Guest column: Every state bordering TN has something we don't — and it's hurting us

What does Arkansas, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, and Alabama have that Tennessee does not? Answer: construction and rehabilitation occurring in their rural Main Streets that is creating jobs, preserving local heritage, and building a prosperous future for generations to come. Historic rehabilitation creates jobs, revitalizes our downtowns, repurposes underutilized iconic buildings, and … Read more

Cool Offices: PowerObjects' new North Loop home embraces bright, playful vibe

You know you have a “cool” office on your hands when employees are jostling for a space in the new digs. That’s exactly what happened to PowerObjects’ Associate Vice President of Global Marketing Jeff Wedren when his company opened a new office in the TractorWorks Building in Minneapolis’ North Loop neighborhood in June. “We ran … Read more

Historic downtown Troy building to welcome two loft apartments

A downtown Troy building dating back to the 1860s will soon house a restaurant, offices and apartments — all under one roof. The Dye building, located at 5 S. Market St., was purchased in October 2017 by Steve and Melanie Smith, who own and operate the restaurant on its first floor, The Caroline. The 21,000-square-foot … Read more

Check out what some of Atlanta's top architecture firms have been up to (Photos/Renderings)

What were some of Atlanta’s top architecture firms working on this year? We asked them, and they showed us. HKS designed Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Center for Advanced Pediatrics in Brookhaven, Georgia. Completed in June 2018, the 260,000-square-foot facility, with interiors by Stanley Beaman Sears, put complex care specialists, state-of-the-art technology and leading-edge research for … Read more

Downtown Dayton lunchtime eatery reopens

A downtown breakfast and lunchtime eatery has reopened after a fire closed its doors for eight months. The Brunch Club, at 601 S. Main St., reopened Dec. 22 after the kitchen fire last April, reports our news partner WDTN-TV. “It feels great actually,” said owner, Jim Vari. “It was a struggle but we got through it. … Read more

2019 Hawaii Business Forecast: Commercial Real Estate

We asked local experts for their forecasts for Hawaii businesses in 2019, and they shared with us what they’re excited about (and concerned about) for their industry in the coming year. Here’s what leaders in commercial real estate had to say. Ian Clagstone, president, Standard Commercial What are you most concerned about for your business … Read more

Mount Vernon's Brew House No. 16 to close Dec. 30

Brew House No. 16, the bar and restaurant in a converted Mount Vernon fire station, will close its doors on Dec. 30. “It’s a long story with a story ending: we’re closing,” a man who identified himself as Brew House’s owner said when reached by phone at the restaurant Monday. He declined to provide further … Read more

KCK group opens restaurant across from courthouse where its leader was tried

Last month, U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree issued an arrest warrant for local religious leader Royall Jenkins for failing to pay $8 million in court-ordered damages to a former follower for trafficking and unpaid labor. Now, it appears that Jenkins’ organization has opened a “teaching restaurant” across from the federal courthouse in Kansas City, Kan. … Read more

Luby’s urges shareholders to vote against activist investor’s board nominees

Houston-based restaurant company Luby’s Inc. (NYSE: LUB) issued a letter to shareholders Dec. 24 urging them to vote against an activist investor’s board nominees amid a proxy battle. The investor, New York-based Bandera Partners LLC, has been pushing for changes at Luby’s and last week filed a preliminary proxy statement to nominate four individuals to … Read more

Year in Review: Jax's Urban Core sees progress

Downtown took some positive steps this year, which was an overall mixed bag for the urban core. Among the bright spots: the completion of the Barnett Bank building; the approval of federal funding to demolish the Hart Bridge ramp, a necessary first step for the development of the Shipyards; a developer laying out plans for … Read more

NYC 'retail queen' Faith Hope Consolo dies

Faith Hope Consolo, one of New York’s most well-known retail brokers, has died. She was 69 years old. According to multiple media reports, Consolo died of a heart attack on Sunday, Dec. 23. Douglas Elliman, the company for which Consolo was chair of its retail division, confirmed the news to the New York Business Journal … Read more

Luby’s urges shareholders to vote against activist investor’s board nominees

Houston-based restaurant company Luby’s Inc. (NYSE: LUB) issued a letter to shareholders Dec. 24 urging them to vote against an activist investor’s board nominees amid a proxy battle. The investor, New York-based Bandera Partners LLC, has been pushing for changes at Luby’s and last week filed a preliminary proxy statement to nominate four individuals to … Read more

Valley commercial real state groups unveil 2019 leadership

A pair of Valley commercial real estate advocacy and professional groups, BOMA Greater Phoenix and the Central Arizona chapter of CCIM Institute have chosen their new leadership for 2019. Here’s a rundown of the two groups’ key players and their roles with the organizations: BOMA Greater Phoenix: Robert Vincent, Cordia Capital Management (BOMA president) Melissa … Read more

Construction jobs increase in Florida in November

Forty-two states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between November 2017 and November 2018 — including here in Florida — according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data. Texas added the most construction jobs during year-over-year in November, 47,100 jobs, a 6.5 percent increase. Other states … Read more