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Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Guzman y Gomez looks to open second Naperville restaurant on Route 59
Naperville was the first city in the U.S. to have a Guzman y Gomez Mexican Kitchen when the Australia-based chain opened in 2020 along Naper Boulevard near Ogden Avenue. Now, the company is taking steps toward its second restaurant in Naperville, with the unanimous endorsement of the city's Planning and Zoning Commission for its request to build along Route 59. Guzman y Gomez won a positive recommendation for its plans to demolish a former Juicy O restaurant in the Fox River Commons shopping center and replace it with a 2,600-square-foot dine-in and drive-thru restaurant. Jason Trombley, head of U.S. development for Guzman y Gomez, said the new site at 844 S. Route 59 would help the company promote 'our food and our people' while growing its U.S. presence. The company's seventh store in the country opened this week in Des Plaines; all are in the Chicago area. 'We think brand awareness is a big part of this puzzle, and a second store (in Naperville) will provide sales to the southern part of Naperville and also boost the store on the northern side of the city,' Trombley said, referencing its first location at 1519 N. Naper Blvd. The site where Guzman y Gomez hopes to open its second Naperville shop is near recent redevelopments, including The Matrix Club and Mall of India. In documents submitted to the city, the company said its store — designed in brown and gray with white and yellow accents — will be a 'new-look building' that will 'brighten a center that needs new growth and revitalization.' 'I am excited about that location with everything that's going on there,' said Whitney Robbins, planning and zoning commission chairwoman. Guzman y Gomez's plans for the site require Naperville City Council approval for a major change to the planned unit development for Fox River Square and a final plat for the land. Adam Beaver, with the city's planning services team, said a restaurant is permitted within the property's B2 zoning, and city staff found no concerns with designs for the site. Plans call for an outdoor dining patio with seating for 25 people, a parking lot with 31 spaces, new sidewalks and a bike path connection along Route 59. The drive-thru would have two lanes for ordering that merge into one for pickup, and the entrance to the restaurant would be on the north end of the site to avoid traffic backups near the entrance to the shopping center. The fast-casual Mexican food chain, which is said to have something of a cult following in Australia, is the brainchild of America cofounders Steven Marks and Robert Hazan. At the time the first Guzman & Gomez store opened in Naperville, Marks told the Naperville Sun the goal was put down roots in the U.S. the same way they have in Australia, Japan and Singapore. 'We chose Naperville because of the community,' Marks said in 2020. 'We kept hearing about this city, which is ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S., and the moment we arrived here and saw the site, we knew this was where our first U.S. restaurant had to be.'
AsiaOne
07-07-2025
- Business
- AsiaOne
More students in Singapore juggle studying and working to support their families, Singapore News
SINGAPORE — Throughout her three years in polytechnic, 21-year-old Amillie Chan spent every evening after class serving customers and preparing food at Mexican-themed fast food chain Guzman y Gomez. Chan, who graduated in May from Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) with a diploma in food and beverage business, worked up to five hours a day on weekdays and 12 hours a day on weekends — all while studying full-time. While there is no official data on the number of students who have to study and work to support their families, social service agency Allkin Singapore said that it has seen a more than threefold increase in the number of post-secondary students aged 17 and above who have to work while studying, from five in 2024 to 17 in 2025. This is according to data gathered from applications for its Allkin ElevatED! study grant. Natalie Lim, deputy director of the family and community support division at Allkin Singapore, said that this increase 'suggests a growing trend of students having to assume financial responsibilities while pursuing their education'. Two other social service organisations The Straits Times reached out to did not have this data. The Ministry of Education (MOE) said that in academic year 2023, over 70 per cent of Singaporeans studying at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and around 50 per cent of Singaporeans studying in polytechnics received the Higher Education Community Bursary and the Higher Education Bursary. The figures have remained stable over the past five years, MOE added. These are government bursaries for post-secondary students from lower- to middle-income group households that help them to offset tuition fees. Families eligible for the Higher Education Community Bursary take home $4,400 or less monthly, while families eligible for the Higher Education bursary take home $10,000 or less monthly. Sharing their families' burden For some students, working part-time is a choice they make to help supplement their family's income. Second-year Temasek Polytechnic (TP) business student Lucas Lim works part-time as a retail assistant at Fairprice to alleviate the financial burden on his 63-year-old bus captain father, who is the sole breadwinner of the family, which includes his 56-year-old homemaker mother and two older brothers, aged 25 and 29. The 18-year-old said of his father, who is looking to retirement soon: "I've seen him working tirelessly for his entire life. I want to be able to carry some of the burden for him." When Singapore Polytechnic (SP) civil engineering student Yap Jie Er started working at Takagi Ramen as a kitchen crew member in October 2021, she did it for her own extra pocket money. Two months later, it became a necessity for her to own her own keep after her father died from cancer. "I stopped taking an allowance from my mum. Since I was earning my own money, I wanted my mum to be able to give more allowance to my three younger siblings," said Yap, 20, whose younger siblings are aged 18, 11 and seven years old respectively. Jennifer Lau, a third-year immersive media student at Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP), works once a week as a retail assistant at a Lego store. She would like to work more, but she cannot do so because she has to juggle studies as well as visiting her father in a nursing home. Her father was admitted to a nursing home to receive full-time care in November 2023, after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disease that leads to difficulty with walking, balance, coordination and even speech. Lau, 23, earns about $400 a month during the school term. Most of her salary is spent on personal expenses like food and transport costs, as well as food for her father when she visits him two to three times a week. For now, her household bills and her father's nursing home costs are covered by her father's savings and her school fees are covered by financial assistance programmes. "The biggest challenge of working and studying at the same time is that I can't work enough. I want to be able to work more," said Lau, who has no siblings. How they balance school and work Many students who work part-time focus on academics during the weekdays and go to their jobs on weekends. Yap would work up to two shifts at Takagi Ramen every weekend. Each shift lasted from 10am to 10pm. Her job involved preparing drinks, serving customers and assisting the ramen chef. Yap recalls that she had to be on her feet throughout her shifts except during a one-hour break each shift. She said: "Standing all day can be tiring, especially during the evening peak hours when it's extremely busy. We (also) have to stay a 100 per cent focused on our work without making any mistakes." Despite working only twice per week, Yap's part-time job took a toll on her studies. She said: "I would be too tired (from work) to study on weekends, so I would often stay up past midnight to catch up on studies during weekdays." "Sometimes, when I am sleeping, I would even have dreams about working (at my job). It definitely affected my concentration in class and there's been an obvious drop in my grades," said Yap, whose grade point average has dropped from 3.4 to 3.2. She stopped working in July 2024 in order to focus on her studies as she is in her final year. Financial aid programmes, such as the bond-free HSBC Centenary Scholarship she won in 2023 and 2024, have helped with her financial situation. She said: "It's allowed me to work less and have more time to focus on studies and socialising." 'I wish I could spend the money I earn on myself' For Mr Lim, working part-time means having to sacrifice time that could be spent on co-curricular activities or socialising. He said: "I don't have much of a chance to rest, so I'm usually too exhausted from work to participate in sports." "CCAs I'm interested in, like dragonboat and archery, train only on the weekends, so I'm unable to commit due to my work." Not only does he miss socialising with his friends due to his work commitments on the weekends, he also feels like his life is about "constantly running from task to task". "I have no time to unwind," he said. Lau said her sacrifice is in terms of the things she wants but does not need. "I wish that I could spend some of the money I earn on things I want to buy. Sometimes I'll see things like games or (video game) consoles and tell myself that I'm going to buy it next month, but that next month never comes around," she said. When she first began working, she often found herself comparing her situation with those of her classmates. "Why do I have to work while they don't? Why can they have things that I can't?" she would think. "But as I've gotten older, I've gotten more used to it and I've realised that everyone has different journeys any way." Lau said that despite the challenges, she has benefited from her time working and studying at the same time. She said: "It's helped me improve my confidence and built important skills I'll need for working in the real world, like public speaking." Senior clinical and counselling psychologist at Allkin Singapore Tan Ying Yin said that working at a young age can benefit students: "It provides early opportunities to develop essential life skills. Through work, youth can learn valuable skills such as time management and financial responsibility." Mr Lim agrees. "Working has given me a new perspective. It's developed my time management skills, and it's taught me to be disciplined and resolved," he said. "Even though I may be exhausted now, I think it'll benefit me in the long run. I want to take these skills to give my dad peace of mind when he retires, and contribute to a better future for my family." What are the impacts of studying and working to support the household simultaneously? Allkin Singapore's Ms Lim said students who have to study and work to support their households face "significant challenges", including difficulty focusing on academics due to the demands of multiple roles and persistent worries about having enough financial resources to meet both personal and family needs. There are also psychological impacts on students. Tan Ying Yin, senior clinical and counselling psychologist at Allkin Singapore, said: "Youth seek acceptance and a sense of belonging through their peer relationships. "Taking on work and family responsibilities may cause them to miss out on key relational milestones, as they have less time for social and recreational activities with their peers. The challenge of balancing both work and school can heighten feelings of stress and anxiety." What help is available for students who work and study at the same time? An MOE spokesperson said that there is a "wide range of financial assistance schemes available to support Singaporean citizen students from low to middle-income families". These include government bursaries, such as the Higher Education Community Bursary and Higher Education Bursary, and loans for diploma and undergraduate students, as well as individual aid schemes from institutes of higher learning. Additionally, there are other forms of financial assistance offered by foundations, community groups, self-help groups, as well as private and professional organisations. Family service centres, such as Allkin, also offer financial assistance programmes for students in difficult financial situations. Some of these programmes, such as the Allkin Family Support Fund, provide financial assistance to students beyond just school-related materials, and help students and their families afford basic needs and significant family expenses. However, despite the availability of financial assistance, some students still feel the need to work to support their families. Ms Lim said that in these instances, students may continue to work because: They need to contribute to household income, especially when family members are unable to work due to their medical condition(s). Eligibility criteria of current financial assistance options that may exclude certain students from receiving aid. The rising cost of living, which outpaces the financial assistance received. Cultural values that may discourage young people from relying on their parents who are facing financial challenges. Limitations of financial aid — while some forms of aid cover school fees, they may not fully address other essential expenses such as educational resources (for example, books, laptops) or daily living costs (for example, transport, meals). As a result, students may still need to work to meet these needs. [[nid:719617]] This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction.
AU Financial Review
30-06-2025
- Business
- AU Financial Review
The surprise 10pc jump giving investment bank analysts hope
Poor old sell-side analysts were cut out of Virgin's $2.3 billion relisting last week. They were cut out of Guzman y Gomez and DigiCo Infrastructure REIT's IPO marketing last year, too. Some fund managers have stopped using them for their numbers in day-to-day coverage and analysis – like Sydney's Aoris Investment Management – and we cannot remember the last time an investment bank boss talked about equities research as anything other than a cost centre.
7NEWS
23-06-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan's car allegedly stolen on popular Port Melbourne street
Troubled Western Bulldogs forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has alleged over Instagram that his car has been stolen. The 23-year-old, who has returned to his AFL club in recent days after an extended leave of absence, posted two photos to his Instagram story on Monday night that appear to accuse a man of stealing his car from Bay Street in Port Melbourne. 'If you see this fella. Tell him drop my car back off at my house,' he wrote just before 7pm on Monday. 'Bay Street tax is crazy,' he added, alongside two laughing emojis. The text was written over a screenshot of CCTV that captured a man in sunglasses and a cap. In the background of the image is a portable triangle-shaped board out the front of a Guzman y Gomez franchise. A bit over an hour later, Ugle-Hagan posted a photo of a Toyota HiLux, the registration of which is CSI 601. It's understood the car went missing on Monday afternoon. It's unclear when the image was captured, and there is no suggestion that Ugle-Hagan's allegation is true, only that he made it. It's the latest twist in a tumultuous year for the highly talented AFL player. In a podcast released on Sunday night, Ugle-Hagan addressed the depths of his mental health battles while sidelined this year. The 2020 No.1 draft pick has returned to training with the Western Bulldogs but will need to put in weeks of work before being being considered for a return via the VFL. The start of his comeback has arrived with the declaration that he is doing better, while opening up on the challenges of his year to date. Ugle-Hagan spent time at a health retreat in northern NSW after having suicidal thoughts 'pretty frequently'. 'All the noises actually sent me to a rehab facility for my mental health,' Ugle-Hagan told former AFL players Mitch Robinson and Rhys Mathieson on their podcast. 'It got to a point where I had to give my car to a mate so I couldn't drive. I just didn't trust myself driving. 'There were times when I would think about, to be honest with you, just not even worth even living. 'I went through a struggle where I didn't want to leave the house. I hit rock bottom, and found basement.' Ugle-Hagan said he 'felt like I was on my own the whole time'. 'When you are down you want to keep finding an upper. My upper was probably staying and hanging out with my mates and getting on the p*** and training with them as well,' he said. 'But it just had no end goal, I didn't have a game. I didn't have anything. 'My mental health wasn't in the right space so I was struggling, and I found it really tough to even enjoy football. 'I lost the fun in it. I didn't want to play, it wasn't even a priority because all I wanted to do was find something. 'But I didn't know what that was until I have had this break.' Ugle-Hagan also wasn't just fighting his own battles during his time out, revealing he was also there at times of need for his friends. He missed the Bulldogs' centenary match earlier this year while helping out a friend in need. 'My best mate rang me on the phone and was about to take his own life and I had to call him out of it, while he was in Warrnambool,' he said. 'He come up that weekend and spent it with me and the game was on, that is why I didn't go.' The AFL would need to approve Ugle-Hagan's comeback because he has been under the league's mental health plan since taking leave.
Sky News AU
03-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Sky News AU
American mum living in Brisbane causes online controversy after revealing bizarre list of things she hates about Australia
An American expat residing in Brisbane has sparked a lively online debate after listing her top grievances about Australia, including difficult shopping trolleys and a puzzling highway system. Lex, a social media content creator whose account provides an American perspective on integrating into Australian culture, posted the video to TikTok and listed her five top issues with her adopted homeland. Number one on the list was that Australian shops close their doors far earlier than those in America, with the former Houston-based mum admitting 'it was a little strange at first'. 'The shops close early here, I'm used to it, I've been here nine months, but it was a little strange at first, but I understand it, because there can be a duality with things like that'. An American expat residing in Australia has sparked a lively online debate after listing her top grievances about life down under. Picture: NewsWire /John Appleyard. The popular user then claimed in the US 'supermarkets are pretty much open all of the time'. However one user questioned, 'the shops close early where you are? Come to Victoria, the shops are open very late here'. The Brisbane mum's second bugbear was that Australian shopping trolleys are 'challenging to steer'. 'Shockingly 90 per cent of Aussies are in agreement with me on this," wrote Lex, adding she was "challenged with this nine months in'. The Brisbane mum was more confidant about her second bugbear, that being the unruly nature of Australian shopping trolleys. Picture: Bev Lacey/NCA. She conceded, 'you really have to put you body into it', with a raft of Australians taking to the comment section to encourage Coles and Woolworths to apply a generous portion of WD-40 to the aging fleet. 'You don't push a trolly here, you manage it' one person said. However another user claimed US trollies were far worse, writing "I HATE American trollys I go to Costco and it's infuriating." However, a more contentious compliant from the women was that 'Mexican food is pretty bad here' and was far inferior to that served in Texas. 'The Mexican food is not great, and I don't expect it to be great, it's just hard because in Texas the Tex-Mex is so good, I crave it'. One person said, 'the Mexican thing is true, but we're about as far from Mexico as you can get', whilst another disgruntled user asked, 'do you have a Guzman y Gomez in Brissie because that's pretty good?' "In Melbourne we have fabulous Mexican restaurants," shot back another commenter. However, a more contentious compliant from the women was that 'Mexican food is pretty bad here'. Picture: Guzman y Gomez via NCA NewsWire. The expat also unloaded on Australian motorways, and that they were almost impossible to understand. Picture: Nigel Hallett/NCA/ The expat also unloaded on Australian motorways, claiming they are almost impossible to navigate as opposed to the gigantic American interstate highway system. 'The highways here are a bit of a challenge, and I don't exactly know why, we turn around easily and take the wrong exit, and I can't figure out if it's the signage, the signage is different for sure,' the women said. 'The name of the highways aren't as prominent as Houston, the name of the highways are blatantly big in Texas and so that took me a minute. I had to get used to searching for the name of the highway which is what I was used to'. One user pointed out that 'the moment you use a tunnel in Brisbane [Google] maps no longer works', with another bemoaning that 'if you get off on the wrong exit, so often you can't just get back on! You're stuck!' Whilst admitting her last irk was 'so petty' the women was shocked that Australian restaurants and cafes make customers pay for condiments and sauces and stated this was the biggest culture shock of all. 'You have to pay for condiments here, in the states if you want 50 sauces then that's that, it goes to the other direction where it's wasteful, but yeah you have to pay for condiments here so that was an adjustment." However one follower fired back: "Surely you now need to expose how GREAT our sauce packets are? Squeeze to dispense - no ripping a packet - use again later in the meal - the best!"
