$4M Barullo restaurant to open in El Distrito complex in Miramar
October 2, 2019
Barullo Restaurant, a $4 million culinary proposal to celebrate Puerto Rico’s Spanish heritage, will open the first quarter of 2020 at the El Distrito entertainment complex under construction at the Puerto Rico Convention District area in Miramar. The restaurant will be located on the first floor of El Distrito and will feature 6,000 square feet […]
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Minnesota-based Wonders Ice Cream to open 1st dessert parlor in Boquerón
October 1, 2019
Wonders Ice Cream, a Minnesota-based rolled ice cream shop franchise, will open its first store in the Boquerón area of Cabo Rojo next year, in the hands of an entrepreneur who envisions it becoming a hang-out spot for tourists and locals alike. Jay Martínez bought the rights to the franchise from friend Kit Houngnakhone — […]
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P.R. retail sales ‘kept the pace’ in July 2019, gov’t confirms
September 18, 2019
Retail sales reached the second highest level for a month of July in the past decade, with nearly $2.9 billion in activity, Puerto Rico Trade and Export confirmed. The highest month in sales over the past decade was July 2018 with a total $3 billion, which the agency described as “totally atypical behavior” when compared […]
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Plaza Guayama reinvents itself, becomes Céntrico
September 12, 2019
Following a multimillion-dollar investment, and as part of the celebration of its 25th anniversary, Plaza Guayama has reinvented itself with a new brand — Céntrico. The change responds to a corporate vision aimed at continuing to evolve according to global industry trends. This native Puerto Rican commercial property presents a new and wider community concept, […]
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Kona Grill closes only restaurant in P.R., at The Mall of San Juan
July 26, 2019
Nearly three months after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, Kona Grill announced the closing of its only restaurant in Puerto Rico, at The Mall of San Juan. It opened in 2015. The eatery confirmed the decision in a notice sent via email saying “we want to thank all our guests for their past patronage […]
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Texaco brand returning to P.R. market through rebranding of Puma gas stations
June 28, 2019
Nearly eight years after disappearing from the Puerto Rico market, the Texaco brand is returning through the conversion of Puma gas stations, this media outlet learned. In December 2011 Puma Energy agreed to acquire Chevron’s fuel marketing and aviation businesses in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as News is my Business reported. Chevron […]
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MIDA to present ‘united front’ to lobby for P.R.’s inclusion in SNAP program
June 28, 2019
The members of the Chamber of Marketing, Industry and Food Distribution, or MIDA, as the trade group is known for its initials in Spanish, confirmed the need to present a “united front” to get Puerto Rico included in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. In March, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Nydia Velázquez introduced a bill […]
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BurgerFi to open 6 restaurants in P.R., create 200 jobs over next 5 years
June 26, 2019
Florida-based gourmet burger chain BurgerFi announced it will open six new stores across the island and create more than 200 jobs over the next five years. The six Puerto Rico locations will be owned and operated by franchisee Phillip Faigenblat, an entrepreneur who owns 14 Denny’s franchises in on the island. Faigenblat recognized the need […]
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Famous Dave’s restaurants disappearing from P.R. market
June 13, 2019
Grupo Colón Gerena, franchise license holders for the Famous Dave’s restaurants in Puerto Rico, confirmed that the chain will disappear from the local market, and will be transformed into Olive Garden eateries. The transformation is the result of recent market assessments and studies, which revealed consumers’ desire for more Olive Garden on the island, said […]
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MIDA’s Consumer X-Ray shows a 5% year-over-year drop in grocery spending
June 12, 2019
The amount of money consumers are spending on groceries a month dropped to $422, a fall of 5% versus the expenditure reported in 2018, similar to that recorded in 2015, according to the study released by the Chamber of Marketing, Industry and Food Distribution, or MIDA, as the trade group is known for its initials […]
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Gasoline retailers to take battle against Costco gas station to P.R. Supreme Court
June 6, 2019
The years-long battle the local Gasoline Retailers Association has waged against the permit process allowing Costco Wholesale to build a station in Carolina took a new turn Wednesday, when the trade group said it will scale its complaint to the Puerto Rico Supreme Court. Costco first applied for a permit to build a gas station […]
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P.R. small, mid-sized retailers experience 10% Y-O-Y sales increase in March
May 15, 2019
Puerto Rico’s small and mid-sized retailers showed a 10% year-over-year growth in March 2019, when totals exceeded $1.1 billion in sales, vs. $1.06 billion in the same month of 2018. According to data shared by Puerto Rico Trade and Export, the month’s $110 million increase maintained a month-to-month growth trend. In February, the sector reported […]
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Casual dining restaurant chain Kona Grill seeks Ch. 11 bankruptcy protection
May 2, 2019
Arizona-based Kona Grill Inc. and its subsidiaries — including Kona Grill Puerto Rico Inc. — have filed a Chapter 11 petition in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, to facilitate its previously announced sale process. Kona Grill has one restaurant in Puerto Rico, located at The Mall of San Juan. It opened […]
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Walmart begins $7M renovations in 2 Supercenters, 2 Amigo stores
April 11, 2019
Walmart Puerto Rico announced plans to remodel its Supercenter stores in Canóvanas and Barceloneta, as well as Amigo Supermarkets in Guaynabo and Guayama, with an investment of more than $7 million. With these new projects, Walmart has invested more than the $30 million in Puerto Rico in the past 18 months, after the onslaught of […]
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3rd co-branded Dippin’ Dots/Doc Popcorn store to open in P.R.
April 9, 2019
Doc Popcorn, a franchise featuring fresh-popped, kettle-cooked popcorn, will open its third co-branded location in Puerto Rico to also serve Dippin’ Dots flash-frozen ice cream at the Route 66 Outlets in Canóvanas on April 13, the retailer announced. The new co-branded Dippin Dots/Doc Popcorn store — as well as the ones in Bayamón and Hatillo […]
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