Developing a Burger Complex
There’s a new name among developers in Southern California: Ronald McDonald.
McDonald’s has announced plans for not just another drive-through outlet in Glendale, but a six-story office development built around it, including movie theaters and a parking garage.
“This may have a major impact not only for our company,” said Douglas Ring, an attorney representing McDonald’s, “but impact the way the industry operates in the United States and in the world.”
Vons Bucks a Trend
The unlimited double coupons at Vons aren’t so unlimited anymore. The grocery company recently decided to cut in half the maximum amount that a customer can double, to 50 cents per manufacturer’s coupon from $1. Even so, maintains Stuart A. Rosenthal, executive vice president of marketing, “the average customer will still enjoy a lower” bill.
Maybe so. But according to Al Marasca, Rosenthal’s counterpart at rival Ralphs, “many (Vons) customers have already switched to Ralphs as a result of that change.” Ralphs continues to double coupons for as much as $1.
Suds From Above
Beer connoisseurs in Northern California have become habitues of brew pubs in the past few years. At these spots, home brews are generally perfected and then sold there on tap. Now comes the City of Angels Brewing Co. in downtown Santa Monica.
With a working grain miller, mash tank, four fermenters and five serving tanks on display, the new brewery and restaurant has begun making and serving Angel Amber, City Light, Heavenly Gold and Imperial Stout. While many beers brewed up north tend to be darker and heavier, “L.A. has been a light beer kind of place,” said John Krasznekwicz, 30, one of the owners and a senior vice president at Drexel Burnham Lambert in Beverly Hills.
“L.A. is very health conscious,” adds City of Angels managing partner Greg Nitzkowski. While there are no plans to start bottling these brews, the partners plan to rotate the kinds of beer they offer and to hold beer tastings. Says Nitzkowski, “We’re trying to introduce a different quality of beer.”
Short-Term Lenders
Three names in show-biz lending have disappeared from Bank of America’s marquee with the departure of two vice presidents and the transfer of Stephen A. Kwitoski, head of the bank’s entertainment and media group for the past year.
The shuffle leaves just two of the bank’s five officers most experienced at lending to motion picture companies. B of A has $2.3 billion committed to Hollywood--more than any other U.S. bank.
Turnover has been a problem at commercial banks because salaries pale next to those offered by studios and investment banks. Three of the six largest show-biz lenders had to fill the top positions in their entertainment units in the past year.
Kwitowski transferred to credit administration and was replaced by senior vice president Donald F. Dammeyer.
Pitch Is Outside--Way Out
Here’s one Los Angeles insurance agent’s answer to customers who throw away unsolicited mail offers. On the outside of the cream-colored envelope from the Davis Insurance Agency is a warning in red: “If you throw this in your wastebasket unopened, a capsule of water inside will break, spilling onto a dehydrated gorilla. He will then jump out of the envelope and hug you to death.”
Camp of Hard Knocks
Imagine taking a break from the winter doldrums by participating in a 13-day management course in the sun at Malibu. Sound good? But there aren’t many takers so far for a $2,400 Japanese training program that has been described as a “hell camp” because its program includes some hazing, calisthenics and night hikes.
Some U.S. executives have said the program is too long and too oriented toward management concepts that emphasize groups and downplay the individual. But the Los Angeles office of Kanrisha Yosei, Japan’s best-known management training school, is still hopeful to offer the course in February, having twice postponed it.
