Sluggo's reopens indoor dining
The North Shore vegetarian restaurant Sluggo's reopened its dining room with indoor dining this week for the first time in nearly 17 months.
The new indoors eating space has added a bar and remodeled look after Sluggo's obtained a liquor license this summer to begin selling alcohol.
"In March 2020 we shut down our indoor dining along with everybody else when the pandemic first hit and we remained closed to indoor eating even after some other people opened up," said Ash Krey, one of the owners of Sluggo's who helped open the restaurant on Cherokee Bouelevard 12 years ago. "We've used our deck and patio out front and back for seating and we waited to open our dining room until everyone on our staff got vaccinated and the number of vaccinations in the our area had gone up."
Krey said Sluggo's loyal customers kept the eatery going through the pandemic with takeout and delivery orders, along with some outdoor seating.
Krey said their building has other space that has been used for live events in the past "and we're hoping to develop those into alternative ventilated seating areas in the future."
Local gas prices jump last week
Chattanooga gas prices jumped 8.5 cents per gallon in the past week, rising near the highest level for fuel prices in Chattanooga in more than five years, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 170 stations in Chattanooga.
The average price of regular gas in Chattanooga at the start of this week was $2.84.5 per gallon. Although Chattanooga gas prices averaged more than 31 cents a gallon below the U.S. average, local fuel prices are still up by 97.4 cents per gallon compared with a year ago.
"The downward move in the national average last week was short-lived with the national average rebounding last week on continued strong gasoline demand in the U.S. which has pushed oil prices back up after a brief lull," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. "For the next week or two, we may continue to see gas prices inch higher, but once schools begin re-opening and vacation season ends, we'll likely see demand trail off, allowing for gas prices to decline gently heading into Labor Day."
Manufacturing grows despite supply problems
Growth in U.S. manufacturing slowed for a second straight month in July amid ongoing supply-chain problems.
The Institute for Supply Management, a trade group of purchasing managers, said Monday that its index of manufacturing activity declined by 1.1 percentage points to a reading of 59.5. Any reading above 50 indicates growth in the manufacturing sector.
July was the 14th consecutive month manufacturing has grown after contracting in April 2020 when the coronavirus triggered nationwide business shutdowns.
Footlocker buys chains for $1.1 B
Foot Locker announced Monday it is buying two major sneaker store chains for a total of $1.1 billion.
The stores are Japanese streetwear brand Atmos and California athletic retailer WSS.
Foot Locker said it is merging with Atmos to increase its presence globally.
The American sneaker store is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the new consumer model, where people buy shoes online more than ever. But that also hurts sneaker fans, who face slimmer odds of finding exclusive drops in store.
Morton Salt cuts 120 Chicago jobs
Morton Salt, the 173-year-old Chicago company recently purchased by a California investment firm, laid off 120 employees at its downtown headquarters this week, slashing its office staff by 40%.
The downsizing decision follows Morton Salt's $3.2 billion sale in April to Stone Canyon Industries, a global industrial holding company that has quickly established itself through acquisitions as the largest salt producer in the world.
"This was not a decision we took lightly, but after a comprehensive evaluation of our company's long-term financial outlook and our ability to become more competitive in the salt industry, this reduction was necessary to help meet our business goals," Morton Salt said in a statement.
- Compiled by Dave Flessner