01 Jun Upstate Headlines: First S.C. Cheesecake Factory opens for business in Greenville
A collection of the top Upstate headlines for the week of May 30, 2016
First S.C. Cheesecake Factory opens for business in Greenville
Cheesecake Factory opened Tuesday at the Haywood Mall in Greenville near Macy’s. According to the company, The Cheesecake Factory’s opening provides exciting new choices for Greenville residents, shoppers and visitors, with “more than 250 menu selections including nearly 50 lower calorie dishes and a new ‘Super Foods’ section, handmade in house with fresh ingredients, and more than 50 signature cheesecakes and desserts.”
Report: Economy in Southeast, Far West outpace broader U.S.
Personal income and positive changes in unemployment levels remain stronger in the Southeast and Far West than in any other part of the country according to a quarterly report issued by Bruce Yandle, professor emeritus of economics at Clemson University. In his report, Yandle cites personal income growth between 4.8% and 6.3% in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. The only other states with as much personal income growth are Colorado, Utah, California, Nevada, and Oregon.
From uniforms, back to lifestyles
With its new Van Willem menswear line, OOBE plans to branch out from employee apparel into a new “lifestyle brand.” Ten years after shifting away from its foundations as an outdoor apparel company, OOBE has plans to launch a new menswear line this fall. The new line diverges from OOBE’s 10-year focus on the corporate uniform industry, designing and producing custom employee apparel for big names such as Chick-fil-A, Krispy Kreme, Race Trac, YMCA, BMW and Food Lion, among others. Launching in fall with an “experience store” in Charleston, the Van Willem line aims to elevate OOBE’s “cool factor” by showcasing its ability to innovate in the complex apparel industry.
Foreclosure, delinquency rates in Upstate below state, nation
The foreclosure rate on outstanding mortgage loans in the Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin area was 0.99% in March, a decrease of 0.21 percentage points over the same time last year, when the rate was 1.20%. Foreclosure activity in Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin was lower than the national foreclosure rate, which was 1.09% for March, according to financial analytics firm CoreLogic. Also in Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, the mortgage delinquency rate decreased. According to CoreLogic data for March, 2.66% of mortgage loans were 90 days or more delinquent compared with 3.13% for the same period last year, representing a decrease of 0.47 percentage points.
“Big Boy” statues create big buzz in Spartanburg
Mention the “Big Boy” statue to anyone above the age of 30 and it will likely conjure up fond memories of posing for pictures outside a popular restaurant chain before the days of smartphone “selfies” and social media. But Ed Yarborough, owner of Diamond Jewelers at 153 E. Main St. in downtown Spartanburg, hopes to captivate generations of customers with two of those statues placed at the front and rear of his business. Yarborough has already started to create a buzz with a guerilla marketing campaign that features the family-friendly icon from the past.
