KFC’s pothole plan

Interesting branding project here  … from the pages of the Chicago Tribune:

KFC has sent off a letter to the nation’s mayors, offering to patch their potholes for free. Well, the company will leave behind a stenciled brand on the patch informing people the road has been “Re-Freshed by KFC.”

“In honor of our “Fresh Tastes Best” campaign, we want to come and Re-”Fresh” your roads!” KFC president Roger Eaton says in the letter. “Every patched pothole comes with the Colonel’s very own stamp of approval.”

The company estimated that U.S. roads are plagued with more than 350 million potholes. “That’s one mini-canyon for every man, woman and child in America.”

KFC has already tried out its campaign to stamp out potholes in its hometown of Louisville, Ky., earning a testimonial from Louisville’s Mayor Jerry Abramson who noted that “finding funding for needed road repairs is a continuing challenge.” The company will choose four other cities.

New restaurant for downtown Tupelo

We hear that Guy Jenkins is planning to open a lunch restaurant in the Bistro’s former alley location off Main Street. We’re hunting down more details.

In the meantime, check out suggestions from Biz Buzz readers about what they wanted to see in the vacant spot.

Downtown restaurants heart the planet

From the Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association’s e-newsletter:

Downtown restaurants are switching off their lights Saturday, March 28. No, they are not closing. They are participating in Earth Hour, a global effort to promote energy efficiency and global warming awareness.

Boondocks, Park Heights and Fairpark Grill are each offering at least an hour of candle-light dining to celebrate the event.

Park Heights rooftop to open April 9

From Park Heights’ March e-newsletter:

Spring has arrived and the Rooftop at Park Heights will now be open Tuesday and Thursday nights begining Thursday, April 9. Enjoy dinner from our regular menu or get a group together to enjoy drinks and appetizers. Call ahead to book your private dinner party, birthday celebration, class reunion or any get together.

HOURS: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 until 10:00

And the mall isn’t the only one on Facebook:

For those of you who are Facebook users, check out our page simply called Park Heights Restaurant! See the latest pictures and info of what’s been going on at Park Heights.

Starbucks: We will survive

Anyone else humming the song with us? From AP:

NEW YORK (AP) — Starbucks Corp. Chief Executive Howard Schultz on Wednesday promised shareholders the gourmet coffee company will succeed despite the global economic downturn by taking on its competitors and offering customers a better deal.

“Starbucks Coffee Co. will not only survive but we will succeed during this environment,” he said. “I promise you that.”

During a webcast of the company’s 18th annual shareholder meeting in Seattle, Schultz said he plans to dispel the myth that all Starbucks coffee drinks cost $4 — a perception that has helped competitors like McDonald’s Corp. break into the espresso beverage market. A tall Starbucks’ drip coffee goes for a bit less than $2 a cup, depending on the market, for instance.

“We’ve allowed other people to define us,” he said.

Los Toros drops bid to serve alcohol

From today’s Daily Journal:

TUPELO – An east Tupelo Mexican restaurant will remain alcohol-free after the property’s owner dropped his request for a beer permit.

But the issue might not be dead yet.

Freddie Norman, who owns the building at 1270 Oakview Drive housing Los Toros, withdrew his petition Tuesday morning, citing scheduling conflicts. He was unable to attend the City Council meeting that night where two of the restaurant’s neighbors planned to protest the permit, he said.

Because the one-story brick structure sits less than 400 feet from a residence, restaurant owner Juan Leon cannot serve alcohol without a variance from the city.

The council was supposed to vote whether to uphold or overturn a recent Planning Committee decision granting the variance. It would have allowed Los Toros restaurant to sell beer and light wine for one year. The property owner would have had to renew after that.

10 Commandments for Restaurants

Great list from the Chicago Tribune about how to keep restaurants customers happy, thus keeping your tables full:

1. Assign not the job of the hostess to the unworthy. The host stand is no place for an inexperienced ditz who looks good in a tight black dress. You want someone who can greet people with a smile, someone who’ll try to accommodate last-minute arrivals, someone who doesn’t mind grabbing a water pitcher if that’s what’s needed.

2. Prepare for guests a pleasant table. Customers aren’t in your restaurant to exercise their short-term memory skills. If there are more than two specials, print them out on a card—with prices. And why would anyone hand a foursome four menus but just one specials list?

3. Honor thy regulars. It’s fine to reach out for new business, but retaining your core audience—the people who already enjoy and patronize your restaurant—is key. Whether it’s a free dessert, a wine upgrade or doubling their frequent-diner points, let them know that they’re appreciated.

Read the other seven commandments here.

Yocona River Inn has burned

4 p.m. update: From Errol Castens, the DJ’s Oxford  bureau reporter: A volunteer firefighter driving home from another call noticed flames at the back of the Yocona River Inn about 1 a.m. Firefighters quenched the fire before it consumed the dining area, but the kitchen and storage areas were destroyed.

Owner Paige Osborn, who lives behind the restaurant that she opened in 1995, recorded a message on the restaurant’s voicemail promising that the absence is temporary.

“We don’t know any details yet, but we will be rebuilding, and we will be reopening in a few months,” the message said. “In the meantime, thank you for your past patronage, and we appreciate your prayers and thoughts.” Read tomorrow’s paper for more details.

3:30 p.m. update: The Oxford Eagle is reporting that the owner plans to rebuild. Read the full story.
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Reports are true – There was a massive fire at Yocona River Inn last night/this morning. We’re hunting down more details.

Slide up to the Whopper Bar

Make that a double …. with cheese and bacon.

Today, Burger King is launching a new concept it calls the Whopper Bar. Read on and drool, courtesy of the Associated Press:

Bar-goers hungry for love are always seeking fresh meat.
Beginning Tuesday, Burger King Corp. will give them their hearts’ desire with its first Whopper Bar in Universal CityWalk, a 30-acre shopping and entertainment complex at the Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Fla.

There won’t be any alcohol but there will be meat and lots of it.
Customers can customize their Whopper, Double Whopper or Steakhouse XT burger with up to 22 different toppings, including steak sauce, smoked bacon and guacamole. Burger King workers will add the toppings in front of customers for a sushi bar-like atmosphere.

There also will be a “Bar Favorites” menu, with three new burgers from the nation’s No. 2 burger chain — the Bourbon Whopper, Three-Cheese Steakhouse XT and Pepper Bacon Steakhouse XT.

Estes Fish and Steak now open

DJ senior sports writer Gene Phelps tells us that Estes Fish and Steak has reopened in Plantersville. It’s back under the original ownership of Steve Estes. It’s open for dinner Thursday, Friday and Saturday.