Barbecue Pit in Bridgeport
Dallas-based Dickey”™s Barbecue Pit opened its first Fairfield County franchise location, at 4577 Main St. in Bridgeport.
The location is owned by Alan Cohen, a Dallas native who formerly was a jazz musician in New Orleans.
“I am looking forward to not only bringing great barbecue to Bridgeport and Trumbull, but also to support the local schools and charities in the area,” Cohen said, in a prepared statement.
Dickey”™s Barbecue Pit opened its first location in Dallas in 1941, and since launching the franchise in 1994 has grown to some 200 restaurants.
Casinos legalized for Massachusetts
Gov. Deval Patrick signed into law a bill approving casinos in Massachusetts, with Connecticut”™s Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos deriving a significant portion of their revenue from Bay State patrons.
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts have estimated that three planned casinos in Massachusetts could result in at least $350 million in tax revenue for that state.
Starwood vows appeal of St. Regis suit
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. said a developer won a $33 million award in a dispute over a St. Regis Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, and said it would appeal.
An entity called Castillo Grand L.L.C. won a breach-of-contract suit against Sheraton Operating Corp., a subsidiary of Starwood Hotels, which is completing a relocation to Stamford from White Plains, N.Y.
The plaintiffs claimed that continuing design changes by Starwood Hotels”™ management led to the project opening in 2007, two years behind schedule and millions of dollars over budget.
“This case is a cautionary tale for the hospitality industry,” said Todd Soloway, an attorney with New York City-based Pryor Cashman, which represented the plaintiffs. “Poor planning can be devastating to a brand launch ”¦Â Sheraton learned the hard way.”
