Dutch Bros expands SoCal empire with new sprawling South Bay location

SoCal is going Dutch. Trendy West Coast coffee chain Dutch Bros Coffee is expanding its footprint in Southern California — opening its drive-thru lanes in a new Los Angeles-area location. The South Bay city of Lomita announced Wednesday that a new franchise outpost of the quickly-growing java chain would soon welcome fans — but stopped short … Read more

How I stumbled into a major trend slamming beer sales nationwide — and giving Gen Z a buzz

It’s not just Bud Light’s past misadventures in wokeness that are to blame for its persistent sales slump: The beer giant is falling victim to a growing trend that’s also slamming competitors – and I recently got a taste of it myself. Liquor and beer industry executives gripe that from their perspective, a grim cultural … Read more

Elon Musk launches steering-wheel-free Tesla Cybercabs in bet riders lose ‘no control’ fears

Elon Musk sent dozens of self-driving Cybercabs without steering wheels or brake pedals onto the streets of Austin, Texas, on Thursday, betting that Americans will overcome their fears of rides with “no control” and hop inside. The rollout of the gold-colored Teslas, which give passengers no way to take control in an emergency, comes as … Read more

Landmark California brewing company closes down after 15-year run

The taps will soon run dry at yet another Southern California brewery. Prohibition Brewing Company — a family-owned staple that spent the last decade and a half serving pints to thirsty locals in North County San Diego — announced the doors will shut for good at the end of this month, as its owners prepare to … Read more

Nike closes 11 stores across the US — including one in California

They’re checking out. Slumping sneaker seller Nike shuttered of a total of 11 of its U.S. stores in July alone, according to a report — including one location in a popular upscale shopping center in Northern California. The closures impacted states across the country, including Texas, New Jersey, Illinois, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Missouri, Maryland, and … Read more

America’s first all-vegan gas station sells for astonishing price

From eating green to seeing green. A first-of-its-kind Bay Area gas station has sold for a whopping $12 million — a lucrative number far higher than its owner and founder anticipated, according to a CBS report. Dubbed America’s first “plant-based mart”, Hangry Planet in San Bruno first opened in 2022, selling eggless breakfast sandwiches with Beyond … Read more

Major airline unveils premium seating on 777 jets in chase for luxe travelers

American Airlines is adding more premium seats to its Boeing 777-300ER planes used on long-haul routes as US carriers increasingly chase higher-spending travelers. The airline is also phasing out first class on the aircraft, while increasing the number of business-class seats. The carrier, which is expanding its premium offerings to improve profitability, said the first retrofitted aircraft will begin … Read more

Southwest to launch first-ever airport lounges to lure premium travelers — here are the first 4 locations

Southwest Airlines on Wednesday unveiled plans to open its first-ever airport lounges, as the carrier steps up efforts to attract higher-spending premium travelers and diversify revenue streams. The airline, which has been working to shed its low-cost image and boost ancillary revenue through assigned seating, extra-legroom seats and other product enhancements, said it would partner with JPMorgan … Read more

Walmart mangoes recalled over potential salmonella contamination

Federal regulators announced Friday that hundreds of boxes of mangoes sold at Walmart stores are being recalled over potential salmonella contamination.  At least 302 boxes of Martina-brand mangoes are included in the recall initiated by Panorama Produce, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The affected produce is packaged in nine-count boxes containing large … Read more

Raw cat and dog food recalled nationwide over salmonella, listeria risk

Northwest Naturals is recalling nearly 2,000 pounds of raw cat and dog food after federal testing found salmonella and listeria monocytogenes contamination in two chicken products distributed nationwide. The Portland, Oregon-based company is voluntarily recalling 53 cases, or 1,272 pounds, of Northwest Naturals Frozen Chicken Recipe and 19 cases, or 684 pounds, of Northwest Naturals Frozen Raw Diet for … Read more

Nearly 25K pounds of frozen buffalo chicken recalled over inspection lapse

Nearly 25,000 pounds of frozen buffalo chicken products that were produced without the benefit of inspection are being recalled, the Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced on Wednesday. Boston-based Shanghai Ravioli Corporation is recalling about 24,900 pounds of frozen, not-ready-to-eat buffalo chicken products. The recalled items include cardboard boxes containing 100 pieces … Read more

US Open players’ dining room features best of NY cuisine to fuel star performances

It’s 4:30 a.m. inside the players’ dining room at the US Open, and executive chef Billy Strynkowski is preparing his staff of 30 cooks from across the country for the start of the tournament. He chats with staff, checks on the food, reviews orders and otherwise does everything he can to help the athletes bring … Read more

‘Soccer mom’ minivans make major comeback as SUV prices skyrocket above $60K

Much maligned as an embarrassing mom-mobile, the minivan is making a comeback. The surge in minivan purchases comes as Americans enter a new era of higher car costs, with the average price of a new car hovering around $50,000. Crucially, minivans fall well below that median, while SUVs are hovering far above it. Minivans are roaring … Read more

Lady Gaga’s tech bro fiancée launches weird new startup with a skin-crawling touch

Lady Gaga’s techie fiancée Michael Polansky has quietly launched a buzzy startup that harvests human skin left over from plastic surgery to help develop super-advanced cosmetic products. Polansky, the 42-year old entrepreneur and Harvard grad who got engaged to the Mother Monster in 2024, gave details on the skin-scrawling enterprise Outer Biosciences in an interview … Read more

United launches ultra-short flight from LA, charging $200 for 57-minutes in the air

For a flight with less than half an hour in the air, United Airlines’ revived California route comes with a sky-high price tag: $200. The airline brought back daily service between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Bakersfield’s Meadows Field on Aug. 11, per InsideFlyer. The route gives travelers a way to avoid the notoriously … Read more

Actor John Barrowman roasted over business class rant on flight: ‘Entitlement is off the scale’

Scottish-American actor John Barrowman is getting roasted online for his rant about a recent business class experience, with many labelling the clip “ridiculous”. The Doctor Who star and former Dancing on Ice judge shared a now-deleted video on X complaining about the “shady” service during a flight from Los Angeles to London on American Airlines. His tirade included a … Read more

Iconic West Coast beer brand Stone Brewing to leave SoCal while laying off hundreds of workers

Hundreds of workers are set to lose their jobs after one of the largest breweries in Southern California announced its production facilities will be leaving the region. Stone Brewing will be exiting its three locations in Escondido as the company moves production to Paso Robles in San Luis Obispo County and to Kansas City. Workers … Read more

Nearly 40,000 bottles of eye drops recalled nationwide over possible contamination

Nearly 40,000 bottles of eye drops are being recalled nationwide due to potential contamination, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Tarrytown, New York-based Prestige Brand Holdings is voluntarily recalling 39,060 bottles of its Clear Eyes Maximum Itchy Eye Relief eye drops due to a “lack of assurance of sterility,” according to an FDA enforcement report. The affected product … Read more

French cuisine takes Manhattan by storm — with more spots opening next month

French cuisine has always had a special place in New Yorkers’ hearts. Next month, they’re getting even more options for steak tartare, coq au vin and more. From fine dining in Tribeca to more casual fare from Daniel Boulud, the new offerings will have New Yorkers saying, formidable! “I think French restaurants are so popular … Read more

Blueberry recall over deadly E. coli fears hits FDA’s highest-risk level — with 12 sickened, 4 hospitalized

That bag of frozen blueberries in your freezer could be more than just a smoothie staple. A recall of GreenWise Organic frozen blueberries and whole mixed berries has been slapped with the FDA’s highest-risk classification amid an investigation into a potentially dangerous E. coli outbreak that has sickened 12 people and hospitalized four. The FDA … Read more