Walmart plans to open a new 24-hour store in Los Fresnos, but one small business owner says the big box retailer may hurt her local restaurant.

Construction workers have already started work on the new Walmart on West Ocean Boulevard in Los Fresnos. Its a big project for the relatively small town. "Our number one priority is our customers and that's what we're here for and get jobs for our neighborhood, said Walmart Manager Cynthia Garcia, who spoke to dozens of people Tuesday afternoon at a Los Fresnos AreaChamber of Commerce meeting. "Its bringing more jobs to the community, lots of employees that lost their jobs are actually applying right now," Garcia said. Not everyone agreed its a good idea. "It already affected us, a little," said local restaurant manager Elva Gutierrez. Elva Gutierrezs restaurant is a few blocks away from where the new Walmart is being built. A local supermarket already closed. Now Gutierrez fears that could impact the business she's been running for the last eight years. "It's rumored they closed because Walmart came and they couldn't compete," Gutierrez said. Without that clientele next door, Gutierrez is worried she may be forced to shut down. "It's my source of job. Of my kids. It means a lot," Gutierrez said. The Chamber said local business owners shouldn't be concerned. Chamber officials say they believe the Walmart will attract more people to the area and will benefit everyone. "I don't see why anybody would be wanting to travel to Brownsville or San Benito or Harlingen, said Chamber of Commerce Director Joe Aguilar. They can do their business here in Los Fresnos," The Walmart is scheduled to open in mid-March.

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Local businesswoman wary of new Walmart

The second LuLu's restaurant now under construction in Destin, Fla. is expected to open as early as this summer. Situated in a spot overlooking the Choctawhatchee Bay, the eatery will seat as many as 300 people.

Similar to its premier location in south Baldwin County, LuLu's at Homeport Marina, the Destin restaurant will engender the same feeling and atmosphere stretched out over 20,000 square feet of space.

George Martin, chief operating officer of LuLu's Landing Inc, the company owned by Lucy Buffett, the sister of singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett.

It will be much like "Gulf Shores," Martin said. "What we're committed to the most is our culture that has been created throughout the years. And we're just very committed to the experience that is very LuLu's."

The restaurant is known for its laid-back vibe, one that is especially suitable for families. As the company's website puts it, the first LuLu's "was little more than a bait shop, an outdoor burger joint and bar, situated on the edge of a nationally protected bird estuary..." The restaurant had to leave that spot in 2003 when the land was returned to the state.

LuLu's found a new home in Gulf Shores, and rebuilt on the Intracoastal Waterway. Lucy Buffett herself announced the coming new location in a video posted on YouTube last September."We're going to spread the Gumbo Love in Destin," she said in a prepared statement. "All it needs is some great food and fun."

The construction of the Florida panhandle location would be the first new standalone restaurant the company has opened since moving 11 years ago. Another spot would certainly had to be on the Gulf Coast, Martin said. At first, they thought about Okaloosa Island, but moved further east instead.

"The neat part about Destin is that it draws from another feeder market," Martin said. "It's close enough that our management team can take a car drive and be there in two hours, but, yet, it's far enough away that it's tapping into a different market."

Martin said he doesn't foresee any immediate growth in the company's future. "Our main focus is Destin," he said. But if they could plop a piece of real estate it would have to be on the Gulf Coast.

"I'd have to say the southern Gulf Coast of Florida;" -- the area around Tampa, St. Petersburg and Bradenton -- "is an area that we very much like. We love that blue water, there's intercostal running through there [too]."e

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LuLu's restaurant in Destin shooting for an early summer 2015 opening

St Modwen plans to build a new venue for the Restaurant Group at the Trentham Estate

DOZENS of jobs are set to be created with the opening of a new restaurant at the Trentham Estate.

Developer St Modwen will build the eatery at the main entrance to the tourist attractions car park, opposite the already popular Frankie and Bennys venue.

The chains parent company Restaurant Group plc will also lease the new 4,000 square foot unit, and is understood to be bringing its Joes Kitchen brand to Staffordshire for the first time.

Plans have been submitted to Stafford Borough Council, with construction expected to start by mid-summer.

It is hoped the new restaurant will be open in time for Christmas.

Mike Herbert, director of Trentham for St Modwen, said: The Restaurant Group plc will bring another great brand to the Trentham Estate, further improving the high-quality food and drink offer for visitors.

The plans are all part of our commitment to continually enhance the visitor experience and also include surfacing about 300 new permanent parking spaces for customers.

St Modwen has recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of its restoration and regeneration of the Trentham Estate which, as well as the historic gardens, now features a garden centre, 60 shops, cafes and restaurants and the 119 bedroom Premier Inn Hotel. The whole estate attracts more than three million visitors per year.

The Restaurant Group, which operates brands including Coast to Coast and Garfunkels, is also opening two further venues - a Chiquito and a Frankie and Bennys at the intu Potteries shopping centre in Hanley as part of a multi-million pound extension of the site.

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New restaurant at Trentham Gardens brings jobs joy

Black Rooster Taqueria a "new traditional Mexican farm-to-taco restaurant," will begin construction in March in Orlando's Mills50.Chef John Calloway's menu will include handmade corn tortillas and seasonal ingredients from local growers and purveyors.

Expect bowls ($10) such as pazole verde (pork shoulder, roast corn, tomatillo, chile poblano, radish, cilantro, onion, lime, queso fresco, tortilla chips; corn, flour or romaine tacos ($3) such as pork carnitas (slow-roasted free range pork, pickled onion, cilantro, habanero salsa); and sopes ($3) such as shrimp with pinto bean, white cabbage, cilantro, lime and chipotle aioli.

Calloway has worked in restaurants in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Denver, San Diego, Brazil, Dubai, and Mexico. He also developed a concept for a Mexican restaurant at a Four Seasons Hotel in Mexico.

The decor at Black Rooster Taqueria will utilize reclaimed wood, recycled design elements and refurbished furniture from local antique shops and garage sales. The result will be a rustic Day Of The Dead vibe. The space was formerly home to Tony's Deli.

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Black Rooster Taqueria coming to Orlando's Mills50

Fans of thick burritos and sustainable ingredients take note: Chipotle Mexican Grill is planning to open its new Billings restaurant in April.

Spokesman Chris Arnold of the Denver-based company said the new fast-casual restaurant should open this spring in front of Luckys Market at West Park Promenade.

The Denver-based company isnt ready to announce a specific date yet, he said.

Workers for Langlas Construction began construction of the $563,300 building at 1601 Grand Ave. last September. Chipotle will be joined in the building by another business that has yet to be announced, according to NAI Properties, which is marketing the property.

Founded in 1993, Chipotle is one of the countrys fastest-growing chains and enjoys an impassioned following. The restaurants, which are all corporate-owned, serve Mexican-style burritos, burrito bowls, tacos, chips and salsa and salads.

The chain has made efforts to distinguish itself from regular fast food through its ingredients. According to its website, Chipotle uses only naturally sourced pork and chicken from animals raised antibiotic-free on a vegetarian diet.

In January, the company stopped serving pork at hundreds of its restaurants nationwide after discovering a supplier was not meeting its standards.

The new Billings restaurant would be Montanas first Chipotle. A Missoula restaurant is also under construction.

Baker-based biz in spotlight

A Baker businesswoman is getting big exposure for one of her body-care products.

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Have You Heard: Chipotle restaurant nears opening date

DANVILLE (WSLS 10) - Danville residents have a new fast food restaurant to look forward to.

Construction is underway for the first Zaxby's restaurant in Danville. It's located at 176 Holt Garrison Parkway. The restaurant says it will open in the next 30 days and will celebrate its grand opening by giving away a "Fanatic Pack" of 52 "Free Dealz" - meaning a free item at Zaxby's each week for a year - to the first 100 guests.

The new Danville restaurant is the eighth in Virginia. ZAX, Inc., the brand's largest licensee with more than 110 locations, is owned by Zaxby's co-founders Zach McLeroy and Tony Townley. Zaxby's currently operates more than 665 locations in 16 states.

Zaxby's provides chicken fingers, wings, sandwiches, salads and more in what they call a "fun, relaxing atmosphere."

The 3,847-square-foot Danville location will have seating for 90. The location will also offer drive-thru services.

And the location is hiring. Interested candidates should visit http://www.zaxbys.com to apply.

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Zaxby's chicken fast food restaurant coming to Danville

Couple accused of elderly abandonment captured Couple accused of elderly abandonment captured

Updated: Wednesday, January 21 2015 11:28 AM EST2015-01-21 16:28:35 GMT

A Missouri couple is in custody after allegedly leaving an elderly disabled veteran confined to a bed and near death, then stealing his car and shooting at officers who tried to apprehend them.

A Missouri couple is in custody after allegedly leaving an elderly disabled veteran confined to a bed and near death, then stealing his car and shooting at officers who tried to apprehend them.

Updated: Tuesday, January 20 2015 11:20 PM EST2015-01-21 04:20:23 GMT

Tucked away on a county road, under the mud and brush, rests about 150 years worth of history.

Tucked away on a county road, under the mud and brush, rests about 150 years worth of history.

Updated: Wednesday, January 21 2015 11:29 PM EST2015-01-22 04:29:44 GMT

A Mississippi Gaming Commission agent was shot and killed at the office during a training exercise.

A Mississippi Gaming Commission agent was shot and killed at the office during a training exercise.

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Construction begins on downtown river walk in Cape Girardeau

BUTTE, Mont. -

A new restaurant is popping up in Butte. Park 217 has been under construction for about a month and a half.

Owners of Park 217 hope to open by Valentine's Day. The restaurant will have fine dining and a bar.

The underground space was previously used as the Dodge Brothers Saloon and Eatery. The building was built in 1900.

"It's a beautiful atmosphere it really looks like something you'd see in New York, back east, like something you'd see under a little brownstone, which is kind of a unique little niche in Butte. There's no place in Butte that has this atmosphere and we're really going to work it," said Mike Copeland, the manager at Park 127.

Park 217 is still looking for employees and accepting applications. The owner of the underground restaurant also plans to open a cafe next door after Park 217 opens.

The restaurant will be located at 217 Park Street in Butte.

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Fine dining restauraunt to open in Butte

Root Five, the lakeside restaurant in Hamburg, served its last meals on New Years Eve. Owner Dave Root is inviting inquiries from qualified operators.

Twenty-two years is a long time, said Root, who took over the building at 4914 Lakeshore Road in 1992. That place burned down, and Root, who was in the construction business, built a new place with a big deck looking out over Lake Erie.

Hes facing relationship problems, but thats not why he decided to step away, he said. Twenty-two years standing in a bar, sometimes you just need a break, he said. Now is the time.

Among his motivations are memories of a veteran bartender and friend, Brian McGinty, who died behind the bar last year. He was 57. I knew him for 20 years, said Root.

Hes not a restaurateur at heart, Root said, but a construction guy who ended up running a place. Ive been muscling through the thing for a long, long time. I turned 60 this year, and I said there are some things I dont want to regret on that last bed of mine. So Id rather go do them now.

He stopped selling gift certificates in December. Patrons can call him at 627-5551 to redeem outstanding ones.

Roots building has 150 seats inside, and another 150 on the deck in good weather. Bands played in a side room. He said hes confident he can find someone to take over the place. Theres no replacing the view.

There are days when a storm would come rolling down the lake, you can see them coming from the west, and just hit the place like a ton of bricks, Root said. Ive had people standing in the dining room with their plates. Id apologize, and say sorry about this. Some of them would say Well hell, that was the most amazing thing I ever saw.

Opening: A former Perkins on Transit Road in Amherst will become an English-style pub by March 1.

Tavern at Windsor Park, at 8444 Transit Road, will be run by Keith Morgan. He helped open the Buffalo Brew Pub, the areas first brew pub, in 1986, where he was general manager until last year.

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End of the road for Root Five in Hamburg

A TAPAS restaurant will be the first new name at Southamptons emerging 40m Arts Complex.

With construction work on the Guildhall Square site well under way, the 1m Tapas Barcelona has been announced as the first name to be part of the site.

The new restaurant will create up to 50 new jobs and is set to open this summer alongside flats being built on the former Tyrrell and Green site.

The 21m arts complex facilities, which include two auditoria, galleries and state-of-the-art film and media facilities, is set to open next April.

There will be seven ground floor restaurant units alongside 38 apartments at the site, and developer Grosvenor has announced Delicious Dining will run the 5,000sq ft Tapas Barcelona eatery.

Delicious Dining already runs several of Southamptons bestknown restaurants and nightspots, including Banana Wharf in Ocean Village and the Grand Cafe in Terminus Terrace.

Tapas Barcelona will employ 40 to 50 staff, and feature a range of Spanish, South American and Latin American-inspired dishes.

Delicious Dinings chief executive, Steve Hughes, pictured, said: The restaurant, which will occupy the ground floor, will offer small plates from Spain and Latin America and very much reflect the cultural vision of the development.

As a local business we are thrilled to have agreed terms and look forward to the fitting out phase starting in May 2015 with the official opening in the summer.

City council leader Simon Letts said: The announcement of this first retail letting at the Arts Complex is very positive news.

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Tapas Barcelona to open restaurant at Southampton's new Arts Complex