Hy-Vee adding fitness equipment showrooms
Hy-Vee has partnered with Cottage Grove-based Johnson Fitness & Wellness and will be adding fitness equipment showrooms to select stores.
Retail
State alcohol sales tax surged last year
The Wisconsin alcohol sales tax collections last year jumped at the highest rate in almost 50 years.
6 ways to make the most of Small Business Week
Wisconsin small businesses may not, by definition, be large, but their economic impact is
Local chef launches spice retail line
Lombardino chef Patrick O’Halloran has launched The Deliciouser, a line of chef-curated spice blends, sea salts, and culinary gear.
Lessons from the Great Recession about COVID economic recovery
The long-term economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will take years to ascertain fully. To overcome the economic challenges created by the pandemic and its fallout, it’s important to have a good initial understanding of the state of U.S. business creation and longevity prior to the current COVID-19 crisis.
What’s the future of the office dress code?
Organizations may want to consider proactively reevaluating the company dress code as a result to see if offering more a flexible policy makes sense.
Connecticut company acquires Madison startup
GrocerKey, a Madison startup company that develops software for ordering groceries online, has been sold to Stamford, Connecticut-based Point Pickup Technologies.
New nail salon opens at Hilldale
Prose Nails, offering manicures and pedicures, lashes, facials, and brow shaping, has opened at Hilldale Shopping Center.
Report: Small business optimism up among all sectors except retail
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) announced the release of its NFIB Research Center’s quarterly Small Business Economic Trends industry report showing a growing optimism index in the construction, manufacturing, and services industries but a slight decrease for retailers.
Hilldale plans expansion
Hilldale Shopping Center announced an expansion that will bring new retailers, restaurants, an ice rink, and a live entertainment space to the center.
Take Five: Leveling the playing field for small businesses
President Biden’s executive order on competitiveness has been lavished with praise from those who think it’s long overdue and criticism from those who don’t believe that federal agencies can be trusted to regulate big business without harming the economy.
Restaurants pledge to help minority businesses
Several Madison restaurants have committed to donating a portion of their federal COVID stimulus funds to minority businesses that were denied funding.
$10,000 grants will support use of vacant commercial spaces
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. (WEDC) is promoting $10,000 grants to businesses that move into vacant commercial spaces.
Tenant will likely kill $40 million housing project
Declining a buyout to its lease, a tenant in the Lakeside Shopping Center has put the brakes on a $40 million housing project by developer Joe Krupp.
State legislators consider allowing dogs in more businesses
If passed, a bipartisan bill in the state legislature would allow dogs in more businesses in the state.
“Best of Local Brands” to be held in September
Hy-Vee Inc. announced its third “Best of Local Brands” summit will be held September 8–10 and will consist of 15- to 30-minute virtual presentations from selected suppliers.
DMI opposes current bus rapid transit proposal
In a written statement, Downtown Madison Inc. outlined its opposition to the proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes downtown and the placement of stations on State Street and the Capitol Square.
Mayor tries to appease merchants with smaller BRT stations
Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, under pressure from downtown businesses, has presented a design for smaller, less obtrusive bus stations for State Street.
Madison expands popular Night Market to State Street
After winning permission from Madison’s Street Use Staff Commission, the Central Business Improvement District will expand its popular Night Market events to State Street.
Downtown businesses oppose BRT
Downtown businesses are calling for a new post-pandemic plan for State Street and opposing bus rapid transit (BRT) and larger bus stations on the street.
