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Articles by Kathy Canavan
Susan Leath tells journey from foster child to Gannett publisher
Susan Leath shares her personal journey, telling the audience, “I can remember the old ad slogan “˜You’ve come a long way, baby.’ But we need to go further.” By Susan D. Leath, a one-time foster child who rose to become the only African-American female publisher of a general-circulation newspaper in the United States, delivered the keynote speech at the New Castle Chamber of Commerce’s 25th annual Entrepreneurial & Business Women’s Expo on Nov. 10.
Delaware keeps top bond ratings and saves $5M in refinancing
WILMINGTON – The state’s top bond ratings were recently reaffirmed by three of the four rating agencies, as it also refinanced bonds to save on a lower interest rate. State finance officials reported that $33.1 million in general obligation (GO) bonds were refinanced at a record low interest rate of 0.79%, saving the state $5.2 million over the bonds’ decade-long term.
Statewide COVID-19 testing plan could become a reality
In a state where fewer than 25,000 residents have been tested over the past few months, a new nonprofit called Scan Delaware Health is approaching state officials with a plan that could have Delaware quickly testing 120,000 residents per month – starting with front-line health care workers, first responders, and high-risk populations like assisted care employees, their families and residents, populations at risk, critical infrastructure personnel and public works workers.
News Journal newsroom seeks to unionize
NEW CASTLE – The editorial staff of The News Journal is attempting to form a union under the NewsGuild-Communication Workers of America, according to a Monday press release. The union, called the Delaware News Guild, announced its effort just days after its parent company, Gannett, laid off more than two dozen people at newspapers across the country Feb. 28. The majority of those job losses were not unionized and in Florida or Ohio, according to an industry accounting of the losses.
Sam Waltz: Delaware has a date with SCOTUS
Sam Waltz Publisher Emeritus It may seem arcane, technical and obscure. Even political. But Case #19-309, Governor of Delaware v. James R. Adams, which will be heard by the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) next month, could have one of the biggest impacts in years on the Delaware economy. At stake is one of Delaware’s most important business assets, the quality of Delaware’s judiciary and its reputation as America’s business court of choice.
Rehoboth Beach Club's $10.5 million renovation
By Katie Tabeling Changing the view REHOBOTH BEACH — When General Manager Michael MacDonald looks out the bay windows at the Rehoboth Beach Country Club, he sees an ocean of possibilities for the club’s future. After building his career in Florida golf and social clubs, MacDonald is no stranger to stunning water views, but the one found at the Rehoboth Beach Country Club is second to none.
By the numbers: January
Beige Book: Slight growth in business activity Aggregate business activity has edged back to a slight pace of growth, according to the January 2020 Beige Book, published by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. Employment continued to grow slightly during the current Beige Book period, with about two-thirds of the nonmanufacturing firms and four-fifths of the manufacturers reporting no change in staff.
Susan Leath tells journey from foster child to Gannett publisher
Susan Leath shares her personal journey, telling the audience, “I can remember the old ad slogan ‘You’ve come a long way, baby.’ But we need to go further.” By Susan D. Leath, a one-time foster child who rose to become the only African-American female publisher of a general-circulation newspaper in the United States, delivered the keynote speech at the New Castle Chamber of Commerce’s 25th annual Entrepreneurial & Business Women’s Expo on Nov. 10.
Green Room to become neo-brasserie Le Cavalier
Stokes Architecture & Design created this concept for Le Cavalier at the Green Room in downtown Wilmington. | PHOTO COURTESY OF STOKES WILMINGTON – The Hotel Du Pont’s famed Green Room restaurant will become a new French brasserie named Le Cavalier at the Green Room this spring, officials announced Jan. 15. The project is a joint venture by Buccini/Pollin Group (BPG), PM Hotel Group and chef-partner Tyler Akin, of Stock and Res Ipsa Café fame in Philadelphia.
Indie bookstores find way to thrive despite you-know-who
The website for a Bethany Beach bookshop refers to Amazon as “that site that shall not be named.” The conventional wisdom is independent booksellers can’t compete with the world’s largest online retailer with its discounted deals and next-day delivery. The story has a plot twist though. MeJah Books owner Emlyn De Gannes.
Arts Summit helps artists navigate the business side of their craft
When the commercial real estate market tanked in 2008, John Donato found himself unemployed. He had to replace his salary pronto, but the only skill he could think of was drawing. “I found myself without a job and with a baby and a wife. My very short-term goal was let’s not lose our house,” he said. “When I was faced with no other options, I said, ‘Why don’t I try being an artist.’” If you think you know where this story is going, you’re wrong.
Foodscaping is a New Niche for Garden Centers
There’s a new niche market for the savviest garden centers — foodscaping. It’s a small sliver of the $47.8 billion Americans spent on their lawns and gardens last year, but it’s growing annually. Foodscaping is landscaping with a twist. Home gardeners may use edible thyme as a ground cover. They may hang a strawberry basket, fill a garden bed with edible pansies or violets, or plant blueberry bushes as an attractive and appetizing hedge.
Words of wisdom from Delaware leaders
Newspaper articles have dubbed Rebecca Byrd a “superstar lobbyist” and “one half of a lobbying powerhouse.” The attorney-lobbyist was born into the business as the daughter of longtime lobbyist Bobby Byrd, and Legislative Hall watchers say she’s a natural. “She’s probably the best lobbyist I’ve ever run into, and I’ve also worked in the Maryland legislature,” said Stephen Crockett, who was a legislative aide when Byrd was coming up.
State's top 10 real estate deals in 2018
DuPont Country Club, a roadside attraction and two Greenville shopping centers were among the 10 priciest real estate deals in the first half of 2018, according to CBRE. Many of the out-of-state buyers and international investors who visited Delaware to size up the market asked if there were more properties available, one real estate expert said.
Specializing pays off for these local businesses
Shattered an heirloom soup tureen? There’s a niche business in Lewes that can put it back together. After all, they restored a bronze bust of Napoleon cast when the emperor was still alive. Dropped a hot pot on your teak kitchen floor? A Newark refinisher may be able to fix the telltale spot without sanding the entire room. Lost the key to your Lexus? A Brandywine Hundred hardware store owner invested more than $3,000 in high-tech equipment to get you back in the driver’s seat.
Purzycki played in NFL, then married the banker next door
Mike Purzycki, Wilmington’s 56th mayor, came to Delaware at 17 to play Blue Hen football. He wound up putting down roots and marrying the banker next door. After his record-setting football career at the University of Delaware, Purzycki returned home to Newark, N.J. He played football for the New York Giants until a knee injury derailed his pro career. He returned to Newark, Delaware, where he worked in real estate and development by day and attended Delaware Law School at night.
2018 Economic Forecast: Real estate & construction
Things may be looking up in real estate and construction for 2018, depending on which county you’re sitting in. Here are things to watch for in the new year: Functionally obsolete city buildings are being razed or repurposed, like 1300 Market, the Class B bank building that Cannon Patel transformed into a Courtyard Marriott.
There's One Chance Downtown Wilmington Will Keep Its Bookstore
The Ninth Street Book Shop, the city’s only general interest bookstore, will close Jan. 26, but there’s a chance it will be revived in the spring. A group of investors—writers, artists and a professor from the University of Delaware’s satellite city campus—hopes to find money and a manager so it can reopen the store in the coming months. The group is the last of about 18 prospective buyers who showed interest in taking over last July when the owners to retire by this month.
There’s one chance Wilmington will keep its book shop
James Watson of Wilmington buys some books from Gemma Buckley during the closing sale. Buckley and her husband Jack, far left, have operated the Ninth Street Book Shop since 1979. The Ninth Street Book Shop, the city’s only general interest bookstore, will close January 26, but there’s a chance it will be revived in the spring.
Delaware author’s book adaption returns to Amazon Prime
Delaware author’s book adaption returns to Amazon Prime The television adaption of Delaware author Cindy Callaghan’s book “Just Add Magic” begins its third season on the Amazon Prime steaming service on Jan. 19. The book for tweens centers on three friends who discover a dusty old cookbook while cleaning out an attic. They decide to try a few of the mysterious recipes inside, and find their dishes are linked to strange occurrences.
Delaware shopping malls could be transformed
From Long Island’s storied Roosevelt Field Mall to Los Angeles’ swank Westfield Century City, extreme mall makeovers are turning boxy hardtop shopping centers into open-air entertainment districts. Delaware could be next — but that depends on the closely held plans of a private company and on DelDOT’s to-do list. Nationally, 9 out of 10 mall developers are changing things up.
Mall facts to share in the food court
In addition to DBT’s feature on the state of indoor malls, here are some talking points from Co-Star, McKinsey & Co. and JLL Retail: • Malls got their start in the U.S., but the five largest malls in the world are now located in Asia. • The world’s largest mall is the 9.6-million-square-foot New South China Mall in Dongguan, China, with space for 2,350 stores. It is dubbed “the ghost mall” because it struggles for tenants due to its site in a poor rural area.
Retailers use social networks to sell, but not the kind you think
While brick-and-mortar brands like Sears and J.C. Penney are on the ropes, a North Wilmington game shop regularly fills to capacity with eager customers. How it keeps Amazon at bay: Since it opened seven years ago, Alternate Universes has been blurring the line between game store and event location. The shop’s not filled with the standard display cases. It’s lined with plain white tables. Those tables fill quickly when a new game or trading card set is released.
Residents embrace Harvey Hanna's plans for Boxwood site
A DNREC brownfield development agreement meeting turned into a Harvey Hanna love fest Thursday night as company president Thomas J. Hanna fielded questions about what he’s going to do with the former GM plant his company bought. By the end of the meeting, several residents thanked Hanna for cleaning up the site and erecting a fence. One said he trusted Hanna more than he trusted state officials. One said he was “jumping for joy” when he heard the company bought the site.
Stuck in elevator? Dog ate keys? That won't fly with most bosses
Late. Tardy. Overdue. Held up. Hung up. Delayed. If you’re a night owl who has trouble getting to the office on time in the a.m., you may be in the doghouse with your employer. They’ve heard all the excuses.
Benefits could mean gym passes or 12 weeks off with baby
Employees at Incyte Corp. have their own concierge. Community Bank tellers are treated to a holiday shopping spree at a liquor store. Dover Downs workers enjoy a free night in the casino hotel for their weddings and work anniversaries. Sallie Mae’s 826 staffers get a free Fitbit Flex and round-the-clock access to a full-size onsite gym with free yoga and Zumba classes.
Kleinschmidt wants to make a difference since he got a second chance
Mark Kleinschmidt, former president of the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce When Mark Kleinschmidt, the recently resigned president of the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce, was sitting in a hospital bed for 28 days last summer, he had plenty of time to think. “Hospital beds are not meant for sleeping in. I had plenty of time to think. I even solved the North Korea problem,” he joked.
Harvey Hanna to acquire GM assembly plant
Harvey Hanna to acquire GM assembly plant Boxwood Industrial Park, an affiliate company of Harvey, Hanna & Associates, will acquire the former General Motors Automobile Assembly plant from Wanxiang America Inc. later this month. Plans for the more than 3 million square foot space at 801 Boxwood Road will be announced later, Harvey Hanna officials said. The site was built in 1946 and operated as a General Motors assembly plant until July 2009.
Morgan’s of Delaware adjusts to Market Street
Morgan’s of Delaware, which started out life in 1979 as a pricey executive women’s boutique in Trolley Square, has moved downtown to 723 N. Market St. The new Morgan’s sits smack in the middle of Buccini/Pollin Group’s Market Street makeover. It faces a pawn shop, but it’s steps away from a Starbucks and the future site of a brick-oven eatery. Owner Martha Morgan said she’s happy her new store is surrounded by established businesses that stayed faithful to the central business district for decades.
Men still expected to bring home the bacon
In about a third of U.S. couples, women bring in half or more of the earnings, but 71 percent of adults say it is important for a man to be able to support a family financially in order to be a good husband or partner, according to a new Pew Research poll. By comparison, only 32 percent said it’s important for a woman to support a family in order to be a good wife or partner. Men are especially likely to place a greater emphasis on their role as financial providers.
Waffle House workers jump into storm states to help
Recent reports that the Federal Emergency Management Agency uses a “Waffle House Index” to measure a storm’s severity were no surprise to any of the employees at the tiny Waffle House on U.S. 13 in Dover. It turns out every employee knows the company ethic is keep serving customers no matter what, and every restaurant has a storm playbook with protocols for how to keep operating if the electricity and running water go out.
David Sarnoff Collection open to public at Hagley
After three years of processing, preserving, and cataloging, Hagley Library has opened the David Sarnoff Library collection to the public. The collection includes thousands of linear feet of documents, reports, photographs, films and publications detailing the rise and fall of RCA and its leader Sarnoff.
Delaware house flippers search for diamonds in the rough
Terry White has flipped nearly 150 Delaware houses since 2004. He aims for about $25,000 profit per property, but he’s made anywhere from $22,000 to $80,000. White said flipping is not as easy as it looks on HGTV, especially since “everybody and his brother” has jumped into the market. House flipping is back in Delaware, fueled by a shortage of starter homes and plenty of foreign and domestic capital searching for higher returns.
Local Leaders Share Their Favorite Spots to Grab Coffee
Finding a place for a quiet business meeting in a small state where everyone knows each other can be a tall order. We asked executives and officials from all over Delaware to weigh in with their favorite spots for casual business meetups. The senator has favorite spots up and down the state. “Delaware has some fantastic places for us to have some coffee and good conversation,” Coons said. “When I’m at home, some of my go-tos include Kozy Korner, Libby’s and the new Café De La Coeur.
Delaware will compete for Amazon’s headquarters
Immediately after Amazon announced plans yesterday to open a second North American headquarters, emails began flying around Delaware government offices. Delaware officials will announce today that they will join Chicago, Los Angeles and other cities in the competition for Amazon’s $5 billion “HQ2.” “It’s interesting how it works in Delaware.
Firm raises $24,800 for Harvey victims in one day
Firm raises $24,800 for Harvey victims in one day The lawyers and staff of Delaware’s largest law firm pledged $24,800 to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts in a single day. After Richards, Layton & Finger firm pledged to match individual donations, employees donated $12,400.
Saul Ewing to merge with Chicago firm
Saul Ewing LLP, the Philadelphia-based law firm, and Chicago-based Arnstein & Lehr merged effective September 1. Now known as Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr, the new firm will have more than 400 employees. There is no overlap in their footprint, according to The Legal Intelligencer. Saul Ewing’s 15 offices stretch down the East Coast from Boston to Washington. Arnstein & Lehr’s main office is in Chicago and it has 50-plus lawyers in Florida cities.
Report says flooring market’s set to grow
Report says flooring market’s set to grow Shifting focus on infrastructure development in the residential, commercial, hospitality, sports and health care industries will drive growth in the flooring market, according to a new report from Global Market Insights. Demand for floor protection coupled with efficient and visually appealing products has propelled the trend. The rise of construction spending, particularly in emerging nations, is also a factor.
Small business owners try marketing with art rocks
The art-rocks craze that’s sweeping the country is coming to Delaware — with a commercial twist. At least 20 business owners will be painting rocks they hope will lead the finders to their businesses. Call it hide-and-seek marketing. Members of the Delaware Small Business Chamber of Commerce will be riffing off the popular summer game of painting rocks and leaving them around to put a smile on a stranger’s face.
Local florists use web and workarounds to woo customers
Local florists once had two industry groups where they met to share shoptalk, but they haven’t met since the business got really bumpy. “It’s kind of disbanded, because of the number of florists who have gone out,” said John Zimmerman, who owns Jen-Mor Florist in Dover. U.S. floral shops are doing a disappearing act. The number of neighborhood shops dropped from 27,341 to 14,161 since 1992.
Firms urgently need machinists, but supply is limited
Both of the machinists who work at New Process Fibre in Greenwood want to retire. That weighed on the mind of company President Carl Peters for months. Machinists are in such short supply nationally that some managers have stopped chatting about new hires for fear competitors will woo them away, said Shawn Fitzgerald, vice president of Thomas Net, the B-to-B publisher that tracks industrial companies. “Companies are protecting them like gold,” Fitzgerald said. “The job is part art and part science.
Lidl to open first Delaware store August 31
Lidl to open first Delaware store August 31 Lidl, a grocery chain that operates more than 10,000 stores in 28 countries, will open its first Delaware store at 359 Auto Park Drive in Middletown on August 31. A Lidl spokesman said the store will probably hire 50 to 60 employees, and applicants may apply through careers@lidl.com. The grocery chain touts its layout of just six aisles within a 20,000 square-foot store.
Maryland offering sales tax discount
Maryland offering sales tax discount With the State of Maryland offering a tax-discounted week for back-to-school shoppers August 13-19, outlet malls bordering Delaware and Washington, D.C. are offering promotions to woo shoppers to the state. Clarksburg Premium Outlets near Washington, D.C. has a full slate of attractions, including a Disney-themed show, pony rides and yoga sessions.
With 700,000 nearing retirement, insurance industry eyes millennials
With 700,000 insurance professionals nearing retirement age, the industry is looking for young trainees, but, sorry, insurance, millennials just don’t want to hang out with you. At least not nationally. The local picture might be brighter. When The Hartford surveyed millennials in 2015, only 4 percent said they wanted to work in insurance. Yet wooing them is critical to any industry facing a talent crunch, because they are the largest living generation in U.S. history.
Iconic Ninth Street Book Shop set to close
The city’s only general-interest bookstore will close in January, if the owners can’t find a buyer. The Ninth Street Book Shop has been a labor of love for two teachers who went downtown to buy furniture one day in 1977 and bought a bookstore instead. “We just did it on a whim,” Gemma Buckley said. “Our parents thought we were crazy. Within a month, we went from walking into that store to owning it.” The 1980s were wonder years for Wilmington. As Gemma Buckley put it, “Oh, my God.
Earnings up at WSFS
Earnings up at WSFS WSFS Financial Corporation, the parent company of WSFS Bank, reported net income of $20.6 million, or 64 cents per diluted common share for the second quarter of 2017. That compares with $17.5 million net income or 58 cents a share for the second quarter of last year. Net revenues, including income and noninterest income, were $86 million for the second quarter, an 20 percent increase over the same quarter last year.
Women investors more disciplined and humble
Women investors more disciplined and humble Female investors follow recommended investment principles more often than men, according to a new survey by the Wells Fargo Investment Institute. The survey found that single women traded 27 percent less frequently than single men, possibly because men tend to be overconfident about their investment ability.
DuPont smart clothing debuts in Salt Lake City
DuPont smart clothing debuts in Salt Lake City DuPont will debut its new generation of stretchable electronic inks and films for smart clothing today at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in Salt Lake City, Utah. The materials are being introduced along with a new brand called DuPont Intexar. Intexar clothing collects biometric data through ordinary fabrics, tracking heart rate, breathing rate, form awareness and muscle tension.
Kent County Economic Summit seeks sponsors and exhibitors
Kent County Economic Summit seeks sponsors and exhibitors Registration is open and sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are available for the Kent County Economic Summit on September 19. Delaware Technical Community College’s Terry Campus and the Central Delaware Business and Entrepreneurship Consortium will present the summit on the Terry Campus in Dover.
Things looking up for Wilmington CBD, analysts say
Downtown Wilmington’s flat rents and tenant-favorable conditions may change, according to a new report by Jones Lang LaSalle, the real estate brokerage. Analysts said the multifamily developments underway in the Central Business District could catalyze a growth cycle across all real estate asset classes. More than 1,500 people have moved into the city, about an 11 percent increase since 2010, the report said.
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