Bass Pro Shops’ exterior building and site improvements for repurposing the city-owned Pyramid as a destination retailer were approved by the Design Review Board Wednesday, March 6, but the board asked for more time to digest the company’s controversial signage requests.

2. Exterior Plans for Bass Pro Approved - Thursday, March 07, 2013

Bass Pro Shops’ exterior building and site improvements for repurposing the city-owned Pyramid as a destination retailer were approved by the Design Review Board Wednesday, March 6, but the board asked for more time to digest the company’s controversial signage requests.

3. Midtown Momentum - Saturday, December 22, 2012

The Midtown real estate market has long been an anomaly compared to its Bluff City counterparts, with fundamentals as diverse as its demographics.

“The types of real estate that you’ll find in Midtown can be some of the most expensive or some of the most modest when it comes to prices and facility,” said Gary Myers of Gary Myers Co. “Retail in particular.”

4. Mueller Net Income Up $5.5 Million - Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Memphis-based Mueller Industries Inc. reported third quarter 2012 net income of $15.5 million Tuesday, Oct. 23, on net sales of $514.2 million.

5. Homes Sales Jump 17 Percent - Monday, October 15, 2012

Shelby County home sales in the third quarter increased 17 percent compared to the third quarter last year, and local professionals say there’s a feeling of optimism among buyers and those in the business.

6. New Mileage Standards Would Double Fuel Efficiency - Wednesday, August 29, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The average gas mileage of new cars and trucks will have to nearly double by 2025 under regulations that were finalized Tuesday by the Obama administration.

The new rules will require the fleet of new cars and trucks to average 54.5 miles per gallon in 13 years, up from 28.6 mpg at the end of last year.

7. Mueller Q2 Net Income Drops on Slow Commercial Construction - Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Memphis-based Mueller Industries Inc. posted second quarter net income of $17.9 million, or 47 cents per diluted share.

8. Walgreen to Spend $6.7B on Alliance Boots Stake - Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Walgreen Co. will pay $6.7 billion in cash and stock to buy a stake in European health and beauty retailer Alliance Boots, a deal that would give global clout to a U.S. drugstore chain struggling with slipping sales in its home market.

9. AIRfair? - Monday, June 11, 2012

Two frequent-flyer businessmen booked side-by-side seats on Delta Air Lines flights from Minneapolis to St. Louis last month, with one of them getting charged a higher price than the other each time they tried booking it.

10. Mueller Reports Lower Net Income in Q1 - Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Mueller Industries Inc. reported $32.6 million in net income for the first three months of 2012.

The earnings for the 13-week quarter compared to $40.6 million in the 14-week first quarter of 2011.

11. ‘Washington Courtyard’ Sells For $900K - Friday, February 24, 2012

A trio of office buildings at Washington Avenue and Danny Thomas Boulevard has traded hands for $900,000.

Investment group 301 WA LTD LLC of Arizona purchased the assets from Gregory Realty GP. Brian Califf of NAI Saig Co. represented the seller.

12. Touch and Go - Monday, December 19, 2011

In the aviation industry, Memphis International Airport is considered a fortress hub, an airport where a single airline – in Memphis’ case, Delta Air Lines Inc. – handles 70 percent or more of the passenger flights.

13. Bayer Extends GM RIce Settlement Deadline to Nov. - Wednesday, October 26, 2011

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Rice farmers have nearly a month to file for part of a $750 million settlement to claims they lost money because Bayer CropScience mistakenly sold genetically modified seed in the United States.

14. Former C’ville Fitness Center Sells For $2.7M - Friday, October 21, 2011

Memphis-based Hackmeyer Properties has bought the former Prairie Life Fitness Center at 3690 S. Houston Levee Road in Collierville from Prairie Life Fitness LLC for $2.7 million and is leasing the 57,264-square-foot facility to a new fitness company.

15. Fed's Low Rates are No Fix for Economy or Retirees - Friday, August 12, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Federal Reserve's plan to keep interest rates super-low for at least two more years is great news for mortgage refinancers and other borrowers.

For retirees and others who need interest income, it's a threat.

16. Liberty Media Execs Discuss Barnes & Noble Offer - Wednesday, May 25, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – Executives with online company Liberty Media say the "interesting interplay" between Barnes & Noble's Nook e-reader and its retail stores is one reason they have bid for the book seller, but Barnes & Noble executives launching the device's latest version Tuesday were mum on the $1 billion offer.

17. Deal Sites Appeal to Shoppers and Businesses Alike - Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Groupon is adding 150 employees a month at its U.S. headquarters and trains them in a church because the conference rooms at its headquarters aren't big enough. Ideeli has crammed so much electronic equipment into its New York office that the power goes out every day.

18. Habitat Preps New Headquarters, ReStore - Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Habitat for Humanity of Memphis is in the process of relocating to a much larger facility to accommodate its growing base of clients, programs and services.

The local affiliate of the organization – an international ecumenical Christian housing ministry working to provide affordable, quality shelter for all people – makes home ownership affordable for Mid-South families for whom it might otherwise be out-of-reach, by not charging interest or profit on the mortgage and keeping the cost of construction low through the use of volunteer labor.

19. Why Inflation Hurts More Than It Did 30 Years Ago - Monday, March 21, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Inflation spooked the nation in the early 1980s. It surged and kept rising until it topped 13 percent.

These days, inflation is much lower. Yet to many Americans, it feels worse now. And for a good reason: Their income has been even flatter than inflation.

20. Average Rate on 30-Year Mortgage Hits 5.05 Pct. - Friday, February 11, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – The average rate on the 30-year mortgage topped 5 percent this week for the first time since April. Higher rates could further hamper the struggling housing market ahead of the spring's prime home-buying season

21. Biz Travel Professionals Look to Rebound - Monday, January 03, 2011

Despite earlier predictions that business travel growth would decline in the latter half of 2010, it instead saw a slow rise – and that rise is expected to continue.

A report issued in the fourth quarter by the National Business Travel Association predicted a 3.8 percent increase in U.S.-originated business travel spending in 2010 over 2009. According to the group’s Business Travel Quarterly Outlook, business travel is expected to grow at a rate of 6.7 percent in 2011 and 6.9 percent in 2012.

22. Shadows of Doubt - Monday, November 29, 2010

As the housing market continues to improve, a significant backlog of foreclosed and distressed properties that have not been put on the market could bring the recovery to a screeching halt.

Many lenders across the nation – mostly banks – are struggling to keep up with the overwhelming number of borrowers who have stopped making their mortgage payments. And with the fledgling recovery in housing still weak, banks, institutional investors and even some homeowners who want to sell their homes are waiting until the market shows marked improvement.

23. Drake, masterIT Recognized for Innovation - Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Michael Drake is founder, chairman and chief executive officer of masterIT. masterIT has been named one of North America’s Most Innovative MSPs by Everything Channel’s CRN Magazine. The list recognizes the IT industry’s top 40 managed service providers for their ingenuity, leadership and success.

24. Wolfchase Files New Appraisal Challenge - Wednesday, May 05, 2010

The owner of the most expensive piece of real estate in Shelby County isn’t finished challenging its 2009 appraisal.

Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group, the owner of Wolfchase Galleria, is filing another appeal of the mall’s price tag, which the Shelby County Board of Equalization in March pegged at $150 million.

25. The Biggest Spenders - Monday, April 12, 2010

David Simon, chairman and CEO of the nation’s largest public real estate firm, told analysts a few weeks ago during Simon Property Group’s fourth quarter earnings conference call that 2009 was a challenging year. And he doesn’t think 2010 will be much better for the company, which owns two malls in Memphis.

26. Justin's Empire: Timberlake drives business interests where it all began - Monday, August 10, 2009

Justin Timberlake might be best known for hit records, dance moves and sold-out concerts, but the 28-year-old entertainer extraordinaire is much more than a singer/dancer/performer. The award-winning, chart-topping Timberlake – or, simply, JT – has become an institution, a brand name that transcends his showbiz persona and carries as much cachet as any living celebrity.

27. Events - Wednesday, March 04, 2009

LunaWeb will host Social Media Expedition Breakfast today from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Crescent Club, 6075 Poplar Ave. The breakfast is for anyone interested in social media. For more information, call 888-5862.

28. Financial Industry Weighs Impact of New Budget - Monday, March 02, 2009
What’s around the next corner for the banking industry is about to come into view.

The budget plan unveiled by President Barack Obama’s administration Thursday sheds some light on the future of the government’s controversial and seemingly opaque rescue effort for the financial system. To get an idea of the scope of the price tag thus far, the U.S. Treasury Department through the end of last week has spent more than $1.1 billion buying stock in 11 Tennessee banks from one corner of the state to the other.

That money was doled out as part of a $700 billion rescue effort that’s straddled two presidential administrations and which the Obama administration has signaled may have to be enlarged. The budget blueprint Obama officials released last week calls for setting aside a reserve of $250 billion on top of the $700 billion already allocated by Congress to the financial rescue.

“The existence of this reserve in the budget does not represent a specific request,” the budget plan said. “Rather as events warrant, the administration will work with the Congress to determine the appropriate size and shape of such efforts, and as more information becomes available the administration will define an estimate of potential costs.”

Figuring out the landscape

Local players in the banking industry are wondering what that means for them, as well as how rules for a new round of federal capital infusions into banks will affect them. The Obama administration also announced last week that it would begin “stress tests” of the nation’s largest banks to see how a prolonged economic slump will affect them and if they’ll need more capital to survive.

“Shortly before this Report was filed, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Federal Reserve Board, the (Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.) and the (Office of the Comptroller of the Currency) announced the initiation of a new Capital Assistance Program (CAP),” reads a regulatory filing made by Memphis-based First Horizon National Corp. Thursday. “Under the CAP, the capital needs of the major U.S. banking institutions are to be evaluated under a more challenging economic environment.

“If that assessment indicates a need for additional capital, the affected institution will be allowed to seek additional private capital and, failing that, may be required to issue mandatory convertible preferred shares to a government agency. … At this time it is not known whether the CAP applies to the Bank or the Corporation nor, if so, whether additional capital will be required or the terms upon which such additional capital may be issued.”

Meanwhile, the first part of the $700 billion shock treatment to the economy first set in motion by the Bush administration still has not run its full course. Cobbled together late last year at a time of broader upheaval in the housing market and the collapse of giant financial firms such as Lehman Brothers, the $700 billion effort was designed in part to spur banks to keep making loans to prevent a collapse of the economy.

To shore up bank balance sheets enough to do that, the government began buying preferred shares of stock in banks to give them immediate access to fresh capital. Of the $700 billion Congress approved for that effort, $250 billion was determined to be enough to cover all the money the government would send out to banks throughout the country that needed the money or could use it.

As of earlier last month, the government has finalized almost $196 billion worth of those transactions, meaning more banks have yet to get their capital boost.

More to come?

Greg Gonzales, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions, told a panel of state lawmakers last month that 40 banks in Tennessee to date have applied for the federal aid, with fewer than a dozen of those applications having been accepted so far.

Tennessee’s commercial banks, which shed almost 3,000 full-time equivalent employees in 2008, collectively lost $260 million in net income last year, according to the FDIC. One Memphis-area banker said he was at a recent social function where Citigroup chief financial officer Gary Crittenden told him the economy was likely to remain in a broad slump through the end of this year, with unemployment numbers, among other things, continuing to rise.

The banking industry as a whole is thus in the process of trying to wrap its arms around new rules purportedly designed to help it regain its footing. Jackie Prester, a shareholder in the Memphis law office of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC, said that’s one of the biggest concerns she’s hearing right now.

“And a lot of my clients are asking me, ‘Even if we can get our arms around these new rules – and that’s tough – what assurance do we have they won’t change the rules completely next week?’” Prester said. “The biggest wildcard (I’m hearing) is, ‘What else is Congress going to legislate that makes it difficult for me as a bank to conduct business the way I normally conduct it?’”

29. Local Institutions Wait for Piece of Bailout Pie - Monday, January 12, 2009

As part of its $700 billion effort to shore up the country’s financial system and stabilize a shaky economy, the U.S. Treasury Department had as of last week pumped more than $177 billion in new capital into 215 banks and financial institutions.

30. Latest Numbers Paint Dreary Homebuilding Picture - Friday, November 14, 2008

The homebuilding industry suffered another period of slower sales and fewer starts in October, signaling a continued crisis in the housing market.

Shelby County saw just 61 home sales by builders last month, a staggering 61.6 percent decline from the 159 homes sold in October 2007, according to the latest data from real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com. Last month’s total even marked a 53.1 percent dropoff from the 130 homes builders sold in September.

31. Young Building Company Coasting Along, Owners Say - Tuesday, October 28, 2008

In the summer of 2006, Greg Bridgers and Kevin White left their respective homebuilding companies to form Southern Serenity Homes LLC. The longtime friends – “almost like brothers,” Bridgers said – saw the partnership as a chance to forge something new: to build homes the way they wanted at the pace they wanted, about 100 to 125 homes per year.

32. Assessor Prepares For Reappraisal — And Appeals - Tuesday, October 21, 2008

As Shelby County assessor of property, Cheyenne Johnson’s job is the equivalent of hitting the bull’s eye on a moving target more than 350,000 times.

Johnson, who was elected Aug. 7 to succeed three-term assessor Rita Clark, is overseeing final preparations for next year’s countywide reappraisal, during which the property values for more than 350,000 parcels of land in Shelby County will be re-evaluated. The reappraisal occurs every four years to reflect changes in the local real estate market.

33. Allianz to Invest $2.5B In Hartford Financial - Tuesday, October 07, 2008

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. said Monday it will receive a $2.5 billion investment from Allianz SE.

The Hartford, Conn.-based insurer also predicted a steep third-quarter loss, and said it is cutting its dividend in conjunction with the investment by Allianz.

34. Fannie, Freddie Deal Helps Some Borrowers, Not All - Tuesday, September 09, 2008

NEW YORK (AP) - Few outside Washington and Wall Street may understand what Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac do, but the government's bailout of the two will likely be felt in cities and suburbs across the country.

35. Macaroni Grill Owner Sells Majority Stake in Chain - Wednesday, August 20, 2008

NEW YORK (AP) – Brinker International Inc., the owner of the Chili’s Grill & Bar chain, will sell a majority stake in Romano’s Macaroni Grill to a private equity firm.

Under the agreement, Brinker will sell most of its stake to Mac Acquisition LLC – a unit of San Francisco-based Golden Gate Capital – for $131.5 million in cash. Brinker will then turn over $6 million to Mac Acquisition to hold onto a 19.9 percent stake in the brand.

36. Despite Decline, 100 Percent Financing Can Be Found - Monday, May 05, 2008

While most banks and mortgage companies have pretty much eliminated 100 percent financing for home loans, the product still exists. It just doesn't flourish like it once did.

Long gone are the days of no-documentation, no-money-down, stated-income loans that ultimately sent the housing industry reeling in 2007. In response to the subsequent subprime fallout and skyrocketing foreclosure rate, companies tightened their guidelines and removed many of the loan products that created those problems in the first place.

37. Regions Financial Upgraded by Analyst Based on Valuation - Friday, April 18, 2008

NEW YORK (AP) - A Citi Investment Research analyst upgraded Regions Financial Corp. Thursday based on the regional bank's valuation.

Analyst Greg Ketron raise his rating on Regions Financial to "Hold," as the bank now trades below his price target of $21.

38. Spring Home-Selling Season Could Disappoint - Thursday, March 27, 2008

NEW YORK (AP) - Home prices plunged by record levels in January from a year ago, with almost no major cities immune from the spiraling market. Analysts worried that even the usually reliable spring selling season would fall flat.

39. Regions Shares FallOn Analyst Cut - Thursday, February 07, 2008
     Shares of Regions Financial Corp. traded lower Wednesday morning after Citi Investment Research analyst Greg Ketron cut his rating on the bank to "Sell" from "Hold."
     In a note to clients

40. History Lesson Serves As Cautionary Tale For The Pyramid - Monday, December 24, 2007

When Brad Fain of Prosperity International looked at the Memphis riverfront around The Pyramid recently, he saw something that wasn't there. But he also missed a key part of the mental landscape.

Fain's Orlando investment company is one of the two out-of-town financial partners in the Ericson Group's $250 million plan to turn The Pyramid into Pyramid Adventure theme park and develop Mud Island park as well as other parts of the riverfront. The other is Essex Investment Partners of New York.

41. Health Insurance Premiums Rise 6.1 Percent; More Families Choosing to Go Without - Thursday, September 13, 2007

The increasing cost of health insurance is putting coverage out of reach for many small to midsize companies and their workers, even though the rise in premiums this year was the lowest increase in eight years.

42. Southern Serenity Homes Brings Unique Floor Plans to Harvest Oaks - Tuesday, June 19, 2007

21 lots in
Harvest Oaks
Sale Amount: $1.9 million

Sale Date: June 6, 2007

Buyer: Southern Serenity Homes LLC

43. How Does Our Garden Grow? - Wednesday, November 22, 2006

When the Memphis City Council moved to annex the 14-square-mile suburb of Hickory Hill in 1987, it sparked what became the longest fight against annexation in Memphis history.

The fight ended in 1998 after those annexation opponents who hadn't yet moved away decided to throw in the towel and sign an agreement officially ending the dispute. In return, they were assured the newly annexed community would get $150 million in capital improvements, including four city schools and two fire stations.

44. Top Labor Department Official to Speak in Memphis - Thursday, September 28, 2006

A lot has changed in the landscape of the American workday since attorney Terry Price worked for the Office of the Solicitor at the U.S. Department of Labor in Birmingham, Ala.

Price, now a partner at the national law firm Ford & Harrison LLP, worked in the office of the top lawyer for the government agency in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

45. New machines to help avoid voting irregularities - Friday, January 06, 2006

The Shelby County Election Commission voted 3-1 this week to recommend technology giant Diebold Inc. for the contract to purchase between 1,300 and 1,500 new voting machines in time for the August 2006 primary election.

46. Archived Article: Trends Focus - Monday, May 24, 2004
The Trucking industry, the average price is record highs for carriers

Fuel Costs Contribute to Truckers Perfect Storm

ANDREW BELL

The Daily News

Skyrocketing gasoline costs are affecting far more than consumers pocketbooks.

The price ...

47. Archived Article: Real Focus - Tuesday, October 28, 2003
Real

Bill Morris Parkway Spurs Collierville Development

LANCE ALLAN

The Daily News

When state Highway 385 opened its first exit in Collierville in the late 90s at what was then known as Bailey Station Road, it strengthened the eastern su...

48. Archived Article: Nights (lead) - Wednesday, July 12, 2000
By LAURIE JOHNSON Starry Nights may move to Southaven By LAURIE JOHNSON The Daily News This holiday season, Memphians wishing to see the citys popular "Starry Nights" display may have to cross the state line to do so. Metropolitan Inter-Fa...

49. Archived Article: Restaurant St - Tuesday, March 21, 2000
By SUZANNE THOMPSON New Downtown eateries cater to lunchtime crowds By SUZANNE THOMPSON The Daily News Downtown employees now have more of a selection from which to choose when searching for that mid-day meal. At least three new restaurants catering...

50. Archived Article: Marketplace - Monday, January 10, 2000
Sandwich shops Any way to slice it, sandwich shops on the rise Breaking bread (for sandwiches) more common in city Sandwiches shops rising to meet customer demands Newcomers want slice of Memphis sandwich business By LAURIE JOHNSON The Daily News If...

51. Archived Article: Huffy Closing Lj - Wednesday, September 29, 1999
Huffy to close Southaven plant Huffy to close Southaven plant By LAURIE JOHNSON The Daily News Huffy Corp. opened the doors to its new bicycle plant in Southaven, Miss., a little over a year ago. On Monday, the company announced plans to close those...

52. Archived Article: Arlington - Sunday, March 22, 1998
By SUZANNE THOMPSON Two new subdivisions to begin in Arlington By SUZANNE THOMPSON The Daily News Clair Vanderschaaf and partner Greg Brannick recently purchased about 50 acres at Osborntown Road and Pleasant Ridge Road in Arlington for a new reside...

53. Archived Article: Sthhvn Golf Course Lj - Thursday, December 18, 1997
By LAURIE JOHNSON Affordable golf course planned for Southaven By LAURIE JOHNSON The Daily News A Mississippi developer has launched negotiations with the city of Southaven to bring affordable golf to the area. The Southaven Board of Aldermen has au...

54. Archived Article: Real Fcs (lumber Qual) Lj - Tuesday, January 21, 1997
lj 10/5 cates Is the wood worthy? The issue of lumber quality sparks debate between builders, suppliers By LAURIE JOHNSON The Daily News Lumber quality has long been an issue of criticism and debate: criticism of the wood products industry and debat...

55. Archived Article: Re Auctions Lj - Thursday, February 15, 1996
lj 10/5 cates Auctions becoming "microwave" of real estate By LAURIE JOHNSON The Daily News In a world where faxes, cellular phones and the Internet have increased the speed of doing business, its only logical that the real estate industry...