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A Cowboy-Inspired Chain Came Back After Nearly Closing All Of Its Locations

A Cowboy-Inspired Chain Came Back After Nearly Closing All Of Its Locations

Yahoo3 days ago
In 2023, fans of both The King of the Cowboys and classic fast food got some exciting news: Roy Rogers, once a prominent competitor in the American fast-food industry, was back. The chain was a go-to for indecisive families in the 1970s and '80s, offering a variety of different options, such as roast beef, burgers, and fried chicken. While it never reached every state, Roy Rogers once boasted over 600 locations. A series of poor business decisions and sales in the '90s, however, nearly ruined the brand, leaving it with only a fraction of its former locations.
The cowboy-inspired chain was revived after owners Jim and Pete Plamondon Jr. purchased the brand and invested heavily in new remodels and equipment. Their new franchise strategy, updated looks, and a return to what made the restaurant beloved in the first place proved to be the perfect recipe for a comeback. Today, new locations have people lining up from midnight for a 10 a.m. opening, eager to get a taste of this American classic. Roy Rogers is now one of several old-school restaurant chains making a successful return.
Read more: Ranking Fast Food Burgers From Worst To Best, According To Reddit
What Happened To Roy Rogers Before The Comeback?
Roy Rogers, a fast food chain that served beef tallow fries, top-grade burgers, and had a full-service condiment bar for customers to dress their own meals, seemed like an unstoppable juggernaut. But its downfall came after Marriott sold it to Hardee's in 1990 to exit its interest in the restaurant industry.
Throughout the '90s, Hardee's converted or sold off over 500 Roy Rogers locations, sparking significant pushback from the public. This eventually led to Hardee's converting some locations back to Roy Rogers, but the damage was done, and even more locations were sold off. By the time the Plamondon brothers took over in 2002, the brand had only a handful of locations left in the country. Seeing potential in an iconic brand with a loyal customer base, the brothers knew it would take a lot of work to restore it to its full potential.
For over a decade, the Plamondons rebooted the brand's identity and expanded throughout the Northeast, including Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, and West Virginia. As of July 2025, the chain boasts 41 locations, the majority of which are in Maryland. The Roy Rogers of today serves many of the classic dishes that once made it famous, from creamed chipped beef — a breakfast dish that became a U.S. Army staple — to its Double R Bar Burger, complete with a slice of ham on top.
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Read the original article on Food Republic.
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Columbia University Libraries Modernize Library Infrastructure with EBSCO FOLIO
Columbia University Libraries Modernize Library Infrastructure with EBSCO FOLIO

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Columbia University Libraries Modernize Library Infrastructure with EBSCO FOLIO

~ Leading Academic Institution Transitions from Legacy Systems to a Unified Open Platform to Improve Access, Insights and Service Delivery ~ IPSWICH, Mass., Aug. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Columbia University Libraries have officially gone live with FOLIO, replacing multiple legacy systems with a single, unified platform. Backed by the EBSCO FOLIO team at EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO), the transition to an open-source system aims to address evolving research needs and simplify library services through a single, interoperable solution. FOLIO allows Columbia Libraries to manage resources more flexibly while integrating with essential tools, including the Libraries' Blacklight-based CLIO unified discovery system, EBSCO Discovery Service™ (EDS) and GOBI® Library Solutions. Columbia will also utilize EBSCO's Full Text Finder, Locate and MARC Update services to streamline access, fulfillment and metadata management. The implementation further improved efficiency by connecting FOLIO to Columbia's multiple enterprise accounting systems and reducing duplicate data entry. To complement these integrations, Columbia is adopting Panorama™, EBSCO's library analytics platform, to gain real-time insights into resource usage and user engagement. These analytics will guide collection development, budget planning and user-centered service design. These technologies strengthen Columbia's foundation for scalable, open infrastructure, supporting workflows across discovery, access and analytics. Ann Thornton, Vice Provost and University Librarian, says FOLIO brings strategic value beyond the back end. "The FOLIO platform reflects Columbia Libraries' values — interoperability, openness and responsiveness to research. Equally important was our confidence in EBSCO as a trusted implementation partner. Their support enabled a smooth migration and positions us to adapt to evolving scholarly needs." Heather Macfarlane, FOLIO Implementation Manager at EBSCO, highlights the scope and teamwork involved. "Unifying Columbia's systems under FOLIO required detailed planning, customized setup and close cooperation. The outcome is a modern platform better aligned with the Libraries' shared goals and infrastructure. Columbia's team approached each stage with precision and vision, and their launch shows what's possible when the institution leads and technology supports." About EBSCO Information Services EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) is a leading provider of online research content and cutting-edge search technologies serving libraries, healthcare and medical institutions, corporations, and government agencies worldwide. As an AI-enabled services leader, EBSCO offers comprehensive solutions from research, acquisition management, subscription services and discovery services to clinical decision support and patient care, learning, and research and development, EBSCO provides institutions with access to content and resources to serve the information and workflow needs of their users and organizations. Our commitment to AI-driven innovation positions EBSCO at the forefront of the industry, enabling us to meet the evolving needs of the information services landscape. For more information, visit the EBSCO website at: Visit our blog at EBSCOpost or follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. For more information, please contact: Erica Gilson Senior Communications Specialist egilson@ Media Contact Erica Gilson, EBSCO Information Services, 978-414-0385, egilson@ View original content: SOURCE EBSCO Information Services Sign in to access your portfolio

Here's the Salary You Need So You Are Not Just Surviving in America's 50 Biggest Cities
Here's the Salary You Need So You Are Not Just Surviving in America's 50 Biggest Cities

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Here's the Salary You Need So You Are Not Just Surviving in America's 50 Biggest Cities

There's getting by in the big city, and there's living comfortably. There's also how you define 'comfortably' when it comes to your annual income. Read Next: Find Out: Bringing in twice the average annual cost of living is one measure. Among the 50 most populous U.S. cities, that means making anywhere from $63,000 a year to $280,000. To give you an idea of how much you'll need to live comfortably in each of these cities, GOBankingRates has blended data from the U.S. Census, Zillow, and the Federal Reserve. The comfortable salary needed for each city has been calculated by doubling the cost of living. Here's a list of the 50 most populous U.S. cities, counting down from No. 50 to No. 1. In addition to the salary needed to live comfortably, we've included population, the average annual cost of living, and other details for each city: 50. Aurora, Colorado Population: 390,201 Annual cost of living: $59,176 Comfortable salary needed: $118,351 You'll find Aurora just east of Denver. 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Wichita, Kansas Population: 396,488 Annual cost of living: $36,221 Comfortable salary needed: $72,443 Single-family homes in Wichita will cost you less than most of the other cities in our list, with average values coming in around $200,000. Wichita's household median income sits around $63,000 a year. 46. Bakersfield, California Population: 408,366 Annual cost of living: $51,677 Comfortable salary needed: $103,354 Bakersfield gets a livability score of just 57 from AreaVibes, second lowest among the cities in this list. A single-family home here is still worth about $400,000 on average, and the median household income sits at $77,000. Bakersfield gets a livability score of just 57 from AreaVibes, second lowest among the cities in this list. A single-family home here is still worth about $400,000 on average, and the median household income sits at $77,000. 45. Tulsa, Oklahoma Population: 412,322 Annual cost of living: $37,755 Comfortable salary needed: $75,511 Among the 50 most populous cities in the U.S., Tulsa is the only city that showed a slight decrease in percentage of residents age 65+, between 2022 and 2023. Tulsa's household median income comes in around $58,000. 44. Minneapolis Population: 426,845 Annual cost of living: $47,579 Comfortable salary needed: $95,158 Minnesota's most populous city has a median household income around $80,000. The average single-family home here is worth $358,000. For You: 43. Oakland, California Population: 438,072 Annual cost of living: $84,401 Comfortable salary needed: $168,802 The average value of single-family homes in Oakland has dipped by about $70,000 over the past year, the largest decrease among major U.S. cities. That average value still sits at $829,000, however. The median household income here is $97,000. 42. Miami Population: 446,663 Annual cost of living: $73,432 Comfortable salary needed: $146,863 As of last May, a single-family home in Miami is worth around $667,000. The median household income here comes in around $59,000, significantly lower than the average annual cost of living. 41. Virginia Beach, Virginia Population: 457,066 Annual cost of living: $53,483 Comfortable salary needed: $106,966 Virginia Beach saw a small population decline between 2022 and 2023. The median household income here is $92,000. 40. Long Beach, California Population: 458,491 Annual cost of living: $91,653 Comfortable salary needed: $183,305 Long Beach's percentage of residents age 65 and up ticked up 0.7% between 2022 and 2023 — the largest increase in our list. The median household income here is around $84,000. 39. Raleigh, North Carolina Population: 470,763 Annual cost of living: $54,114 Comfortable salary needed: $108,228 Raleigh gets a livability score of 84 from AreaVibes, tied for the highest among the 50 most populous U.S. cities. As of last May, the average single-family home here was worth $484,000. Trending Now: 38. Colorado Springs, Colorado Population: 483,099 Annual cost of living: $54,413 Comfortable salary needed: $108,827 You'll find Colorado Springs about 70 miles south of Denver in central Colorado. The median household income in Colorado Springs is $83,000, around $8,000 less than Denver. 37. Omaha, Nebraska Population: 488,197 Annual cost of living: $43,496 Comfortable salary needed: $86,991 You can still find single-family homes for less than $300,000 in Omaha, with average values sitting at $295,000 as of last May. Omaha's median household income is $73,000. 36. Atlanta Population: 499,287 Annual cost of living: $56,838 Comfortable salary needed: $113,676 The capital of Georgia — and the unofficial capital of the South — has a household median income of $82,000. Single-family homes here are worth $456,000 on average. 35. Mesa, Arizona Population: 507,478 Annual cost of living: $55,442 Comfortable salary needed: $110,884 Fast-growing Mesa saw a 17 percent increase in population age 65+ from 2022 to 2023, the second highest jump among the cities in our list. The median household income in Mesa is around $79,000, and the average single-family home is valued at $454,000. 34. Kansas City, Missouri Population: 508,233 Annual cost of living: $40,452 Comfortable salary needed: $80,905 Single-family homes in Kansas City are relatively affordable compared to most of the other cities in our list, with average values of just over $250,000. Kansas City's median household income is about $67,000. Explore More: 33. Sacramento, California Population: 524,802 Annual cost of living: $60,000 Comfortable salary needed: $120,000 California's capital city has a median household income of $84,000. The average value of single-family homes here ($497,000) is much lower than it is in the state's other major cities. 32. Tucson, Arizona Population: 543,348 Annual cost of living: $45,904 Comfortable salary needed: $91,808 Tucson's household median income is $55,000, the fourth lowest among the 50 most populous U.S. cities. A single-family home in Tucson is valued at $342,000 on average. 31. Fresno, California Population: 543,615 Annual cost of living: $51,638 Comfortable salary needed: $103,276 AreaVibes gives Fresno a livability score of 63, the second lowest among the 50 most populous U.S. cities. Still, its population ticked up 0.4% between 2022 and 2023. 30. Albuquerque, New Mexico Population: 562,488 Annual cost of living: $45,349 Comfortable salary needed: $90,698 Just over 17% of Albuquerque's residents are age 65 and up, the third highest percentage among the cities in our list. The median household income here comes in at $66,000. 29. Milwaukee Population: 569,756 Annual cost of living: $38,219 Comfortable salary needed: $76,438 Among the 50 most populous U.S. cities, Milwaukee has the third-lowest household median income — $52,000. Single-family homes in Milwaukee are worth $221,000 on average, and the median household income is around $52,000. Be Aware: 28. Baltimore Population: 577,193 Annual cost of living: $37,306 Comfortable salary needed: $74,612 Baltimore's population declined 1.3% between 2022 and 2023, the second largest drop among the cities in our list. As of last May, the average value of a single-family home in Baltimore was $187,000. 27. Memphis, Tennessee Population: 629,063 Annual cost of living: $32,690 Comfortable salary needed: $65,381 Memphis has the second-lowest median household income ($51,000) among the 50 most populous U.S. cities. Its 'comfortable' salary is the second lowest in our list. 26. Detroit Population: 636,644 Annual cost of living: $31,609 Comfortable salary needed: $63,217 Detroit's household median income of $40,000 is the lowest among the 50 most populous U.S. cities, and its 'comfortable' salary is the lowest in GBR's list. Single-family homes in the Motor City are valued at $78,000 on average. 25. Portland, Oregon Population: 642,715 Annual cost of living: $64,008 Comfortable salary needed: $128,016 The average value of a single-family home in Oregon's largest city comes in around $570,000. Portland's median household income is $89,000. 24. Las Vegas Population: 650,873 Annual cost of living: $57,400 Comfortable salary needed: $114,800 Las Vegas saw a population increase of about 1% from 2022 to 2023. The average value of a single-family home here was $462,000 as of last May. Read More: 23. Boston Population: 663,972 Annual cost of living: $86,439 Comfortable salary needed: $172,878 The median household income in Massachusetts' capital city is $95,000. Single-family homes in Boston are worth $859,000 on average. 22. Washington, D.C. Population: 672,079 Annual cost of living: $80,645 Comfortable salary needed: $161,289 The nation's capital has the fourth highest median household income in this list, coming in at $106,000. Single-family homes here are worth $772,000 on average. 21. El Paso, Texas Population: 678,147 Annual cost of living: $38,249 Comfortable salary needed: $76,497 Single-family homes in El Paso are worth $232,000 on average, one of the lowest figures among the 50 most populous U.S. cities. 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San Francisco Population: 836,321 Annual cost of living: $129,872 Comfortable salary needed: $259,745 Famously expensive San Francisco has the second highest 'comfortable' salary needed in our list, along with the second highest median household income ($141,000). Single-family homes here are worth a whopping $1.4M on average. The City by the Bay saw a population decrease of 1.7% between 2022 and 2023 — the steepest drop among the 50 most populous U.S. cities. 16. Indianapolis Population: 882,043 Annual cost of living: $38,606 Comfortable salary needed: $77,212 As of last May, the average value of a single-family home in Indiana's capital stood at $238,000. The median household income in Indianapolis comes in around $63,000. 15. Charlotte, North Carolina Population: 886,283 Annual cost of living: $51,765 Comfortable salary needed: $103,530 North Carolina's largest city saw a 1.3% population bump between 2022 and 2023. The average value of a single-family home here is $414,000, and the median household income is $78,000. 14. Columbus, Ohio Population: 906,480 Annual cost of living: $41,226 Comfortable salary needed: $82,452 Ohio's capital has an average single-family home value of $273,000 and a median household income of $66,000. Learn More: 13. Fort Worth, Texas Population: 941,311 Annual cost of living: $45,555 Comfortable salary needed: $91,110 Fort Worth's population jumped nearly 2% between 2022 and 2023, the largest increase among the cities in our list. The average value of a single-family home in Fort Worth is just over $300,000. 12. Jacksonville, Florida Population: 961,739 Annual cost of living: $44,731 Comfortable salary needed: $89,462 Jacksonville's AreaVibes livability score of 84 is tied for the highest in our list. The household median income here is $67,000, and the average single-family home is valued at just over $300,000. 11. Austin, Texas Population: 967,862 Annual cost of living: $62,863 Comfortable salary needed: $125,726 Austin is a young city, with only about 10% of its population age 65 and up. That's the lowest percentage among cities in this list. Single-family homes in Austin are worth $592,000 on average — about $35,000 less than a year ago. 10. San Jose, California Population: 990,054 Annual cost of living: $140,115 Comfortable salary needed: $280,229 Among the most populous U.S. cities, it doesn't get much more expensive than San Jose. This Silicon Valley city tops our list for annual cost of living, 'comfortable' salary needed, median household income ($142,000), and average single-family home value ($1.6M). 9. Dallas Population: 1,299,553 Annual cost of living: $47,589 Comfortable salary needed: $95,177 'Big D' is the third most populous city in Texas, trailing only San Antonio and Houston. Single-family homes in Dallas are worth $332,000 on average, and the median household income is $68,000. Check Out: 8. San Diego Population: 1,385,061 Annual cost of living: $106,761 Comfortable salary needed: $213,522 Sunny San Diego's 'comfortable' salary is the third-highest among the 50 most populous U.S. cities. Single-family homes here are worth $1.2M on average. 7. San Antonio Population: 1,458,954 Annual cost of living: $40,362 Comfortable salary needed: $80,724 San Antonio's median household income sits at $63,000. The average single-family home here is valued at $258,000. 6. Philadelphia Population: 1,582,432 Annual cost of living: $42,610 Comfortable salary needed: $85,220 Philadelphia saw a population decrease of 0.7% between 2022 and 2023. The household median income here comes in around $61,000. 5. Phoenix Population: 1,624,832 Annual cost of living: $54,082 Comfortable salary needed: $108,164 Arizona's capital saw a population increase of about 1% from 2022 to 2023. Its median household income sits at $77,000, and single-family homes here are valued at $429,000 on average. 4. Houston Population: 2,300,419 Annual cost of living: $43,438 Comfortable salary needed: $86,876 Sprawling Houston, one of four U.S. cities with a population over 2 million, has a median household income of $63,000. As of last May, single-family homes in Houston were worth $278,000 on average. Read More: 3. Chicago Population: 2,707,648 Annual cost of living: $46,725 Comfortable salary needed: $93,450 The Windy City's median household income comes in around $75,000. Single-family homes in Chicago are worth $315,000 on average. 2. Los Angeles Population: 3,857,897 Annual cost of living: $100,266 Comfortable salary needed: $200,532 The nation' second-most populous city gets a livability score of 67 from AreaVibes, the third-lowest score in our list. A single-family home in LA is still worth $1M on average. 1. New York Population: 8,516,202 Annual cost of living: $92,576 Comfortable salary needed: $185,152 New York City's 1.2% population decline between 2022 and 2023 was the third highest among the 50 most populous U.S. cities. The Big Apple's average annual cost of living (about $93,000) is significantly higher than its median household income ($80,000). Ashleigh Ray and Sydney Champion contributed to the reporting for this article. Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed the 50 largest U.S. cities by population and determined the salary needed to live comfortably in each location. GBR determined the top 50 cities by population using the U.S. Census American Community Survey (the most recent available). Using the same survey, GBR sourced 2023 and 2022 data for the total population, population age 65 and over, total households, and household median income. One-year changes in percent and amount were calculated for each variable. The single-family home value was sourced from the Zillow Home Value Index from May 2025 and May 2024. By assuming a 10% downpayment and using the national 30-year fixed mortgage rate of 6.75 as sourced on July 21 from Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage cost was calculated. With the average mortgage cost and average expenditure cost, the average total cost of living was calculated for each city. Using the 50/30/20 rule, which states that needs should not exceed 50% of total household income, the total cost of living was doubled to find the comfortable cost of living. The cities were then sorted to show the largest one-year increase in total population. All data is up to date as of July 21, 2025. More From GOBankingRates How Far $750K Plus Social Security Goes in Retirement in Every US Region This article originally appeared on Here's the Salary You Need So You Are Not Just Surviving in America's 50 Biggest Cities Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

TEDCO Announces Panel Discussion on Investing in Maryland's Future: SSBCI in Action at 2025 Entrepreneur Expo
TEDCO Announces Panel Discussion on Investing in Maryland's Future: SSBCI in Action at 2025 Entrepreneur Expo

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TEDCO Announces Panel Discussion on Investing in Maryland's Future: SSBCI in Action at 2025 Entrepreneur Expo

Entrepreneur Expo to spotlight SSBCI-backed investment funds driving Maryland's innovation economy COLUMBIA, Md., Aug. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- TEDCO, Maryland's economic engine for technology companies, announces the panel "Investing in Maryland's Future: SSBCI in Action," taking place at the upcoming 2025 Entrepreneur Expo at The Hotel at the University of Maryland on October 21, 2025. "This session showcases both the power of public-private capital and the art of founder-investor engagement," said Jack Miner, TEDCO's chief investment officer. "We're excited to give attendees an up-close look at how these investors evaluate opportunities and support Maryland's growing innovation ecosystem." The two-part session will be moderated by Miner, beginning with brief investment thesis presentations from each fund, followed by a round of live startup pitches. The second half of the session features an interactive discussion where investors provide real-time feedback and highlight the critical skills and considerations that shape their decisions—from understanding tech stacks to budget planning. Joining this session will be: Moderator: Jack Miner, TEDCO Emily McMahan, AIN Ventures Shalanda Armstrong, 100KM Ventures Elias Mufarech, Collide Capital Sarah Sheppard, Maryland Department of Commerce Recently, TEDCO announced receiving an infusion of up to $50 million in funding from the U.S. Department of the Treasury's State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). This funding supports recipients of TEDCO's Venture Funds, Seed Funds and Social Impact Funds—along with the $10 million earmarked for the Venture Capital Limited Partnership (VCLP) Equity program. Of this amount, funding has been allocated to 100KM Ventures, AIN Ventures and Collide Capital. This session brings all three firms together to share their investment strategies and engage directly with Maryland-based entrepreneurs. TEDCO's Entrepreneur Expo is Maryland's premier gathering for entrepreneurs, business owners, investors and thought leaders to connect, learn and be inspired. This year's event promises a full day of interactive workshops, insightful discussions and dynamic pitches from emerging companies. Don't miss your chance to attend this "can't miss" event! Tickets are limited, so secure your spot now and get ready for a day filled with learning, networking and inspiration. About TEDCOTEDCO, the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, enhances economic empowerment growth through the fostering of an inclusive entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem. TEDCO identifies, invests in, and helps grow technology and life science-based companies in Maryland. Learn more at Media ContactTammi Thomas, Chief Development & Marketing Officer, TEDCO, tthomas@ Kalinyak, Associate Director, Marketing & Communications, TEDCO, rkalinyak@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE TEDCO Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

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