Latest news with #JoeCiresi
Miami Herald
05-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Popular pizza dining chain files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy again
Most pizza lovers have their favorite restaurant that serves their preferred pie. Often, their favorite pizza parlor is a single, local establishment popular with regular clientele. Sometimes their favorite could be a well-regarded local or regional chain, and sometimes it's a larger, national pizza chain. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Competition for the pizza dollar has been fierce between local, regional, and national chains, since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the industry has faced economic challenges over the last year that have forced many restaurant chains to reorganize their businesses in Chapter 11. Related: Iconic pizza chain's franchisees close multiple restaurants Huge Pizza Hut franchisee EYM Pizza L.P., which at one time operated 142 Pizza Hut locations in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, South Carolina, and Wisconsin, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July 2024 and sold 77 of its restaurants at a bankruptcy auction. Domino's Pizza franchisee, People First Pizza Inc., on March 26, 2025, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to reorganize its business, facing over $500,000 in disputed claims. The franchisee planned to continue operating the restaurant. Popular rock and roll-themed pizza restaurant franchise Zeppe's Tavern in Newbury, Ohio, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on March 31, seeking to reorganize its business. The Zeppe's Tavern & Pizzeria chain, which consists of 13 locations in Northeast Ohio and one in Naples, Fla., was established in 1986 by Led Zeppelin fan Joe Ciresi, according to the restaurant's website. The founder combined his love of tasty food and rock and roll, featuring rock and roll videos and live music in the restaurants. Financial distress led East Coast pizza chain Bertucci's Restaurants to file for Chapter 11 protection three times in seven years, with the first time in April 2018. It filed a second time in December 2022, when it operated 31 restaurants and had 15 restaurants when it filed a third time in April 2025. Image source: Shannon O'Hara/Getty Images Finally, San Francisco wood-fired pizza restaurant chain Fiorella has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for a third time in three months to reorganize another location and continue operating. Related: Major iconic food brand files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Project Pizza Polk LLC, which operates the chain's pizza and Italian restaurant location Fiorella Polk on San Francisco's Polk Street, filed its Subchapter V petition on July 2 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California, listing $100,000 to $500,000 in assets and $1 million to $10 million in liabilities in its petition. More bankruptcy: Iconic auto repair chain franchise files Chapter 11 bankruptcyPopular beer brand closes down and files Chapter 7 bankruptcyPopular vodka and gin brand files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy The debtor's largest creditors include Retail Capital LLC, doing business as Credibly, owed over $232,000; Lightspeed Capital Inc., owed over $181,000; inKind Cards Inc., owed over $86,000; and California Department of Tax & Fee Administration, owed over $57,000. The restaurant's affiliate Project Pizza LLC filed a Subchapter V petition on May 20 for its flagship location, Fiorella Clement, listing $50,000 to $100,000 in assets and $1 million to $10 million in liabilities in its petition. Another affiliate, Project Pizza Sunset LLC, on April 1, 2025, filed a Chapter 11 Subchapter V petition on behalf of its Fiorella Sunset location on 9th Avenue in San Francisco. The restaurant chain did not reveal reasons for filing the bankruptcy petitions. Fiorella also operates a location in San Francisco's Noe Valley neighborhood on 24th Street, but it has not filed a separate Chapter 11 petition at last check. The restaurant chain's partners Boris Nemchenok and Brandon Gillis opened the first location on Clement Street in 2016, followed by the Russian Hill location on Polk Street opening in 2019. The partners opened the Sunset location in 2021 and Noe Valley restaurant in 2024. Related: Popular Dairy Queen rival franchisee files Chapter 11 bankruptcy The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Changes proposed to Pennsylvania state song advances
(WHTM) — A resolution to study replacing the Pennsylvania state song received bipartisan support and will advance to the State Senate. House Resolution 25, sponsored by Rep. Joe Ciresi (D-146) among others, aims to establish the Pennsylvania State Song Commission to study the history of the State song of the Commonwealth, solicit submissions for a new State song, and recommend changes to the State song. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now According to the resolution's memo, in 1990, after years of contentious debate, the state legislature adopted 'Pennsylvania' by Eddie Khoury and Ronnie Bonner as the official state song of Pennsylvania. The lawmaker's memo says Pennsylvania has changed greatly since the state song was adopted, and lawmakers should consider updating our state song to better embody the state's current spirit. 'A compelling state song drives tourism,' Rep. Ciresi said. 'Our state song should extoll all the things that make Pennsylvania great in a catchy, memorable way. Think about it: Ray Charles singing Georgia is always on his mind, John Denver about West Virginia's country roads, and the millions of songs extolling New York. These songs have lodged themselves in the public's mind about these states. And Pennsylvania? We have an utterly forgettable song that does not represent the dynamic state we are living in. With the 250th anniversary of the United States coming up in 2026, the Keystone State of our country should have a song worth singing, that represents who we are as a people.' H.R. 25 is now on its way to the state Senate for consideration. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bill aims to bring Hollywood to Pennsylvania with bigger tax credit: ‘Economic benefits'
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) — A soon-to-be introduced bill in Pennsylvania would increase film tax credits in hopes of bringing more filming — and economic boosts — to the Commonwealth. Joe Ciresi (D-Montgomery County) plans to introduce legislation that will raise the tax cap for filming from $100 million to $125 million. 'The countless economic benefits of film production have heightened competition among states looking to attract filmmaking,' Ciresi penned in a memorandum. 'Because the state's current tax credit level is capped at $100 million, projects are turned away each year due to lack of funding. An untold number of film products – even projects that are set in Pennsylvania but filmed elsewhere – are lost to other states that are enjoying the economic advantages of this industry.' The PA Department of Community and Economic Development told Ciresi that since the inception of PA's film production tax credit in 2007 through the end of fiscal year 2023-24, 592 projects were approved for tax credits — injecting over $4 billion into the state's economy. Peeps vs. Hershey Kiss: What should be the next Pennsylvania candy While many movies have been filmed in Pennsylvania, including most of M. Night Shyamalan's films, others take place in Pennsylvania but were filmed in other states due to the budget, Ciresi added. Most notably, Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray, which takes place in Punxsutawney, was mostly filmed in Illinois, including the outdoor scenes around town.'An untold number of film products – even projects that are set in Pennsylvania but filmed elsewhere – are lost to other states that are enjoying the economic advantages of this industry,' Ciresi wrote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Proposed bill aims to bring film production to Pennsylvania
(WHTM)– A Pennsylvania lawmaker proposed a bill to increase the limit for the state's Film Production Tax Credit to bring more projects to the state. The bill, proposed by State Representative Joe Ciresi (D-Montgomery), aims to bring film production back to the commonwealth by expanding the film production tax credit. The memo said that a lack of funding causes Pennsylvania to turn film projects away because the state's tax credit level is capped at $100 million. 25 movies filmed in Pennsylvania According to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, 592 projects have been approved for tax credits, which have pumped $4 billion back into the state's economy. Ciresi argues that filming in Pennsylvania generates jobs and economic activity in communities. The legislation would expand the limit for the Film Production Tax Credit to $125 million. Ciresi says that this would be a first step in meeting the needs of the film production industry. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Additionally, bringing film production back to the state could potentially increase opportunities for tourism. 'Greater availability of these tax credits will bring more projects to the state, leading to more jobs and economic impact, more opportunities for tourism, and more hometowns spotlighted for the world to see and for us to take pride in,' said Ciresi. The Hershey Company revealed earlier in April that a 'major motion picture' featuring Milton and Catherine Hershey will begin production next month in Pennsylvania, including Lancaster and Hershey. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
