Sexy fireworks
Taking a page from the “sexpresso stands,” Rickk Martin opened a fireworks stand called Nearly Naked Fireworks this week in Puyallup that has girls selling sparklers in bikinis, according to a story from the Tacoma News Tribune. The new stand has irritated neighbors who say the stand is not appropriate given the young families with children that live nearby. Happy Birthday, America!

Would you pay $4 for a McDonalds burger?
The fast-food chain is launching its new Angus beef burg

Sorry that today’s “Daily Checkout” is late. But here’s what you should check out before you head home today:

Retailers watch reaction to back-to-school sales.

Retailers are paying close attention to consumer response during its early back-to-school sales, according to The Wall Street Journal. The sales will provide retailers an indicator of what kind of inventory to order for the holiday months, which usually occurs during the summer and early fall. Attention is especially tuned to stores in

The comments are coming in on my recent column, and graffitibrad, whose earlier comment was actually mentioned in the column itself, made another interesting one:

... I guess I really don't care if Tony Rizzo wants to build more Subway shops in Yakima; it's just the original post about the new restaurant in downtown Yakima was made into such a big deal and when told it was a Subway that was a HUGE disappointment.

Personally if I was a business man and had some cash I would invest into a seafo

Out of work? Sears lets you keep your fridge.

Customers who spend $399 on appliances between July 6 and Aug. 1 with a store credit card will receive a portion of the debt credited for each month they’re unemployed. The offer is designed for customers who may be hesitant to buy in the middle of a weak economy.

Starbucks overhauls food items

The Seattle-based coffee chain is introducing a new line of products today in hopes of improving declining sales. Starbucks has also rolled out a new ad ca

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Good morning.  Today I will introduce a new daily feature called “Daily Checkout.” During weekday mornings, I will point out national, regional and local retail, consumer and restaurant news worth reading.

They may be a blend of quick hits and things you sink your teeth into. And perhaps you’ll come away with some impressive knowledge you can use at your next water cooler chat.

Nothing Beats a Good Sandwich (Discussion) — My weekly column confirms that three new Subway locati

Just after a day after Michael Jackson’s death, I may have been right about my previous prediction.

I took a quick look at the iTunes store and saw that seven of his records are current on iTunes Top Albums list, while five of his songs are on its Top Songs list.

Other thoughts:

• I can’t forget to note that Jackson has the honor of having the best-selling album of all time. “Thriller,” which came out in 1982, featured hits “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” and, of course, the title track. No recor

The reports are in. Michael Jackson has died, according to the Los Angeles Times. 

Facebook and Twitter are full of activity as people reminisce about listening to his records during their childhood years. Heck, I still have a vinyl album of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” in my collection that I listen to occasionally.

I can’t help but wonder: Will death steer people back to his records? 

Certainly death has provided a boost to the sale of records and memorabilia for other musical artists.

Th

Fast Company attempts to answer that question in its extensive profile on Orlando-based parent company Darden Restaurants:

It’s the country’s largest full-service restaurant operation, the 29th-largest employer in the United States, and a pioneer of what’s known as “casual dining,” which accounts for 39 percent of all sit-down restaurant meals. Like Procter & Gamble, low-profile Darden runs a portfolio of ubiquitous brands. The company generated $6.7 billion in revenue in its last fiscal y

YAKIMA, Wash. -- TJX Cos., the parent company of retailers TJ Maxx and Marshalls, recently reached a $9.75 million settlement with Washington and several other states regarding the data breach in 2005 and 2006 that exposed customers’ credit card information, according to a story from the Tacoma News-Tribune (via The Olympian)

In the story, Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna said $2.5 million of the settlement will fund a Data Security Trust Fund that will help the states advance enforcem

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Here’s a call out to Yakima Valley restaurant historians.

From Juanita:

"I’m not sure if you were in Yakima when Jade Tree was still open downtown across from the Larson Building where that open little park area is now. But if you were, can you tell me what the owners are doing now? I heard some people say they have another little place open on the west side of town, but I’m not sure. I love the food at Jade Tree and miss it dearly."

That was before my time at the Herald-Republi