by The Editors on July 9, 2007
Not surprisingly, the Topps Co. today has recommended that it’s shareholders reject Upper Deck’s proposal to buy the company saying the Carlsbad-based trading card manufacturer’s “proposal was not in the best interests of the shareholders.
Topps said Monday that it plans to continue talks with Upper Deck to see if a consensual deal that is superior to the pending transaction with Tornante Co. [headed by former Disney boss Michael Eisner] and Chicago-based Madison Dearborn Partners LLC can be reached.
[Link: Chicago Tribune]
by The Editors on July 9, 2007
Looks like all that tasty trans fat that we used to love at Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill is going to be gone soon. The Carlsbad-based restaurant chain is completing its conversion to using zero trans fat canola oil for cooking all menu products, in all 160 restaurants by mid-August.
Our goal in transitioning to zero trans fat oil was to continue delivering unsurpassed flavor and quality in all the foods we serve,” said Larry Rusinko, vice president of marketing, Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill. “We look at this milestone as an improvement to our menu and a way to enhance our guests’ experience by incorporating a more healthful cooking ingredient,” he said.
How are we going to clog our arteries now?
[Link: CNN/Money]
by The Editors on July 7, 2007
This town doesn’t seem like it’s big on Ferraris, Maseratis and Lamborghinis, but according to a North County Times story by Shannon Wingard it does have one of Southern California’s finest restoration and repair shops with Cavallo Motorsports.
With its painted black-and-white checkered exterior, Cavallo Motorsports signals its dedication to race cars. And not just any race cars —- the company services, repairs and reconstructs vintage Ferraris, Maseratis and Lamborghinis. “I like them because the old cars have personality; they have history,” said Chris Dugan, who established the business in 2004.
While we don’t see us owning any of these cars in the near future, it’s good to know if we ever stumble onto a 250GTO we’ll know where to take it for a tune.
[Link: North County Times]
by The Editors on July 7, 2007
The California Coastal Commission has been on their game lately with Poseidon Resources, the company that wants to put a $300 million desalination plant in on the lagoon near the Encina Power Plant. For the fourth time this year they have rejected the plan saying it is sill “incomplete.”
Commission staff scientist Tom Luster rejected Poseidon’s latest application Tuesday, citing several topics on which he needed more information. Among those were alternative water-intake methods, environmental mitigation measures and the project’s financial feasibility.
While we like the idea of stealing less water from Northern California, it just seems like there must be better places for this than the Agua Hedionda Lagoon. (Click here for all of Carlsbadistan’s desalination plant coverage.)
[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]
by The Editors on July 7, 2007
Former Disney CEO Micheal Eisner currently “finds himself the unwitting star of the second installment of his own worst nightmare,” according to Businessweek. This time it all hinges on his bid to take over bubblegum maker Topps, a business that the Carlsbad-based trading card company Upper Deck would very much like to own.
After initially resisting the overture from Upper Deck, the Topps board will announce on Monday, July 9, whether it intends to entertain Upper Deck’s offer. That would likely send Eisner to the showers, according to those with knowledge of the media mogul, who say he is unlikely to increase his $9.75-per-share offer.
I guess we’ll see on Monday.
[Link: Businessweek and Chicago Tribune]
by The Editors on July 6, 2007
Seems everywhere we look lately we’re stumbling into stories about the La Costa Resort & Spa. The golf course has a new “Legends Trail,” the Acura Classic is leaving, a reporter may have impersonated the mayor of Chicago, a pond cleaner dies, and now LA Times writer Valli Herman says that the resort has a lot to offer, but you have to find it yourself.
. . . during my late June visit to the iconic Carlsbad complex, I found that even if you’re paying $350 a night ($409 with taxes and fees), the world demands a measure of self-reliance before those proverbial doors open or wet towels vanish and newspapers appear. . . .Instead of the anticipation of their needs, guests need to make their needs clear by phoning housekeeping. . .
Ouch. What’s that they say about there being no such thing as bad PR?
[Link: LA Times]
by The Editors on July 5, 2007
On June 26, 2007 we linked to a story on a Chinese automobile tire recall that listed K&D Tire Wholesalers LLC, of Carlsbad as one of seven tire distributors involved with potentially dangerous tires being sold by Union, New Jersey-based Foreign Tire Sales Inc.
Now, according to ModernTireDealer.com we find that K&D was not involved and has not sold any of the Chinese tires.
K&D Tire Wholesalers has not sold any of the Chinese-made light truck tires currently under scrutiny, says company CEO Dan Marsh. . . Marsh told moderntiredealer.com that his company “never purchased any of the tires involved. We get offers on Chinese tires all day long, but I don’t recall offering these.”
We’re just putting the record straight.
[Link: Modern Tire Dealer]
by The Editors on July 5, 2007
Carlsbad’s Phoenix Footwear Group, Inc. announced today that it has closed the sale of its Royal Robbins division to Kellwood Company (owner of Calvin Klein, Nautica, Phat Farm, Sierra Designs and many more) for approximately $40 million in cash.
The successful sale of our Royal Robins division marks an important inflection point in the development of our company. The proceeds from the transaction will allow us to pay down a significant portion of our long-term debt and provide us with a capital base to aggressively pursue our immediate growth initiatives.
Now Phoenix is only $13.7 million in debt. Wonder what they will sell to cover the rest?
[Link: Phoenix Footwear]
by The Editors on July 4, 2007
Longtime Carlsbad resident Tim Swart and his partners Mirko Mangum and Carlsbad High School graduate Sal Masekela, recently opened a Miami branch of their Encinitas-based style shop UNIV with Mark Gamez. And the shop is so cool that was profiled in the Miami Herald today.
The store’s decor is kitschy. Gamez, said they worked hard to make it that way — and that customers love it. ”Besides the alligator heads and the poster of Anita Bryant, it reminds a lot of people of their abuelos or grandparent’s basement in the 1970s.”
Now we just need to figure out how to get the crew to open another store in Carlsbad, however, we’d guess Tokyo will be next on the list.
[Link: Miami Herald]
by The Editors on July 3, 2007
Maku Furnishings, our favorite Carlsbad-based furniture company just got props in an Associated Press lifestyle piece written by Joan Brunskill.
Consistent with its California roots, Maku Furnishings combines a high-spirited surfing connection with environmental awareness — and makes wood furniture mostly intended for outdoor use. . . Maku’s furniture is designed in Encinitas, Calif., and made in Java from sustainable Indonesian teak, reclaimed or plantation-grown.
The first to pick up the story is The Prince George Citizen in BC, Canada. Word must travel slowly up there in the cold. And it’s nothing compared to Maku’s recent cover spot on Decor & Style Magazine. But every little bit counts. Right, Johnny?
[Link: Prince George Citizen]
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