The Original Pancake House expands its brand throughout the world while maintaining its authenticity
and the same attention to detail it was founded upon.
By Janice Hoppe-Spiers, Knighthouse Media
In 1953, Les Highet and his wife, Doris, combined his passion for culinary arts with her expertise in science to create the best pancake Portland, Ore., had ever tasted. It was then that The Original Pancake House was born and diners have been enjoying the couple’s authentic pancake recipe ever since.
- Kat Zeman
- Retail Spotlights
Mainstream Boutique
One woman’s dream turned Mainstream Boutique into a multimillion-dollar business. By Kat Zeman
Even Oprah Winfrey wanted to know her secret. When Marie DeNicola made her exit from the corporate world, she took her passion for the fashion industry and turned it into a multimillion-dollar business.
Working from her basement, DeNicola called her venture the Mainstream Boutique – because she lived on Mainstream Circle. “I really wanted to appeal to women, to empower them through fashion,” DeNicola says.
DeNicola started franchising after appearing on Oprah Winfrey’s talk show in the ‘90s. Today, she sits on top of a $40 million franchise empire that has blossomed into 78 locations throughout the United States. But Mainstream Boutique’s story is still being written.
- Kat Zeman
- Retail Spotlights
Iavarone Bros.
Iavarone Bros. is opening its second Italian restaurant in New York.
By Kat Zeman, Knighthouse Media
Famous for its Neapolitan-style sausage and pizza, Iavarone Bros. is expanding its culinary kingdom. The family-owned and operated company – which owns four European-style gourmet food markets in New York – is opening a new restaurant this summer in Plainview, N.Y.
- Angela Forsyth
- Retail Spotlights
Furnitureland South
Furnitureland inspires theme park-like delight for home décor enthusiasts.
By Angela Forsyth
Anyone who wants to experience the theme park version of a furniture store needs to drive to Jamestown, N.C., to visit Furnitureland South. It is a home décor-lover’s paradise. Home to the world’s largest piece of furniture – an 85-foot highboy that stands enormously tall in front of one of the showrooms – Furnitureland South is the largest furniture store on the planet.
- Mark Lawton
- Retail Spotlights
AllCare Pharmacy
AllCare Pharmacy invests in people to build business and for the good of its communities.
By Mark Lawton, Knighthouse Media
Many executives have an open door policy for employees but W. Percy Malone has extended his to his cellphone. “They all have my cellphone number,” Malone says of the 650 employees at AllCare Pharmacy, which he owns.
- Staci Davidson
- Retail Spotlights
84 Lumber
Ongoing investments in its people and technology allow 84 Lumber to maintain
its reputation for service and to grow with new offerings.
By Staci Davidson, Knighthouse Media
For the past two years, 84 Lumber has been named the Distributor of the Year by D.R. Horton. The largest homebuilder in the United States uses this award to recognize the supplier that best exemplifies a commitment to quality and outstanding service.
- Kat Zeman
- Retail Spotlights
King's Hawaiian
King’s Hawaiian introduces new barbecue sauces and plans to enter other food categories. By Kat Zeman
Most famous for its sweet bread, King’s Hawaiian has begun carving out new territories. The Torrance, Calif.-based company started selling barbecue sauces last year and plans to launch new Hawaiian food categories in the near future, as well as introduce other baked goods.
“We are not just a bread company,” President John T. Linehan declares. “We are a Hawaiian food company. Our goal is to create a global Hawaiian food category.”
King’s Hawaiian started rebranding itself in 2006 when it created a strategic plan, which it revised in 2015. In 2016, the company added four barbecue sauces to its portfolio: Original Sweet Pineapple, Smoked Bacon, Light Roasted Kona Coffee and Big Island Lava. This year, King’s Hawaiian will introduce its fifth flavor. Sweet Island Ginger is expected to hit the shelves in spring at major food retailers such as Kroger, Jewel, Target, Meijer and Mariano’s.
- Janice Hoppe-Spiers
- Retail Spotlights
DeFehr Furniture
DeFehr Furniture refreshes its logo and livens up its website as it debuts new products
throughout the year and focuses on sharing its unique story.
By Janice Hoppe-Spiers, Knighthouse Media
DeFehr Furniture considers itself a rare breed when it comes to furniture manufacturers in that a majority of its raw materials are sourced from nearby Canadian forests and its case goods are built locally at its 400,000-square-foot facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Consumers throughout North America have enjoyed the company’s high-value, on-trend furniture for more than 70 years and three generations.
