Perkins & Marie Callender's Inc. reported Wednesday a decline in third quarter revenues.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s new third runway will open Thursday afternoon on the same day that two other major U.S. airports also will open new runways.

The economy may be slumping, but shoppers this holiday season are more worried about finding the right gift than getting the best price, according to a new survey from software firm ChoiceStream Inc.

The Ford Foundation has awarded a $200,000 grant to Lesley University to study the educational impact of its Integrated Teaching Through The Arts master’s degree program.

Consumer Reports will offer shoppers opportunities to search its product reviews for free at several area malls this holiday season, allowing customers to learn the ins and outs of products before they buy.

The Salvation Army of Greensboro will hold a “Scootethon” in conjunction with Cute Scoots and Clayton Custom Motorcycles Friday and Saturday to raise money and contributions for its nonprofit retail store.

To commemorate the opening of his new natural food store, Bob Stone uses a stalk of organic broccoli as a flag to mark what may seem to many as the virgin territory between affordable and organic grocery shopping.

The Tootie Pie Co. Inc. will be selling its handmade pies in three additional H.E. Butt Grocery Co. (H-E-B) stores in Texas.

The Wet Seal Inc. posted profits in the third quarter, as the company had reduced expenses and reduced charges. (WTSLA)

Video game and entertainment software retailer GameStop Inc.’s third-quarter profit fell slightly on foreign currency changes and merger related acquisitions, the company said Thursday. (GME)

YRC Worldwide Inc. will take a $7 million to $10 million charge in the fourth quarter and first quarter for fees to collateralize its remaining unencumbered assets after Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services downgraded its credit rating.

A quarterly survey of the Bay Area's top business executives has found their confidence is at record low.

Wendy’s/Arby’s Group Inc. plans to expand its corporate support center in Atlanta, bringing at least 120 additional jobs from Dublin to Georgia. (WEN)

Trans World Entertainment Corp.’s net loss nearly doubled in the third quarter as the Albany-based music, movie and video game company’s ongoing struggles were compounded by the weak retail environment.

The California Pollution Control Financing Authority approved $53.8 million in grants and loans to clean up polluted sites in 11 counties, including a $9.8 million in grants for redevelopment projects in Sacramento.

Let's Dish in Chesterfield, Mo. said Wednesday it will close Dec. 13, citing the “challenging economy.”

Hot Topic Inc. saw an increase in third-quarter profits that beat analyst estimates. (HOTT)

Miley Cyrus is giving Barbie a run for her money. (DIS) (MAT)

Yum Brands Inc. is looking to expand Taco Bell into a global brand, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. (YUM)

Nashville native Miley Cyrus is giving Barbie a run for her money.

Let's Dish in Chesterfield said Wednesday it will close Dec. 13, citing the “challenging economy.”

Twin Cities residents will cut their holiday shopping budgets by about 11.7 percent this year, a belt-tightening that will hit regional malls and small retailers hardest, according to a study released Wednesday by the University of St. Thomas.

Gift-card purchases are expected to suffer this holiday season as consumers monitor the foundering economy.

Three upscale clothiers -- Brioni, Leggiardo and Shirts & Co. by Domenico Vacca -- have signed up to be part of The Streets of Buckhead.

An FDA panel today moved a once-a-day injectable antibiotic from South San Francisco’s Theravance Inc. — aimed at so-called “superbugs” — closer to approval. (THRX)

Lane4 Property Group, developer of the Lansing Towne Center, said construction on the $45 million shopping center would begin by the end of the year.

Shares of Macy’s Inc. dropped by more than 10 percent in Wednesday afternoon trading on continued projections that holiday spending will hit its lowest rate in decades, before rising somewhat at the close. (M) (SKS) (JWN) (SKS) (M)

Shares of Macy’s Inc. dropped in Wednesday afternoon trading on continued projections that holiday spending will hit its lowest rate in decades. (M) (SKS) (DDS) (JWN) (SKS) (M)

Shares of Macy’s Inc. dropped by more than 10 percent in Wednesday afternoon trading, to $5.45, on continued projections that holiday spending will hit its lowest rate in decades. (SKS) (DDS) (JWN) (SKS) (M)

Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. said all of its retail grocery locations are now selling a prepaid card from nFinanSe Inc. (WINN)

Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. said all of its retail grocery locations are now selling a prepaid card from nFinanSe Inc. (WINN)

The U.S. Green Building Council opened its first public comment period for its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system for neighborhood development.

The former Daily Grill restaurant inside the Westin Memphis Beale Street has been reopened as Sole Restaurant & Raw Bar. The restaurant is owned by the owners of Interim Restaurant & Bar in East Memphis.

Shares of Macy’s Inc. dropped by more than 10 percent in Wednesday afternoon trading on continued projections that holiday spending will hit its lowest rate in decades, before rising somewhat at the close. (M) (SKS) (DDS) (JWN)

Gift card purchases are predicted to suffer this holiday season as consumers continue to monitor the current economy and their wallets.

Gift card purchases are predicted to suffer this holiday season as consumers continue to monitor the current economy and their wallets.

Chockstone Inc., whose technology powers loyalty marketing and gift card programs for restaurants and other retail chains, has been purchased by publicly traded Heartland Payment Systems Inc.

Apricot Lane Boutique, a women’s fashion chain that carries such popular brands as Habitual jeans and Melie Bianco purses, is opening its first Ohio location this weekend at Rookwood Commons.

Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute has been awarded a $660,000 grant to support an expansion of recruitment and research.

Before rushing to the store to purchase the Thanksgiving turkey and trimmings, you might want to crunch the numbers.

Vera Bradley opened its first branded retail store in Atlanta at Phipps Plaza.

Gift card purchases are expected to suffer this holiday season as consumers continue to monitor the economic slowdown and their wallets.

Canada’s largest private broadcaster CTV has inked a deal with Quattro Wireless Inc. for a mobile advertising network and site mobilization, the startup said Wednesday.

Gift card purchases are expected to suffer this holiday season as consumers continue to monitor the economic slowdown and their wallets.

A slumping economy and a shake-up for Tween Brands Inc.’s flagship chain sent the retailer to its second consecutive quarterly loss, the company told investors Wednesday. (TWB)

Gift-card purchases are expected to suffer this holiday season as consumers monitor the foundering economy.

GenVec’s pancreatic cancer treatment, which won fast-track review from the Food and Drug Administration just a week ago, showed promise after 12 months of use, but didn’t yield significant enough results after two years to appease investors. (GNVC)

Gift card purchases are predicted to suffer this holiday season as consumers continue to monitor the current economy and their wallets.

With its move to a new location at 621 Capitol Mall, the Sacramento Morton’s, The Steakhouse will become one of the few restaurants in the chain of 80 Morton’s that serves lunch. The lunch service starts Wednesday. Just a dozen Morton’s locations serve lunch. (MRT)

Pacific Sunwear of California Inc. saw a considerable reduction in its third-quarter losses on Tuesday. (PSUN)

Pennsylvania ranks third among states for revenue lost — $72 million annually — from compensating retailers for collecting the sales tax, according to a report released Tuesday.

Local retailers are reporting significant improvements in recycling and reduced use of plastic bags after a year-long city-led campaign to curtail plastic bag usage and encourage the use of recyclable bags.

Texas ranks second among states for the amount of sales tax revenue it gives back to retailers, a new national report finds.

The recession and a cooling retail climate Downtown have dealt ice cream lovers a blow. Coldstone Creamery has closed at 101 Gold Avenue SW.

Downtown French restaurant Les Halles is closing after 15 years.

Gift card purchases are predicted to suffer this holiday season as consumers continue to monitor the current economy and their wallets.

Asian restaurant Tsunami has closed, just one year after it opened in Baltimore.

Athens, Ga.-based Zaxby’s Franchising Inc. shuttered its first and only Ohio store, in Columbus near Ohio State University, after just six months.

Gift cards -- pieces of plastic that don’t go on sale -- are going to have a hard time competing with this year’s big holiday bargains expected on everything from clothes to DVDs, according to a new survey.

Pennsylvania ranks third among states for revenue lost — $72 million annually — from compensating retailers for collecting the sales tax, according to a report released Tuesday afternoon.

Gift cards -- pieces of plastic that don’t go on sale -- are going to have a hard time competing with this year’s big holiday bargains expected on everything from clothes to DVDs, according to a new survey.

A fast-growing chain specializing in chicken fingers failed its test in Columbus.

With consumers looking to save money any way they can this holiday season, it appears that fewer gift cards will end up under the Christmas tree.

Three Colorado mortgage brokers have reached settlements with state Attorney General John Suthers to end what Suthers called the “deceptive use of teaser rates in mortgage-loan advertisements” in Denver newspapers.

With consumers looking to save money any way they can this holiday season, it appears that fewer gift cards will end up under the Christmas tree.

Finally, a bit of positive news about Florida’s housing market. Sales of existing family homes in the tri-county area rose in the third quarter. But, the good news was tempered by the fact that prices across the board continue to tumble, according to the Florida Association of Realtors.

Neiman Marcus has agreed to extend its stay in downtown Minneapolis for four more years. (BPO)

Better profit news from two large companies lifted stocks higher Tuesday, but local shares lagged the broader market. (HPQ) (HD) (CQB) (PG) (SSP) (ASH) (BGC) (M)

Gift cards -- pieces of plastic that don’t go on sale -- are going to have a hard time competing with this year’s big holiday bargains expected on everything from clothes to DVDs, according to a new survey.

Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways are lowering their fuel surcharge on international flights.

Gift card purchases are predicted to suffer this holiday season as consumers continue to monitor the current economy and their wallets.

Waiting is the name of the game this holiday shopping season, as a national survey reveals that 72 percent of consumers have completed less than 10 percent of their shopping, compared with 2.2 percent of shoppers who say they have finished.

Despite myriad challenges, the Shaw Festival finished its 2008 season with increases in attendance and box-office revenues.

King of Prussia Mall is trying to fight economic fear with new features this holiday shopping season.

Waiting is the name of the game this holiday shopping season, as a national survey reveals that 72 percent of consumers have completed less than 10 percent of their shopping, compared with 2.2 percent of shoppers who say they have finished.

Waiting is the name of the game this holiday shopping season, as a national survey reveals that 72 percent of consumers have completed less than 10 percent of their shopping, compared with 2.2 percent of shoppers who say they have finished.

Waiting is the name of the game this holiday shopping season, as a national survey reveals that 72 percent of consumers have completed less than 10 percent of their shopping, compared with 2.2 percent of shoppers who say they have finished.

The Home Depot Inc., which has a significant presence in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, suffered a 31 percent drop in profit in the third quarter as it continued to weather a poor housing market, shrinking economy and consumers who are cutting spending. (HD)

Home furnishings retailer Pier 1 Imports expects third-quarter comparable-store sales -- or same store-sales -- to be down 16 to 18 percent as compared to last year. (PIR)

The Tampa Bay Super Bowl Host Committee has launched its “Presence Program,” a line of Super Bowl XLIII banners that businesses, hotels and restaurants can purchase.

The Home Depot Inc. suffered a 31 percent drop in profit in the third quarter, as it continued to weather a poor housing market, shrinking economy and consumers who are cutting spending. (HD)

Tengion co-founder and CEO Dr. Steven Nichtberger has received the Ernst & Young national Entrepreneur of the Year award for emerging companies.

The Home Depot Inc. suffered a 31 percent drop in profit in the third quarter, as it continued to weather a poor housing market, shrinking economy and consumers who are cutting spending. (HD)

Disruptions in financial markets, including the subprime mortgage crisis and the bankruptcy and restructuring of key financial institutions, pose challenges to OSI Restaurant Partners LLC.

The Home Depot Inc. suffered a 31 percent drop in third quarter profit as the housing slump continued and a shrinking economy slowed consumer spending, the home-improvement retailer reported Tuesday. (HD)

United Parcel Service Inc. will spend $26 million to build a new distribution center at the Calgary International Airport in Canada to meet growing demand in the area. (UPS)

The Home Depot Inc. suffered a 31 percent drop in profit in the third quarter, as it continued to weather a poor housing market, shrinking economy and tough retail environment. (HD)

The Home Depot Inc. suffered a 31 percent drop in profit in the third quarter, as it continued to weather a poor housing market, shrinking economy and consumer belt tightening. (HD)

Poor performance in its credit-card business and a slowdown in consumer spending pushed Target Corp.’s earnings down nearly 24 percent in the third quarter. (TGT)

Waiting is the name of the game this holiday shopping season, as a national survey reveals that 72 percent of consumers have completed less than 10 percent of their shopping, compared with 2.2 percent of shoppers who say they have finished.

Nearly all economists surveyed recently by a national trade organization say the U.S. economy is in a recession and their expectations for economic growth next year are meager at best.

One Phoenix-area retail location will burn the midnight oil to attract shoppers. The Outlets at Anthem will open at 11 p.m. Thanksgiving night, Nov. 27, to start the holiday shopping season.

Waiting is the name of the game this holiday shopping season, as a national survey reveals that 72 percent of consumers have completed less than 10 percent of their shopping, compared with 2.2 percent of shoppers who say they have finished.

Payment Data Systems Inc.’s revenues from the third quarter of 2008 took a double-digit nosedive as the company’s financial results continued to suffer from the loss of a major customer.

Decking manufacturer Fiber Composites is expanding the distribution of its products in the West and Southwest through a partnership with Huttig Building Products. (HBP)

Poor performance in its credit-card business and a slowdown in consumer spending pushed Target Corp.’s earnings down nearly 24 percent in the third quarter. (TGT)

Catholic Health System has named Peter Bergmann to the dual post of president and CEO of Sisters of Charity Hospital and St. Joseph Hospital, effective Jan. 1.

Delta Air Lines Inc. and Alaska Air Group Inc. said Monday they are pulling a little tighter together. (DAL) (ALK)

Honesty is paying off for an employee at the Glen Carbon, Ill., MERS Goodwill store who reported finding $7,500 in a donated box of shoes Nov. 7.

Waiting is the name of the game this holiday shopping season, as a national survey reveals that 72 percent of consumers have completed less than 10 percent of their shopping, compared with 2.2 percent of shoppers who say they have finished.

Poor performance in its credit-card business and a slowdown in consumer spending pushed Target Corp.’s earnings down nearly 24 percent in the third quarter. (TGT)

Target Corp. saw its earnings drop 24 percent for the third quarter compared to the same period in 2007. (ROST) (WMT) (TGT)

Poor performance in its credit-card business and a slowdown in consumer spending pushed Target Corp.’s earnings down nearly 24 percent in the third quarter. (TGT)

The state’s holiday sales will be flat or down this year, making it the first time in 23 years that retailers will not see a year-over-year gain, the Maryland Retailers Association said Monday.

The RecycleBank program in Albuquerque expands today as 5,000 additional households in the Northeast Heights and Southwest Valley Garden neighborhoods will receive special recycling carts. Residents can fill their carts and receive coupons that are redeemable at retailers throughout the city. The pilot program started last May with 5,000 households in the city’s NW quadrant.

FSN Rocky Mountain and the Colorado Rockies said Monday they have signed a contract extension that will keep most of the Denver baseball club’s games on the eight-state cable network for the next 12 seasons.

Cricket Communications Inc. said Monday it will hold two job fairs in Philadelphia next month in anticipation of beginning operations in the area next year. (LEAP)

More than half of retailers plan to adjust their return policies during the holiday season to attract customers during a down economy, according to a new survey.

Poor performance in its credit-card business and a slowdown in consumer spending pushed Target Corp.’s earnings down nearly 24 percent in the third quarter. (TGT)

Former Sundance Entertainment executive William Freeman has been appointed chief executive officer of McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants.

Poor performance in its credit-card business and a slowdown in consumer spending pushed Target Corp.’s earnings down almost 24 percent in the third quarter. (TGT)

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals Inc. created an advisory board to help design and develop oncology clinical trials and to further develop its lead cancer drug candidate, Archexin.

There are now an additional 71 ways across the region to pick up an order of Anchor Bar chicken wings.

Decking manufacturer Fiber Composites is expanding the distribution of its products in the West and Southwest through a partnership with Huttig Building Products. (HBP)

Medtronic Inc. has received European approval to market a pacemaker that can be used with MRI machines. (MDT)

Wichita-based LodgeWorks LP in January will open its first boutique hotel in Savannah, Ga.

Poor performance in its credit-card business and a slowdown in consumer spending pushed Target Corp.’s earnings down nearly 24 percent in the third quarter. (TGT)

Austin CarShare, a car-sharing program, is adding six Toyota Prius hybrid cars, more than doubling its fleet.

Bright House Networks has entered the online video market, and is now offering more than 3,000 movies and television shows through its new online video store. (TWX) (AAPL) (NFLX) (BBI)

More than half of retailers plan to adjust their return policies during the holiday season to attract customers during a down economy, according to a new survey.

Sears Holdings Corp. has informed state officials that it plans to close the Sears store in Menomonee Falls early next year, resulting in the loss of 81 jobs. (SHLD) (TGT)

Abercrombie & Fitch Co.’s latest overseas expansion is taking the retailer to one of the world’s most famous avenues. (ANF)

The Boston Redevelopment Authority last week approved four projects totaling $75 million. The projects will create 330 construction jobs, according to the city.

The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday approved InBev’s $52 billion buyout of Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. but requires the Belgian brewer to sell its interest in Labatt Brewing in the U.S. (BUD)

Lowe’s Cos. Inc. says its earnings fell 24.1 percent in the latest quarter, with the home-improvement retailer citing a slowdown in sales of big-ticket items. (LOW)

OpenTable Inc. on Monday said diners can get free software from Apple Inc.'s App Store that allows them to find and book a dinner reservation anywhere in the United States and several other countries. (AAPL)

As a student at Miami University, I valued the quaint and pleasant feel of red-brick, tree-lined streets with wide sidewalks and inviting storefronts.

A native of Queens is out to make his mark in the Queen City with an appointment at the kitchen of the Palace.

As part of The Business Journal’s 25th anniversary, in each issue this year we profiled the most influential Milwaukee-area business executives — or “newsmakers” — over the past 25 years. The 52 profiles highlighted the careers and contributions these people made to the growth of southeast Wisconsin. Here is a recap of the profiles with brief information about their noted accomplishments.

PEQ Consulting Inc. will boost staff and looks to expand following the November acquisition of a Kentucky information technology firm.

Despite the slow commercial real estate market, developer Bear Creek Capital will submit more than $450 million in mixed-use development plans to officials in South Lebanon, Liberty Township and the city of Montgomery during the next several months.

Milton Baucom walked away from a steady machine shop job for an Anson County family farm like he’d left years before.

Local shopping malls and retail merchants, faced with the prospect of sluggish sales during the traditionally hectic holiday shopping season, are trying new strategies to lure in more foot traffic. (SPG) (GGP)

To address downtown Milwaukee’s lack of retailers, a business group has retained a consultant to develop a retail marketing strategy and will hire a staffer to recruit stores.

In America, the name Antoine Westermann doesn’t conjure up the same instant images of restaurant stardom as “Wolfgang Puck” or “Jose Andres.” But it’s a different story in France, where Westermann, with three Michelin stars to his name, has more than earned the title celebrity chef.

Barack Obama and the business community can expect to have a happy honeymoon as long as the president-elect’s focus is on economic recovery.

Bank of America Corp. is targeting a University-area site for an undefined development.

Right in the middle of Maryland steeplechase country, the 21111 ZIP code, primarily made up of the town of Monkton, features rolling green hills with 17th- and 18th-century manor houses and stately mansions dotting the rural landscape of Baltimore County and a small portion of Harford County.

Howard County’s Highland, a seven-mile stretch of small farms and open space dotted with handsome homes, is Greater Baltimore’s wealthiest ZIP code, according to Baltimore Business Journal research. Residents of 20777 possess a median household income of $106,128 and reside in homes with a median value of $701,340. Highland residents enjoy rural small-town living with a decidedly upscale and, in one pocket, eco-friendly twist.

Former Sourcefire CEO Wayne Jackson III has joined the board of directors for Zenoss Inc., another software firm with aspirations for similar growth.

The sign is hung, and the shelves inside look ready for merchandise, but don’t expect to do holiday shopping at the JoS. A. Bank in the Kansas City Power & Light District.

Jack Figg said he doesn’t see the need for the proposed Employee Free Choice Act, which would make it dramatically easier for workers to unionize.

With a name like Cousins Subs, it seems natural that the Menomonee Falls-based sandwich shop chain would keep management in the family.

The sweeping change promised by the opening of the N.C. Research Campus is taking a turn toward downtown Kannapolis.

Behind the success of Big John’s PFI, Seattle’s well-known but hidden Italian food store, there’s a lot of the old country.

Perhaps growing up the son of a television station executive explains Mike Schuch Jr.’s side projects that have become part of the family business.

For all but the most conservative investors, the performance of the stock market in recent weeks has been devastating. Employees who have dutifully invested in 401(k) plans have seen a dramatic drop in the value of their holdings.

Union fights Ilikai neighbor’s liquor license application

Folks at Watanabe Floral are not afraid to be sentimental.

A lot has changed in Kona since Mark and Cheryl Richards began developing real estate there more than 20 years ago.

Bobby Toguchi had been working for Japan Airlines for eight years when his father, Seiichi, asked him to take over the business he and wife Sachiko started in 1947.

Bob Bean, president and CEO of Alert Alarm of Hawaii, remembers the days when people didn’t have to lock their doors.

Much of the success at Goodwill Industries of Hawaii can be credited to its president and CEO, Laura Robertson, who is constantly looking for ways the organization can operate more like a profitable business and depend less on donations and grants.

Twenty years after opening his first eponymous restaurant, chef Roy Yamaguchi has become one of the best- known ambassadors for Hawaii and the regional cuisine movement he helped to create.

Sales have grown every year since David Schaefer opened his 3,500-square-foot U Street furniture store, Urban Essentials, in 2000, but he is worried.

Metro Denver architecture firms are laying off employees as clients postpone and even cancel real estate projects because of the economic downturn.

Pipelines carrying Rocky Mountain natural gas to markets across the United States are virtually full, and prices in the region are dropping as a result of supply overwhelming both local demand and export capacity. (ENB) (STR)

County Fair Fashion Mall in Woodland enters the crucial holiday season without permanent on-site managers after going through two mall managers and one regional director in a year.

Construction has slowed at the planned Elk Grove open-air mall, but the owners of surrounding property are still readying their own proposals in anticipation of a more favorable development environment. (GGP)

The ongoing expansion of Loop 410 promises to improve traffic flow on a number of the highway’s exits. But the traffic problems resulting from the construction are taking a toll on businesses — particularly those along Bandera Road.

At a company as large as JPMorgan Chase & Co., having a formal training and development program for workers is a must.

Developers of an industrial park off Briley Parkway are hoping cash in on shipping connections.

RYAN BROWNYARD Company: Allied Home Technologies

The former Friendly’s Restaurant in the town of Hamburg stands out like a sore thumb to passing motorists. With its decaying façade and boarded-up windows, the building is an eyesore in a community investing big bucks in commer