Nouveau Restaurant Launches in New York … and More Industry News

MANAGEMENT CHANGES
Bon-Ton Stores Inc. (York, Pa.) has promoted Hiede Gaspard to senior vp and general merchandise manager. Gaspard has worked for the company since 1997 and succeeds Kiki Lockwood, who left in April.

James Damian has joined the board of directors at Visual Impulse (Elk Grove Village, Ill.; a subsidiary of Moss). He is currently principal of James Damian Brand Integration Services (Minneapolis).

The Braid Group (Livingston, N.J.), which operates several restaurant and hospitality chains, has named Michelle McGuire vp of operations for Cups Frozen Yogurt and Zinburger Wine & Burger Bar, QSR reports. Cups plans to build 100 new venues within the next five years.

STORE OPENINGS
Dairy Queen (Minneapolis) has opened two new locations, one in Honolulu, Hawaii, and another in Daytona Beach, Fla. The stores are 700 and 856 square feet, respectively.

Nouveau recently launched in New York’s Bay Ridge borough. The restaurant blends influences from Miami and Los Angeles in its elegant, 6000-square-foot space with black floors contrasting pearlescent walls and cream tabletops.

BUSINESS BRIEFS
GFX Intl. Inc. (Grayslake, Ill.) was recognized with a 2012 WOWIE award for its employee health and wellness plan, GFleX. The company was chosen from among 40 Illinois-based employers for motivating its staff to keep healthcare costs in check.

Two decorative plywoods, MPX Hardwood Plywood and Europly Plus Hardwood Plywood, from Columbia Forest Products (Greensboro, N.C.), as well as the Visual Magnetics Graphic System by Visual Magnetics (Mendon, Mass.), were recently certified by Material ConneXion (New York), a materials consultancy, for inclusion in its Library of Innovative Materials & Processes.

Designer Brent Hodge (Cincinnati) is partnering with fireplace and luxury accessories manufacturer Bromwells (Cincinnati) to launch a curated showroom of furnishings and accessories.