Expanding: Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar has announced a new multi-unit signed franchise agreement in Florida. The six-unit deal will bring Walk-On’s locations to the greater Tampa area over the next five years. Florida-based owner Mike Lester is currently in the site selection process and aims to debut the first of his six Walk-On’s restaurants in 2020. There are currently 25 restaurants in development in Florida that will open over the next five years. The franchise deals are part of Walk-On’s plans to expand nationwide. Read the full announcement.
Roundtable response: A feature from Harvard Business Review analyzes how investors have reacted in the weeks since the Business Roundtable drastically altered its definition of a corporation, broadening it to include more stakeholders. Several leading investment firms like BlackRock, Fidelity, and Capital Group have begun to offer products that allow shareholders to invest exclusively in companies that are certified as following socially responsible guidelines. Read the full story.
SOLD: Americans purchased more homes in October, though sales were held back by a shortage of available properties. The National Association of Realtors said this morning that sales of existing homes rose 1.9% last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.46 million. That’s 4.6% higher than a year ago, suggesting that lower mortgage rates are propping up the housing market. Read the full report.
