time. The best of what Cheesecake Factory did with their single unit operators.
“And rolled that all into a job that gave real equity to the people managing these units?” says Hooper. “Thinking about it more as an investment thesis than a cost management approach.”
This employee facing experience aligns seamlessly with Hart House’s overarching mission to create a space that is both hospitable to customers and serves the employee.
Andy Hooper recognizes that a restaurant’s success transcends its physical offerings. Taking cues from industry giants like McDonald’s, Hooper understands that building a lasting brand necessitates careful consideration of every detail that contributes to the broadest possible appeal.
With Hart House, the team is aiming to embrace the investment thesis that emphasizes the long-term benefits of cultivating a skilled, dedicated, and motivated workforce.
Hooper’s pursuit of his vision was amplified when he met with multi-hyphenate entertainer extraordinaire and health enthusiast Kevin Hart. During this initial meeting, Hooper posed an important question to Kevin.
“Candidly, my first question was, why do you need this?” he recalls. “Restaurants, as you know well, are not exactly a get rich quick scheme, especially for somebody who honestly probably has more to lose than to gain, at least on the surface. My question was like, why?”
Luckily, Hart’s answer aligned with Hooper’s vision and the two set the wheels in motion for what would become Hart House.
As we witness the birth of a new level of accessibility in plant based foods, the possibilities for both customers and employees in the realm of hospitality are expanding.
Hart House stands as a testament to Hooper, Hart, and team’s audacity and unwavering dedication to creating a paradigm shift in the restaurant industry and usher in a new era of quick-service food.
***
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With a game as expansive and malleable as Tears of the Kingdom, there are countless ways to solve puzzles, traverse the environment, defeat your enemies, or just have fun. As the game’s been out now just a couple of weeks, players are still discovering unique contraptions, and one that’s swiftly growing in popularity is not only incredibly effective, it’s quite simple to make. Introducing the “air bike.”
This Arcade-y Basketball Game Brings The NBA Jam Vibes
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom features a surprising combination of crafting and physics systems. And with Link’s new Ultrahand ability, players can combine all manner of items that interact with one another using simulated forces like weight and propulsion. The game also features an enormous open world, so inventive new ways to get around more efficiently are definitely of use. One of the most recent products of player ingenuity requires nothing more than two fans and a steering stick, fused together in just the right formation to create an airbike that lets you cruise the skies, or get from point A to point B without much fuss. And as the core components are rather abundant, this is a reliably easy contraption to produce.
Tears of the Kingdom’s Air Bike improves on similar designs
Though the air bike has been gaining attention on Twitter and TikTok, I first caught site of the build on YouTube channel 2uncle2dane, where gaming YouTuber Uncle Dane thoroughly explains the benefits of this remarkably simple construction, particularly over that of the “goblin glider” that’s also been a popular contraption and requires the same components.
Nintendo / 2uncle2dane
As you can see from the video, this device has a number of clear advantages: it doesn’t tip over too easily; it excels at transporting Koroks; and it even makes scouting the depths a breeze if you slap a brightbloom seed to the front of the bike to light the place up.
As the video also points out, fans and steering sticks are very easy to get. You probably have a bunch of them already in your inventory. And while making the bikes requires a little bit of finagling at first, perhaps the only challenging part of getting the most out of the vehicle is being sure you have enough batteries to make a trip last for more than a few moments.
How to make the Tears of the Kingdom Air Bike
Making an air bike in TotK is pretty easy, though it might take you a couple of tries to line everything up. As documented on the 2uncle2dane channel, first you’ll need to find a flat surface to work on. Then drop two fans and your steering stick. Fans can be found, among many other places, in the Zonai Dispenser near the Jirutagumac Shrine (which you can find mentioned in this guide) and steering sticks can be found in the Dispenser near the Mayam Shrine, which you can activate while grabbing all the pieces of the Glide armor set.
Position one fan, propulsion side down, flat on the ground. Then stand in front of it and Ultrahand the steering stick in front of the wheel so that the front of the stick is facing you. Rotate it back just a little by holding R and pushing up on the d-pad and glue it into place on the upper lip of the fan so that it makes a wide V-shape.
The steering stick should be sticking up in the air and you should see the prompt to ride it pop up when you walk near it (if it’s not placed quite right, you may get canceled out when attempting to ride the air bike, which wouldn’t be ideal).
You’ll then want to grab your second wheel and glue that to the front of the steering stick, also facing straight down, but slightly higher in elevation than the rear fan.
Once everything is assembled, you should be able to hop on and, in no time, you’ll be able to start easily hovering around. Like most contraptions with downward-facing fans, the air bike will have a tendency to ascend. That’s fine. To move forward, you’ll want to push up on the left stick to send that airflow behind you (as you would a helicopter in many other games), propelling you forward without gaining too much altitude.
And given that Ultrahanding isn’t a precise science, it’s more than likely that you’ll end up with a bike that’ll pull a little to the left or right. This is fairly easy to compensate for with gentle adjustments of the L stick while in flight. If your bike pulls a little too aggressively to either side, let it get some air before adjusting the direction. Otherwise, if it’s unmanageable, you’ll need to break the bike apart to fix it—and given that it’s only three pieces, that isn’t too annoying of a task. And if you’ve acquired the game’s Autobuild ability, once you’ve made a decent bike you can save it to your Favorites to replicate it any time without any fuss, provided you’ve got the resources.
You may want to attach a big battery to the front fan to increase its mileage. Note, however, that this will sort of screw with the bike’s center of gravity, meaning you’ll have to do a bit more course correction as you drift about.
Tears of the Kingdom features an impressive number of items and devices you can piece together using Ultrahand. But as the air bike demonstrates, simplicity is often perfection.
Cineworld Group said Thursday that its proposed restructuring has the backing of lenders controlling almost all of its legacy credit lines and most of the outstanding debt under its debtor-in-possession facility.
The London-based cinema company–which owns Regal Cinemas–said more lenders under its term loans due in 2025 and 2026 and revolving credit line due this year, have agreed to amended and restated versions of the restructuring support agreement and the backstop commitment agreement, first filed in early April in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
Now, the proposed restructuring has support of those holding and controlling 99% of the legacy credit lines and at least 69% of the outstanding indebtedness under the debtor-in-possession facility, the company said.
The proposed restructuring is expected to reduce indebtedness by around $4.53 billion, raise $800 million and provide $1.46 billion in new debt financing, the company said on April 3. The proposed restructuring doesn’t provide for any recovery for holders of Cineworld’s existing equity interests.
Cineworld now expects to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July. During the restructuring, the company has continued to operate its business and cinemas as usual, it said.
Cineworld entered into Chapter 11 in September, with around $1.94 billion of debt, and had been in talks with stakeholders since then to develop a reorganization plan to maximize value. The company’s shares fell in late February after it said it had received a number of proposals from potential parties to buy some or all of its business, but none involve an all-cash bid for the entire company, leaving shareholders empty handed
During its bankruptcy process, AMC Entertainment held discussions regarding a potential strategic acquisition of theaters and talks about reviving a previously scrapped merger with Cineplex were also held
In early April, Cineworld said it had entered a restructuring support agreement and a backstop commitment agreement with some lenders. At the same time, Cineworld said the marketing process in the U.S., the U.K. and Ireland will be terminated. Proposals for the rest of the world business–outside of the U.S., the U.K. and Ireland–continued to be considered, it said.
BookOutdoors users now have the convenience of booking stays at Advanced Outdoor Solutions’ properties directly through the platform, all with no booking fees or memberships.
DENVER, May 23, 2023 (Newswire.com)
– BookOutdoors, the fastest-growing online destination for planning and booking outdoor travel, is excited to announce a strategic collaboration with Advanced Outdoor Solutions, a renowned full-service outdoor hospitality consulting and management firm. Through this collaboration, Advanced Outdoor Solutions has listed their entire portfolio of properties on BookOutdoors, with outdoor accommodations ranging from campgrounds and RV parks to glamping resorts and marinas.
“We are thrilled to join forces with Advanced Outdoor Solutions,” stated Brian Nolan, co-founder & CEO of BookOutdoors. “As a top management company in the industry, AOS’ expertise translates into sought-after outdoor destinations with exceptional guest experiences, which aligns perfectly with BookOutdoors. We’ve already seen the popularity of these properties with customers on our platform.”
Advanced Outdoor Solutions is recognized for its commitment to delivering turnkey operations management to property owners, leveraging technology and integrations to elevate guest experiences and maximize the bottom line. With a nationwide portfolio of diverse properties that boast a variety of amenities and accommodations that cater to various preferences and group sizes, AOS meets the highest level of property management efficiency and guest satisfaction in the industry.
“Site nights are a perishable product,” said Kathleen Walsh, Founder & President of Advanced Outdoor Solutions. “You have limited time to sell them, and if you miss out, they are gone. So we are excited to partner with BookOutdoors to introduce our unique properties to a wider audience and leverage their user-friendly platform to sell site nights.”
BookOutdoors users will now have the convenience of booking stays at Advanced Outdoor Solutions’ properties directly through the platform, all with no booking fees or memberships required. This streamlined booking process enables travelers to plan and secure their outdoor getaways more efficiently.
About BookOutdoors
BookOutdoors is a rapidly growing travel booking website that focuses exclusively on outdoor hospitality. With BookOutdoors, guests can effortlessly reserve any type of outdoor accommodation they desire, such as RV parks, glamping resorts, cabins, tent camping, and marinas, without encountering any booking or membership fees. The unparalleled marketplace appeals to today’s traveler, who desires a comprehensive booking experience with modern features and benefits, while also helping property owners to broaden their audience and increase bookings. The founders of BookOutdoors are renowned leaders in outdoor hospitality, together with successful tech entrepreneurs, and are backed by leading VC investors and executives from the largest travel and hospitality businesses. For more information or to list your property, visit BookOutdoors.com.
About Advanced Outdoor Solutions
Founded by Kathleen Walsh, a 20-year veteran of the Outdoor Hospitality Industry, Advanced Outdoor Solutions takes park design and management to the next level with forward-thinking practices and attention to detail. For more information, visit advanced-outdoor.biz
MANASSAS, VA—Claiming that the gift was simply a gesture of kindness rather than an ethics violation, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas stated Friday that there was nothing wrong with a wealthy donor renting out an entire D.C.-area water park just for him. “One friend is allowed to treat another friend to a nice, relaxing day of wet and wild fun in the sun, aren’t they?” said Thomas from the middle of a cozy tube floating down SplashDown’s lazy river, explaining how much easier it was to enjoy all 13 acres of northern Virginia’s largest water park when there were no lines or other people sharing the attractions. “Harlan Crow and I go back many years, so there’s nothing unusual or nefarious about him paying $600,000 for them to open up before their season has even started and attend to my every whim to make sure I have a total blast. Show me in the bylaws where I’m violating a condition of my employment by riding the Tropical Twister as many times as I want with no wait. Plus, Neil and Sonya are going to be so jealous when I go back to work with a solid tan and a belly full of free ice cream.” At press time, Crow had reportedly tipped a teenaged pool attendant $1,500 to carry Thomas up the wooden stairs at Pipeline Tower so he could go for another ride.
When Andrew Pessano was looking to create a state-of-the-art indoor pickleball facility in southern New Jersey and take advantage of the surging interest in the sport, he considered building it from scratch. But he and his partners realized it would take at least two years and likely cost well over $1 million.
So, Pessano and his team found a different way to achieve their goal: They leased a vacant big-box space — formerly home to a Burlington BURL, +0.44%
store, in fact — and turned it into Proshot Pickleball, a membership facility replete with eight cushioned courts, viewing decks, a pro shop and a players lounge.
Pessano says that since opening in mid-February, he’s already signed up more than 300 paid members. “The first couple of months we’re busy, busy,” he adds.
Proshot Pickleball could be something of a model for the future of what is often described as the fastest-growing sport in the country; a game that shares elements with tennis, ping-pong and badminton. In short, pickleball could soon be coming to that vacant space in your local mall — or to that abandoned big-box store. (Consider all those soon-to-be-empty Bed Bath & Beyond locations.)
“Pickleball ‘will help America’s malls to become the social hub they once were.’”
The trend is already happening: A recent retail-outlook report from JLL, a company that tracks the commercial real-estate market, points to pickleball facilities in locations ranging from a former Saks Off Fifth store in Connecticut, to a shuttered Belk department-store location in Georgia.
Pickleball “court owners are targeting malls for expansion,” says the report.
Of course, no one is saying that pickleball won’t continue to be played in parks and other public spaces, or even people’s driveways. Inherent in the game’s appeal, say fans, is that it can be played just about anywhere. But there are notable factors driving the move into malls and other retail locations.
Begin with that surging interest in pickleball. Nearly 9 million Americans are now playing the game, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association reports — an astounding year-over-year increase of 85.7%.
All those players need places to play, but the lack of available public court space in many cities and towns has led to all sorts of skirmishes, with issues arising when players use tennis facilities or take up space in playgrounds. As one parent complained about the pickleballers when the turf war erupted at a New York City playground: “It’s not a coexistence, it’s a complete and utter takeover.”
That leaves more room for operators of private facilities, like the pickleball court owners that JLL cites, to enter the picture — and many concepts, even chains, are starting to emerge to address the demand. But where should they go? Again, building from scratch can take a lot of money, and time.
“Nearly 9 million million Americans are now playing pickleball, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association reports — an astounding year-over-year increase of 85.7%.”
Meanwhile, mall operators and landlords of other retail spaces, such as big-box stores, are continually looking for new concepts to bring into their spaces, especially as brick-and-mortar retail stores fight to stay relevant and afloat at a time when online shopping has become the norm for many Americans.
In turn, those concepts are more often about “experiences” rather than shopping, says James Cook, a research director at JLL. Think museums, golf simulators and pickleball.
It’s about redefining the retail landscape, Cook says. “The idea is this is something new and unique,” he adds of these emerging types of mall/big-box tenants, including pickleball facilities.
Mike Leigh, author of “Zen and the Art of Pickleball,” sees an especial logic to pickleball in malls. These retails spaces are all about bringing people together, something that is all too easily forgotten in a point-and-click world of online shopping. And pickleball is a game that’s inherently social because of its close-up nature.
So the two make a natural combo, Leigh says: Pickleball “will help America’s malls to become the social hub they once were.”
CityPickle, a New York City-based operator of pickleball facilities, opened a pop-up venue at the Hudson Yards development last year.
CityPickle
Still, there are plenty of arguments to the contrary, so this is not a one-size-fits-all solution.
America’s malls and other retail hubs have their share of empty spaces, but the situation may not be as dire as it seems, Cook says. The points to the current retail vacancy rate of 4.2% being “at historic lows,” noting that there’s been considerable recovery since the darkest days of the pandemic.
Moreover, he says, higher-end malls are doing especially well — and it’s those spaces that tend to be a good fit for experiential concepts like pickleball. In other words, these malls may like the idea, but they aren’t necessarily begging for tenants.
Plus, Cook says pickleball facilities can need lots of space — concepts often have a food-and-drink component for pre- and post-game socializing. And facility operators like to have outdoor space, if possible, for the warmer months. Such requirements can pose challenges in a traditional mall setup, he says.
“I think [pickleball] only works in some specific instances,” he says.
Pessano, of South Jersey’s Proshot Pickleball, points to another issue: If the space’s support columns aren’t situated far enough apart from one another, it will make it difficult to have enough courts to make for a viable business. And the ceiling height can’t be too low, either, he adds.
These discouraging realities notwithstanding, it appears pickleball operators will continue to consider abandoned mall spaces and big-box stores as a good option to create much-needed court space. Take CityPickle, a private operator that already set up a pop-up facility in New York City’s Hudson Yards mixed-use development in the past year, and is looking to establish permanent court spaces in the Big Apple and elsewhere.
CityPickle founders Mary Cannon and Erica Desai say they are considering abandoned retail locations as possibilities. They like the open space these places provide, and they say that landlords appreciate having tenants that bring the kind of buzz and energy that a pickleball facility offers.
Guests can now effortlessly book stays at Blue Water properties directly through the BookOutdoors marketplace, with no booking fees or memberships.
DENVER, May 16, 2023 (Newswire.com)
– BookOutdoors, the fastest-growing online destination for booking outdoor travel, has begun working with outdoor hospitality specialist Blue Water to list select properties from their portfolio on the BookOutdoors marketplace.
As one of the largest privately owned real estate developers on the East Coast, Blue Water specializes in creating premium outdoor destinations that offer unforgettable experiences for families and travelers. BookOutdoors’ customers will now have access to book a wide range of Blue Water’s properties, including campgrounds, RV resorts, marinas, and glamping resorts across the country.
“We’re thrilled to be working with Blue Water,” said Brian Nolan, co-founder & CEO at BookOutdoors. “Their commitment to creating exceptional outdoor experiences aligns perfectly with our mission to radically elevate the experience of booking outdoor travel. Now, our customers will have access to some of the most beautiful and well-maintained outdoor properties in the country.”
Blue Water’s properties offer a range of amenities, including swimming pools, water parks, fishing piers, and recreational activities such as mini-golf, hiking, and biking trails. The properties also have a range of accommodations, including luxury cabins, tiny homes, glamping tents, and RV sites with full hookups, all instantly bookable on BookOutdoors.
“At Blue Water, we’re passionate about creating outdoor experiences that bring families and friends together,” said Todd Burbage, CEO of Blue Water. “By partnering with BookOutdoors, we’re able to reach a broader audience and make it easier for people to discover and enjoy our properties.”
BookOutdoors’ customers can now book stays at participating Blue Water properties directly through the BookOutdoors website, with no booking fees or memberships required, making it easier to plan and book their outdoor adventures.
About BookOutdoors
BookOutdoors is a rapidly growing travel booking website that focuses exclusively on outdoor hospitality. With BookOutdoors, guests can effortlessly reserve any type of outdoor accommodation they desire, such as RV parks, glamping resorts, cabins, tent camping, and marinas, without encountering any booking or membership fees. The unparalleled marketplace appeals to today’s traveler, who desires a comprehensive booking experience with modern features and benefits, while also helping property owners to broaden their audience and increase bookings. The founders of BookOutdoors are renowned leaders in outdoor hospitality, together with successful tech entrepreneurs, and are backed by leading VC investors and executives from the largest travel and hospitality businesses. For more information or to list your property, visit BookOutdoors.com.
About Blue Water
Founded in 2002, Blue Water specializes in investing, developing, and managing RV resorts, campgrounds, hotels, and attractions. With dozens of resort-area properties across the USA, the Blue Water family is committed to creating elite assets, delivering exceptional guest experiences, and enhancing the communities we serve. To learn more, visit BWDC.com.
Fanatics Inc. will buy the U.S. operations of Australia’s PointsBet for about $150 million, in the company’s largest foray yet into sports betting.
PointsBet PBH, -18.70%
announced the deal Sunday night, specifying that the acquisition only applies to PointsBet’s U.S. assets, not its businesses in Australia and Canada. CNBC first reported the deal. Fanatics did not immediately reply to MarketWatch’s request for comment Sunday night.
PointsBet is an online sportsbook that launched in the U.S. in 2019, and operates in 15 states, including New Jersey, Iowa, Illinois and Colorado.
“Despite the strategic success building a valuable asset in the U.S., the costs of operating in a state-by-state environment, together with the requirement to build significant scale to compete against well capitalized operators, led us to explore a number of options,” PointsBet Chief Executive Sam Swanell said in a statement. “The sale of the U.S. Business to Fanatics Betting and Gaming delivers the most attractive risk-adjusted value outcome for shareholders compared to the risks and benefits of other options including the status quo.”
PointsBet shareholders are expected to vote on the sale at their annual meeting in late June.
The deal should increase pressure on U.S. sports-gambling companies such as DraftKings Inc. DKNG, -1.96%
and FanDuel. In late April, Fanatics launched sportsbook wagering for its customers in Ohio and Tennessee, and the Wall Street Journal reported at the time that the company pans to invest about $1 billion in its new sports-betting division.
In an interview, Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin told the Journal he wants Fanatics to be the world’s top sports-betting company within the next 10 years, and expects its betting operations to be profitable by 2025 or 2026.
In December, Florida-based Fanatics — which got its start in sports apparel and collectibles — closed a $700 million funding round, valuing it at about $31 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported. The privately held company is expected to eventually launch an IPO.
Nights booked on Airbnb Inc. hit a record high in the first quarter as more guests traveled overseas and returned to cities, leading to the company’s first profitable start to the year on record, executives announced Tuesday.
But executives’ forecast was less bullish, even though they expect a strong summer travel season and second-quarter revenue growth. They cautioned that growth in nights and experiences booked will be “unfavorable” compared with the year-ago quarter, when there was a surge in travel demand as fears about…
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Mr. Bake Kareem Queeman has been baking since the age of eight and has found fame from the oven to the camera. Now, he has become a rising voice advocating for the LGBTQ+ community.
Kareem Queeman found his purpose by answering a difficult question: “If I was to leave this Earth tomorrow, would I be happy with the life that I’ve lived?”
After acknowledging that his answer to the question posed above was “no”, Queeman took action to change the narrative and became a strong advocate for the “unseen” LGBTQ+ community.
“I started to really start changing with that and start speaking out more about that change, about going to therapy. And then that’s when I found that passion,” says Kareem Queeman to Restaurant Influencers host Shawn Walchef of CaliBBQ Media.
One of the most important qualities an entrepreneur must possess is courage. Kareem Queeman didn’t always possess that in spades.
After a meeting with a fellow black entrepreneur who made wine, Queeman realized the importance of telling his story with media, which helped him progress and become the powerful voice he is today.
“He said, they will get into your story more than they will buy into your product. And I sat on that for a little while,” Queeman says of the encounter. “And then it hit me six or seven months later.”
Running a business is not an easy feat, and there will be plenty of obstacles to overcome, and Queeman has faced his fair share of adversity. But he has done the internal work necessary to persevere and advises other entrepreneurs to do the same.
“When you are faced with another adversity or when you are faced with another opportunity or you want to go for something and you start to doubt yourself, I want everybody to remind themselves, how did they get to where they are today?” asks Queeman. “Do not forget your power.”
Kareem Queeman’s story is an inspiring one. His journey to find and intentionally pursue his passion of becoming a voice for the LGBTQ+ community is one that reminds us that we have the power to achieve our dreams, and find our own voice, as well.
***
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LONDON—Crashing through the stained glass window of Westminster Abbey in a desperate attempt to free himself, a panicked King Charles III was seen flailing wildly Saturday after getting his head stuck inside the coronation crown. “Help! Help! Get me out of this godforsaken crown this instant!” said the king, who tried to use his jewel-encrusted scepter to pry off St. Edward’s Crown before accidentally getting his pants caught on a pulley that hoisted him onto the face of Big Ben, exposing his heart-patterned boxers for the entire kingdom to see. “Ow, it hurts! Butter, I need butter! Obey your king’s command for more butter! Whoop whoop whoop whoop whoop!” At press time, Prince William reportedly attempted to free his father by cutting his head off with a sword.
Mullen Automotive Inc. is attracting more meme-like attention from retail investors than traditional meme stock darlings AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. and GameStop Corp., according to an influential meme-stock trader.
The electric vehicle company’s stock has become the “meme go to” for retail investors, said the trader, who goes by the name Obi. The trader participates in the WallStreetBets group on Reddit under the user name Major-Access2321.
Obi, whose Making Easy Money YouTube channel has over 28,000 subscribers, said that Mullen MULN, -7.98%
is generating plenty of buzz across social media. “When it comes to meme stock world on Reddit, Twitter and now even Facebook, groups are popping up calling themselves the ‘MULN army’,” he told MarketWatch.
The trader said that “less and less” people are speaking about AMC Entertainment AMC, +3.14%
and GameStop GME, +2.38%.
“More and more people are speaking about MULN … they call it the meme that makes sense,” he added.
Mullen shares have seen a dramatic spike in trading volume recently, with average trading volume of 1.1 billion shares Wednesday and 547.8 million shares over the past five days, according to FactSet data. The stock’s 65-day average trading volume is 279 million shares. Mullen ended Wednesday’s session down 21.1% on the company’s announcement of a reverse stock split.
AMC’s stock ended Wednesday’s session up 4.4% on trading volume of 25.1 million shares, below its 65-day average trading volume of 35.4 million shares. GameStop’s stock closed up 1.7% Wednesday on trading volume of 3.2 million shares, below its 65-day average of 4.8 million shares.
The stock was down 18% on Thursday.
The over outlook for the EV market looks bright, according to Obi. “Retail feel like they have something special here with MULN,” he added.
On Wednesday Mullen Automotive Inc. announced that it will conduct the 1-for-25 reverse stock split as the electric-vehicle company looks to maintain its Nasdaq listing.
The stock will continue to trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the existing symbol “MULN” and will begin trading on a split-adjusted basis at market open Thursday.
In March, Mullen announced that the Nasdaq had approved the company’s request for a 180-day extension to meet the $1 minimum-bid-price requirement. On Sept. 7, 2022, the Nasdaq notified the company that its stock was not compliant with rules as it had traded below $1 for more than 30 days.
Mullen’s stock soared last year after Amazon.com Inc.’s AMZN, +0.34%
delivery partner placed an order for up to 600 cargo vans, and the company has since teamed up with Rapid Response Defense Systems to supply vans for federal government business.
In December, Mullen announced that it is partnering with Loop Global Inc. to build public and private EV-charging technology, infrastructure and network solutions. Earlier this year, Mullen joined forces with Qiantu Motors to launch what they called an EV supercar.
HOUSTON—After the measure was fast-tracked through the city council, a new zoning law went into effect this week that requires all developers in Houston to put in 10 additional parking spaces for every parking space. “We’re dedicated to adopting urban planning strategies that ensure our community has access to a sufficient number of parking spaces for every parking space that we pave,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner, cutting the ribbon on a new parking spot as hundreds of pounds of concrete were immediately poured on all sides of him to create the legally mandated supplementary spaces. “Previously, we only allotted five parking spaces per space, and that has proven inadequate. For too long we’ve stood by and watched as historic parts of our beautiful city stood in the way of more and more parking spaces. Meanwhile, we have fewer than a dozen spots for every man, woman, and child in Houston. That is simply unacceptable.” At press time, a second law was passed requiring that 10 parking garages be built for every square inch of green space in the city.
Police Officers Explain Why They Are Resigning En Masse
As some U.S. hotels hung on to practices they adopted during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic — such as eliminating daily room cleanings — the number of hotel housekeepers fell by more than 102,000 last year from prepandemic levels, new data show.
The total number of hotel housekeeping jobs as of May 2022 was 364,990, a 22% decline from the total of 467,270 such positions during the same period in 2019, according to numbers released last week by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A lawsuit filed in Delaware in April against the travel site Tripadvisor and its majority shareholder is highlighting what may be a growing trend: companies seeking to shift their incorporations to Nevada to avoid Delaware’s more stringent and entrenched legal standards.
The suit was filed on behalf of a group of Tripadvisor Inc. TRIP shareholders, who are hoping to persuade the Delaware Chancery Court to stop the company from pushing ahead with board-approved plans to reincorporate in Nevada, arguing their motive is to take…
Nicole Rubi, founder and owner of La Petite Maison, has partnered with David Barokas, the founder of the luxury hospitality and entertainment company DB Group. Experts in brand development, they have been entrusted with the expansion of the La Petite Maison brand globally.
LONDON, England, April 27, 2023 (Newswire.com)
– La Petite Maison, the emblematic restaurant located in the old town of Nice, world-renowned for its Mediterranean cuisine and festive atmosphere, has partnered with DB Group for their international roll-out.
La Petite Maison is the brainchild of the Rubi family, who opened the restaurant in the heart of Nice in 1987. It has since gained international acclaim, becoming an institution on the French Riviera thanks to authentic Mediterranean cuisine served in elegantly offbeat surroundings. The Rubi family and the DB Group later collaborated to open La Petite Maison in Palm Beach Cannes, and it resonated with global success.
Nicole Rubi adds: “With the tremendous success of La Petite Maison Palm Beach, it’s fundamental that our brand remains authentic. Thanks to the latest opening in Cannes, we’re confident that together with David Barokas and his team, we will successfully roll out our brand in markets beyond France with care and savoir-faire.”
The next La Petite Maison will open in Marbella’s Puente Romano Beach Resort hotel in 2024 in an exciting partnership signed by DB Group and the owner of this flagship hotel, Daniel Shamoon. In the same year, the brand will expand to Paris and Saint Barthélémy, with plans to develop the concept across Europe, the Middle East and the United States in 2025.
Building on the success of La Petite Maison, DB Group will add the restaurant concept to its portfolio of brands worldwide. La Petite Maison joins household names including La Guérite, Anna, Tamarín, Mamo Michelangelo, Luigi, Palm Beach Cannes, Shellona, Medusa, Gina and Pastis, among others.
The sport, often described as a cross between tennis and ping pong, has exploded in popularity over the past few years. Nearly 9 million Americans are now playing the game, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association reports — a year-over-year increase of 85.7%. Many towns across the U.S. are allocating federal COVID-19 aid to build pickleball courts. And the Wichita City Council recently voted to spend over $6 million on a pickleball complex.
