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Bizz Buzz News nuggets and coffee shop chatter from Paducah and the area. By Joe Walker jwalker@paducahsun.com |
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Chick-fil-A opened July 15 at 5193 Hinkleville Road by giving certificates for a year's supply of food to the first 100 adults in line. Chick-fil-A has awarded nearly $11.2 million in free food at restaurant grand openings, with nearly another $1.8 million to be given away in 2010. Mark Riley, who operates Chick-fil-A in Kentucky Oaks Mall, is franchisee for the new 70-employee restaurant in front of Kohl's. It is among 78 new locations the chain plans to open this year, creating nearly 4,500 jobs. "Truett Cathy started Chick-fil-A more than 42 years ago with the aim of providing the best in freshly prepared food and customer service," Riley said. "The goal remains the same for my team as we open our new Paducah restaurant." The 4,275 square-foot eatery seats 144 and has an indoor play area with an interactive section for toddlers. Hours: 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday. New menu items: Chick-fil-A Yogurt Parfait and medium-roast Colombian coffee. South Eastern is investing $10 million in equity funding in College, while College recently secured $7.5 million in debt financing. The money will enhance College's growth and maintain South Eastern's focus on supplying affordable used textbooks to thousands of college book stores nationwide, the two firms said. South Eastern Chief Executive Officer Chuck Jones will become College CEO and president. He said partnering with College will enable his firm to increase the catalog of used textbooks available to longtime bookstore customers and give them access to the rental market. Founded in early 2009, College has grown into one of the largest online textbook rental companies. Revenue this year is on pace to exceed 2009 revenue and earnings by more than tenfold. Information: www.sebook.com and www.collegebookrenter.com. President and Chief Executive Officer Seth Myers said the 21⁄2-year, $7 million effort required considerable training, aircraft modification and equipment purchases. The entire fleet of Bell 206 LongRanger helicopters are modified with night-vision goggles, and crew members are trained to use them.
"The company embraced this risk-mitigation tool as another way to keep our employees and patients safe," he said. Independence ranked eighth among top-performing community banks in the nation with assets between $100 million and $3 billion, according to the American Bankers Association. Independence moved up three spots from last year in the rankings, based on consolidated statistics reflecting return on average equity. "Anytime you get recognized, it makes you feel good, but this is nationwide," said Danny Evitts, McCracken County president. In 2009, Independence assets grew 8 percent versus its peer group's zero percent. Deposits rose by $74 million, or 13 percent, and were up $98 million during the first half of 2010. Based in Owensboro, Independence has 19 locations in seven counties.
IVS Inc., a Web-design firm at 612 Broadway, celebrates 10 years in business with new services and name change to Innovations Branding House. CEO Todd Duff said the company adds video services, business branding and logo design to its traditional Web design, photography, graphic design and image branding. "Expanding our name from IVS to Innovations was the next step in our business as our thought process does change from providing our clients with exceptional Web design services to offering a full business and imaging branding solution," Duff said. Information: www.thebrandinghouse.net. Owner Jeremy McLin and operator David Hicks offer one-stop cremation in a new building covering more than 2,000 square feet. McLin said the business provides simple, dignified, respectful, earth-friendly, affordable cremation. Information: 270-443-5132. Dr. Calvin Shanks, who previously practiced with McCracken County Chiropractic for three years, said he opened the clinic to be available to as many people as possible. Shanks requires no appointment and charges $20 per session. He said the first session is about 25 minutes and includes a physical examination and patient history. Follow-up sessions are shorter. Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays. Information: 270-450-0848. The new business offers self-directed IRA retirement accounts to people nationwide. They choose among a variety of investments beyond traditional stocks, bonds or mutual funds. "This opens the market to buy real estate, precious metals, tax liens, private company stocks and an array of other items," said President-CEO Doug Lawson. He has more than 20 years' financial industry experience, most recently as market president of Heritage Bank in Murray. Revenue rose 7.9 percent from $36.8 million during the same period last year. Net income increased 7.1 percent from $5 million, or 33 cents per share. President-CEO Steve Powless said the 25th straight quarter of revenue growth reflected higher core processing sales and the October acquisition of Myriad Systems of Oklahoma City, Okla. Myriad does data processing for about 1,500 banks and credit unions.
Verner Johnson architects and officials of the planned $100 million Discovery Park of America in Union City, Tenn., on June 22 unveiled the design for the main exhibition building and announced plans for showcases including an historic airplane and working gristmill. People attending a public event at Everett Stewart Regional Airport got a look at plans for the flagship Discovery Center. The curved building will have two large, open atriums; a 200-foot observation tower; an outdoor deck encircling a room for 50-60 guests; and a grand hall seating about 250. A Stearman PT-17 airplane that flew during the ceremony will hang in one of the atriums. The Army used it to train World War II pilots at Everett Stewart. Another display was a 12-foot wooden cog gear from an 1800 gristmill that will be reassembled into a working mill. It will anchor the north end of the 50-acre park and launch a water feature meandering throughout. Other planned features: dinosaurs, a giant climb-through human body, an earthquake simulator and an interactive starship. After a change in architects, site preparation is set to resume in August, said Jim Rippy, park chairman. Building construction is scheduled to resume in early 2011, with opening targeted for late 2012. The Clinic at Wal-Mart marks the 34th clinic in Wal-Mart stores across nine states. Hospital CEO Keith Bailey said it will provide fast, affordable access to basic health care services such as check-ups, seasonal immunizations, screenings, and treating minor illnesses and injuries. "Our clinic is staffed with licensed health care providers, even on nights and weekends, so families can receive quality care without a long wait," he said. "It is designed to treat everyday illnesses like sore throats." Hours: 8 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays; 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. The clinic is a way to add customer value, said Bruce Shephard, Wal-Mart director of health business development. Surveys of other Wal-Mart clinic customers show 10 to 15 percent would have used hospital emergency rooms had Wal-Mart service not been available. Another 5 to 10 percent would have gone without treatment, potentially leading to more serious complications.
John McIntosh of Wickliffe-based Leigh & Associates is teaming with Riverbend Timber Framing of Blissfield, Mich., to build an Old World-style home with super-insulated panel walls on Jonathan Creek near Benton. The Expanded Polystyrene foam panels are rated for energy savings of 50 to 70 percent, said Earl Burden of Oklahoma Timber Frames, a Riverbend representative. Designed by Leigh & Associates and manufactured by Riverbend, the custom home has soaring timbered ceilings, an open floor plan and huge windows. Burden said the pre-cut timber frame is assembled in sections, fastened by hardwood pegs and put up the way barns are raised. A crane and hand labor typically erect a structure in two or three days, he said. Insulated panels are then installed to enclose the walls and roof. Information/appointments to see the home: Burden at 918-241-2214 or eburden@cbtulsa.com. Hollingsworth, the college's food coordinator, unveiled the delicacies June 21 for lunch at a world trade conference at the WKCTC Emerging Technology Center. "This was a great way for us to showcase our support of local businesses," she said. Kentucky Proud is a Kentucky Department of Agriculture program networking Kentucky farmers, restaurants, food distributors and other vendors. Ingredients for the luncheon came from Garrett's Fresh Market, Broyle's Apiary, Wyatt Farms, and Wurth Farms — all Kentucky Proud members. Information: www.westkentucky.kctcs.edu or www.kyproud.com. The chapel is drawing interest from out-of-state visitors to Superman City. Summers plans to offer Superman weddings during the Superman Festival in June 2011. "We have a lot of different packages, from two to 50 people," Summers said. "We provide complete wedding packages with rooms and catering at the bed and breakfast, down to whatever people need." Carriage rides, nondenominational services and photography packages are among the offerings. Prices start at $100. Information: Tammy Summers, 270-748-5460. The newly completed addition has about 50 spaces, nearly twice the 28 spots occupied in the old mall in the former Ponderosa steak house. A breezeway connects the two buildings. Eichorn said he leases space and sells antiques and collectibles on commission. "I can't believe how many people are chomping at the bit to move in," he said. Information: 618-524-5588. The company said the eatery, in the Super Valu annex, probably will have an expanded menu including prime rib steak subs and Kidz Pizzas. It previously ran as a franchise. Quiznos plans to open as many as 600 corporately run and joint-venture stores nationwide within the next year, as well as renovate 2,000 locations, said Bill Flaherty, chief development officer. The new stores are expected to create more than 7,500 jobs. Each store typically employs 12 to 15, including a general manager. Job information: 1-866-4-TOASTED or www.quiznos.com. Got a tip for Biz Buzz? Call Joe Walker at 270-575-8656, send a fax to 270-442-7859 or e-mail buzz@paducahsun.com. |
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