Latest news with #Cha
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Popular Dairy Queen rival franchisee files Chapter 11 bankruptcy
The ice cream retail sector has faced economic challenges over the last year that included a major chain closing down and selling off its assets, another shutting down in a corporate dispute, and several others filing for bankruptcy protection. Bankrupt drugstore chain Rite Aid is liquidating its assets, which includes a sale of its Thrifty Ice Cream brand for $19.2 million to Hilrod Holdings LP, whose general partner, Hilton Schlosberg, is also co-founder and CEO of Monster Beverage Corporation. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Rite Aid had operated about 500 Thrifty Ice Cream counters in its stores and sold its private label Thrifty brand in over 2,300 grocery stores and chain stores across the U.S. Related: Another national employment company files Chapter 11 bankruptcy In the first half of 2025, a franchisee of a popular ice cream fast-food chain, Dairy Queen, shut down about 30 locations in Texas over a dispute with the parent company. Parent company American Dairy Queen pulled the franchises from franchisee Project Lonestar after it failed to remodel its locations. That meant that those locations could not order supplies from the parent corporation and would have to shut down. "These closures are related to closures last month by the same franchise owner," a Dairy Queen spokesperson said of the closings. "The closures are an isolated event, and we refrain from publicly sharing contract terms." The dispute prevented Lonestar from selling its franchise locations, which forced it to close the Dairy Queens that it operated. Greene Family Enterprises LLC, which owns a St. Johns, Fla.-based Rita's Italian Ice franchise, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, seeking to restructure its debts. The Rita's Italian Ice franchise filed its Subchapter V petition on June 9 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida, listing $100,000 to $500,000 in assets and $500,000 to $1 million in liabilities, including $362,000 owed to Cadence Bank, $64,000 in unpaid taxes owed to the Florida Department of Revenue, and a $43,000 claim by Headway Capital. And now, another Rita's franchisee is heading for bankruptcy court. Image source: Hammerschmidt/picture alliance via Getty Images Frozen treat chain franchisee Armellino Italian Ices Corp., which operates a Rita's Italian Ice franchise in Tuscaloosa, Ala., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, seeking to reorganize its business. Related: Largest fast-food chain's franchisee files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy The debtor also operates a PJ's Coffee franchise in Tuscaloosa that is part of the bankruptcy. The debtor filed its petition in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Alabama on July 1, listing $100,000 to $500,000 in assets and $500,000 to $1 million in liabilities. More bankruptcy: Iconic auto repair chain franchise files Chapter 11 bankruptcyPopular beer brand closes down and files Chapter 7 bankruptcyPopular vodka and gin brand files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Armellino Italian Ices indicated in its petition that no funds would be available for distribution to unsecured creditors after administrative expenses are paid. Rita's Italian Ice, founded in 1984 in Bensalem, Pa., is a specialty dessert shop selling Italian ice, frozen custard, Gelati, Italian Ice Blenders, Gelati Blenders, milkshakes, and take-home treats, such as custard cookie sandwiches and custard pints. Rita's, which claims to be the world's largest Italian Ice franchise in the world, had been owned by parent company Argosy Private Equity from December 2016 until Nov. 26, 2024, when it exited its investment in Rita's Franchise Company LLC. The Trevose, Pa., company revealed on Jan. 9, 2025, that private equity firm Maple Park Capital Partners purchased a majority interest in Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard. The Italian Ice and frozen custard chain has 592 locations in 29 states and the District of Columbia, according to its website. PJ's has 192 locations in 14 states, with over 300 locations in development, according to the company's website. Related: Popular vision care chain files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
US strikes on Iran could lead to another Trump-Kim summit at Panmunjom: US expert
The recent US bombings on Iranian nuclear sites could open up the possibility of another meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un like their previous dramatic encounter at the inter-Korean border in 2019, an American expert said Monday. Victor Cha, president of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, raised the view, but said it will be under "a different context," as Kim would now want to negotiate security assurances rather than denuclearization. "President Trump famously likes his friend in North Korea and he's scheduled to go to APEC in Korea at the end of October. Who knows what could happen there? He could go up to Panmunjom to meet the North Korean leader again," Cha said during a panel discussion hosted by the CSIS. Panmunjom is the truce village inside the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas. Trump and Kim met there in June 2019. "But in a different context, because the show of military force by the United States may cause Kim to say, 'I need some insurance that that (bombing) doesn't happen to me,'" Cha said. Cha was referring to the US air strikes, using B-2 bombers, on three key nuclear sites in Iran between June 21 and 22. Trump described the operation as successful and claimed the three sites were "obliterated." South Korea is due to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit between late October and early November this year, with Trump expected to attend the multilateral meeting. Cha said that the US military action against Iran opens up the possibility for Washington and Pyongyang to resume the nuclear dialogue that remains stalled since the last talks in Hanoi in early 2019 collapsed without a deal. "I think, if anything, they (North Koreans) are reaffirmed, that they have pursued the right path (of nuclear buildup)," Cha said. "One of the costs of our bombing of Iran is that we may have ended CVID with North Korea," he said. CVID stands for complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of North Korea, a central principle in nuclear talks with North Korea. Since he returned to the White House, Trump has called the North "a nuclear power," sparking speculation that the US under his leadership may shift away from denuclearization talks and instead pursue an arms control deal with Pyongyang. "The lesson North Korea has taken away from this (is that) we need to keep our weapons to avoid massive ordnance penetrators being dropped on North Korea, like they were dropped on Iran," Cha said. "So for all the wrong reasons, this strike against Iran may bring the North Koreans and the US into negotiations," he said. (Yonhap)
Pink Villa
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
THE BOYZ's agency chairwoman admits 'failing to properly manage' Ju Haknyeon amid AV star scandal: 'We humbly accept…'
Following the controversy involving Ju Haknyeon, the leadership of ONE HUNDRED Label has broken its silence. On June 18, Chairwoman Cha Ga Won delivered a formal apology on behalf of the agency. She acknowledged the gravity of the situation and accepted responsibility for what she described as serious shortcomings in artist supervision. Ju Haknyeon, once a member of the K-pop boy group THE BOYZ, found himself at the center of a scandal. He was spotted with AV actress Asuka Kirara at a Tokyo bar in late May. In response, ONE HUNDRED Label announced his immediate departure from the group. They terminated his exclusive contract, citing 'personal issues' at first. But fans and the media were already piecing together the full story. Cha Ga Won's statement In a statement, Chairwoman Cha 'deeply apologises' to fans, supporters, and the wider public for the controversy surrounding one of their artists. She didn't attempt to shift blame but instead took full responsibility for the fallout. The agency acknowledges that it failed in its duty to adequately oversee and manage the private actions and professional conduct of its artists. 'We humbly accept that we failed to properly manage our artists' private lives and conduct,' Cha said. She added, 'Through this incident, we have come to fully recognize the weight of our responsibility and are reflecting deeply.' She acknowledged that the situation has served as a wake-up call. Cha emphasized that this moment will be used as an opportunity to initiate systemic change within the agency. She explained that ONE HUNDRED Label would take immediate steps to revise its internal management structure. Plans include introducing structured educational programs to raise awareness among trainees and artists about personal responsibility and public expectations. These programs will also address the consequences of private actions becoming public scandals. The timeline: From suspension to termination The scandal first surfaced through a report by Shūkan Bunshun, a Japanese media outlet. The article included photographs showing Ju Haknyeon at a private bar in Tokyo with Asuka Kirara. She's a former adult actress. She was allegedly seen hugging and leaning her head on his shoulder in images. The photos, which showed them in close proximity, fueled controversy online. Fans and netizens criticized the idol's behavior, calling it inappropriate and damaging to the group's image. Initially, the agency responded vaguely. They stated that Ju Haknyeon would be temporarily halting activities for personal reasons. But just two days later, the situation escalated. The agency issued an official statement confirming his full departure from THE BOYZ and the immediate cancellation of his contract.
Chicago Tribune
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Glenview Squares celebrates 75 years of square dancing with ‘Denim & Diamonds'
For 75 years, square-dance lovers have heeded the call—or should we say calls—of Glenview Squares. The second oldest square dance club in Illinois has been thriving since it started in September 1950 at the Junior High School Building on Waukegan Road, which later became the site of the old Glenview Police Department. To celebrate the 75th anniversary, the Glenview Squares hosted a 'Denim & Diamonds' dinner and dance on May 16 at White Eagle Banquets in Niles. Nationally-known square dance caller Andy Allemao came from California to call the dances. Janice Cha of Morton Grove, who joined Glenview Squares in 2003, said 130 people attended the Denim & Diamonds event. 'We had a silent auction, photo booths, a raffle, a cash bar and a delicious dinner,' Cha said. 'We had half dancing and half chatting and visiting with friends.' Mundelein resident Marla Schneider, who is president of Glenview Squares along with her husband Kerry Stein, said the event 'was wonderful. It really turned out well. We recognized all our visitors who attended the dance and supported us. We also recognized all of our current board members and committee chairs for all the work they've done in the past year. And then we introduced the newly elected board. Then we danced and celebrated the night away.' A video of photos from the past 75 years was going and there was a writeup about the history of the club, Schneider said. The start of Glenview Squares was part of a trend, Cha indicated. 'Seventy-five years ago, square dance clubs were popping up all over the place,' she said. 'You could have found a square dance club in almost every town.' She believes that the reason Glenview Squares is still going strong is because, 'We had the right people in place—people who were able to envision different ways of doing things.' That was particularly apparent in 2014 when Glenview Squares reduced the teaching list from 100 calls to 50 calls. 'That's way too much for people to learn,' Cha explained. Cutting the number of calls to learn in half allowed the club to offer lessons twice a year and welcome more new members. There are currently around 110 members in the club. In order to become a member, you have to have learned the first 50 calls. The membership fee is $125, which covers all regular club dances between June and May. There are dances the first and third Friday of each month, September-May. The main dance venue is First Presbyterian Church, 824 Waukegan Rd., Deerfield. Cha reported that Glenview Squares has done fun things over the years. 'I took it into my head that we should do flash mobs,' she said. 'Pre-pandemic, I helped spearhead several flash mobs.' The first flash mob was near the Bean sculpture in Millennium Park. The group has done demonstrations of square dancing at such places as Brookfield Zoo and Lincoln Park Zoo. 'During the pandemic, we took square dancing online,' Cha said. 'When the weather got better, we took square dancing from Zoom to outside in a parking lot.' The club is run by 17 members—elected officials and committee chairs. Some club members take the next step, as did Cha's husband, James Cha, who became a caller in 2017. After taking two classes in calling, 'I got hooked,' he said. 'I kept going to caller school and I kept working with much more senior established callers and I learned how to call.' He described square dancing as a puzzle. 'Everybody starts on a square called their home spot,' James Cha said. 'My job is to move them all around into different formations, have them interact with the other members of their square, and then get them back home using only square dance calls. There's a lot of strategy in moving folks around and making sure that they end up back with their original partner back home.' Club President Schneider praised 'the teamwork, the camaraderie, and the fellowship' of belonging to Glenview Squares. 'Also, it keeps your mind very active.' Cha concluded, 'Square dancing is such a natural way to meet people who are generally nice folks and learn something that will keep you active well into your later years, challenging your body and your brain at the same time.' Myrna Petlicki is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Korea Herald
12-06-2025
- Korea Herald
Suspect in murder of 2 brothers, stabbing of 2 others indicted
ANSAN, South Korea, June 12 (Yonhap) -- The suspect in the killing of two brothers and stabbing of two others was indicted Thursday on charges of murder and attempted murder, the prosecution said. Cha Cheol-nam, a 56-year-old Chinese national of Korean ethnicity, is accused of killing the brothers of the same Chinese-Korean background in Siheung, just southwest of Seoul, last month. He is also accused of stabbing a convenience store owner and his landlord in separate incidents, causing them serious injuries. The Ansan branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors Office said Cha was indicted on the murder and attempted murder charges while remaining under arrest. During questioning by investigation agencies, Cha claimed to have committed the crime out of anger after the brothers failed to repay him a loan of 30 million won (US$21,500). He also said the convenience store owner had spoken ill of him, while the landlord had looked down on him. Cha began planning the murders six months beforehand by altering his weapon to make it comfortable for use and getting a prescription for sleeping pills to give to the brothers, according to the prosecution.
