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Party City Going Out Of Business, Closing All 800 Stores
The party is over for a popular chain store that's been in business for decades.
Party City is “winding down” operations immediately at its approximately 800 locations, CEO Barry Litwin told corporate employees in a video call on Friday, Dec. 20, CNN reports.
Workers were told they will not receive severance pay, and that their benefits would end as the company goes out of business, CNN says.
The company, headquartered in in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, is running low on cash and unable to pay rent in some locations, according to an earlier Bloomberg report.
Party City was foun…
Teamsters Union Launches Strike Against Amazon
As the holiday season peaks, the Teamsters Union has initiated a significant strike against Amazon, targeting facilities in four states. This action is described as the largest labor movement in the company’s history.
On Thursday morning, December 19, union members began protests at a fulfillment center in Queens, New York, with additional strikes occurring in Atlanta, Southern California, and Skokie, Illinois.
The union aims to highlight unacceptable working conditions and Amazon’s refusal to engage in collective bargaining.
Their demands include better wages, hours, and benefits fo…
'Fantastic Addition': New Seafood Joint Earning Praise Months After Opening In White Plains
Months after opening, a new seafood restaurant in Westchester is becoming a hit among patrons from across the region.
Coral Seafood Restaurant, located in White Plains at 19 Court St., opened in early July and became the chain's second locale in Westchester until its sister location in Baldwin Place burned down in June.
The eatery specializes in raw bar items; lobster; main dishes like salmon steak, swordfish, and red snapper; and stuffed shrimp.
A highlight of the dinner menu is the "Coral Specialty," which includes stuffed clams, stuffed shrimp, lobster tail, salmon, an…
Luxury French Department Store Printemps Set To Open First US Location in NYC
A touch of Parisian luxury will soon be arriving in America.
Printemps, the iconic French department store, is prepares to open its first US location in the spring of 2025.
The new store, which will be located in Manhattan, will occupy 55,000 square feet within the historic One Wall Street building in the Financial District, blending classic architecture with modern elegance.
Founded in 1865, Printemps is celebrated for its high-end fashion, beauty, and lifestyle offerings.
The Manhattan location aims to capture the spirit of its flagship Paris store, showcasing a carefully cu…
Shake Shack Offers Free Burgers With Purchase During Holiday Promotion
Shake Shack is launching a limited-time promotion offering free burgers with a qualifying purchase during the holiday season.
The “Holiday Burger Blitz” will run from Monday, Dec. 16, to Tuesday, Dec. 24, providing customers with a free burger each day when they spend a minimum of $10 and use the code BURGERBLITZ at checkout.
The promotion features a different burger each day, including popular items like the ShackBurger, SmokeShack, and Avocado Bacon Burger. The schedule for the free offerings is as follows:
Monday, Dec. 16: ShackBurger
Tuesday, Dec. 17: SmokeShack
Wednesday, Dec. …
Shoplifting Costs Retailers Billions: These Are Most Frequently Stolen Items
Shoplifting in the US is a costly epidemic, with retailers losing over $120 billion last year.
The trend focuses on easily concealed, high-demand products at major retailers like Walmart and Target, posing a nationwide challenge for store owners and law enforcement.
Electronics, health and beauty products, and food items are among the most commonly stolen goods, Capital One Shopping reports.
Small gadgets such as headphones and phone chargers, alongside over-the-counter medications and cosmetics, are frequent targets.
Alcohol, baby formula, and packaged meats are also popular …
Popular Food Truck Opens Restaurant In Westchester
Foodies in Westchester have a fresh reason to celebrate: a new poke bowl spot is bringing a taste of Hawaii’s vibrant flavors to the county, one colorful, delicious bowl at a time.
Poké Motion, which originated as a food truck serving the tri-state area, will hold a grand opening for its new restaurant in Harrison at 213 Harrison Ave. on Friday, Dec. 13.
The eatery will specialize in Poké, a Hawaiian dish consisting of rice, diced raw fish, and vegetables. Poké Motion's particular spin on the dish includes the offering of protein such as raw fish, chicken, shrimp, or chickpeas, a…
Just Released New iOS Update Brings AI, Custom Emoji Access To iPhones, iPads
Apple has unveiled new updates that bring advanced AI and emoji tools to its iPhone and iPad devices.
Released on Wednesday, Dec. 11, iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 expand Apple Intelligence with features like ChatGPT integration, custom emoji creation, and visual design tools.
Key Updates
ChatGPT Integration: Siri and Writing Tools now support ChatGPT for generating content, solving problems, and enhancing productivity. Privacy settings ensure user control over data.
Image Playground: This tool allows users to design custom visuals by inputting text descriptions, wit…
Meta Outages: Thousands Experiencing Issues With Facebook, Instagram, Other Platforms
Tens of thousands of Meta users are experiencing outages across its platforms.
Just before 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, there were numerous reports of outages on Downdetector.com, including 69,000 on Instagram, over 1,000 on Facebook, and 10,000 on WhatsApp.
Meta issued a statement on the outages on X at around 1:45 p.m.
"We’re aware that a technical issue is impacting some users’ ability to access our apps," the statement said. "We’re working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible and apologize for any inconvenience."
We’re aware that a technical issue is impacting some use…
Luxury Makeover: White Plains Hotel Adds New Dining, Event Features
A major hotel in Westchester has been transformed following a multimillion-dollar renovation, offering guests new dining options, a redesigned lobby, and expanded event spaces.
The Sonesta White Plains Downtown, located steps from the Westchester Mall and the city’s vibrant nightlife at 66 Hale Ave., has completed its highly-anticipated makeover, General Manager Monika Henry announced on Wednesday, Dec. 11.
The renovation updated every corner of the 403-room hotel, from the refreshed lobby and nature-inspired guest rooms to 20,000 square feet of meeting and event space designed to app…
New Shake Shack Coming To Westchester: Here's Where
If you're looking to enjoy burgers, fries, and a milkshake, an upcoming Shake Shack locale in Northern Westchester will satisfy that craving.
The fast food chain is planning to open an all-new locale at the site of a former Dunkin' in Mount Kisco at 176 North Bedford Rd. (Route 117), according to a Shake Shack spokesperson.
Although a specific opening date has not yet been revealed, the locale will open at some point in 2025.
The new eatery will serve a variety of burgers, chicken bites, handspun milkshakes, fries, lemonades, and more. It will join locations in Port Cheste…
Famous Investor To Open New Independent Bookstore In Westchester: Here's When
A well-known entrepreneur and investor who lives in Northern Westchester is about to open a bookstore in her hometown.
Bedford Books, located at 13 Court Rd. in Bedford, will hold a grand opening celebration on Thursday, Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., according to owner Fran Hauser.
“Opening a bookstore has been my lifelong dream, and I’m so excited to share Bedford Books with our wonderful community,” Hauser said, adding, “I hope the bookstore will be a welcoming place where people can find inspiration, learn new things, and connect with others."
The bookstore's grand opening…
Moderation Mess: Meta Admits Harmless Content Often Gets Taken Down
Meta is admitting that harmless content gets taken down amid criticism for its handling of moderation.
“Too often, harmless content gets taken down, or restricted, and too many people get penalized unfairly,” the company's president of global affairs, Nick Glegg, told reporters on Monday, Dec. 2, according to a report in The Verge.
Meta's platforms include Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp.
Despite advancements in AI moderation, Clegg acknowledged there is still “work to do” in ensuring fair and accurate enforcement, the report said.
Meta has promised to refine its…
