Los Angeles Business Journal back issues from May 1994:
Eureka strikes gold by compacting tons of info onto computer disks. (CD Eureka Inc.)
May 02, 1994; ... Talk about role reversal. Back in the early 1980s, Bill Snell was the president and chief operating officer of Joseph & Cogan Associates Inc. and one of his workers was Mark Mathias, a self-described computer junkie. Now, Mathias is president of CD Eureka Inc. in Studio City and ...
Electric car maker plans to accelerate production in L.A.: and state agency reviews plan to mandate car sales. (Los Angeles, California; U.S. Electricar Inc.)
May 02, 1994; ... And state agency reviews plan to mandate car sales U.S. Electricar Inc., which claims to be the largest independent manufacturer of battery-powered cars in the country, announced last week it plans to boost hiring and production at its manufacturing facility in South Central Los ...
MTA eases way for minority firms to win contracts. (Metropolitan Transportation Authority)
May 02, 1994; ... The Metropolitan Transportation Authority last week relaxed its regulations for contractors to qualify for projects by proving they made a "good faith effort" to sign-up minority-owned firms as subcontractors. The MTA had faced criticism, protests and lawsuits from contractors ...
Redondo Beach pier comes back from store, fire.
May 02, 1994; ... A crane working on a platform in the waters off Redondo Beach one day in March reached a claw into the ocean and pulled up a stove. The stove is believed to have once been part of Cattleman's restaurant, which fell into the ocean on May 27, 1988, when a spectacular fire ...
L.A.'s controller calls for special review of bond sales: failure to set up programs stalls sale of $1 billion in bonds. (Los Angeles, California)
May 02, 1994; ... The Los Angeles City Controller is "urgently" calling for a special outside review of the failure of the Public Works Department to design and implement programs to spend nearly $1 billion in bond-sale proceeds, approved by voters over the past five years. City Controller Rick ...
LAX clashes with Federal Express over mail carrier's expansion plan. (Federal Express Corp.; Los Angeles International Airport)
May 02, 1994; ... New policies of the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners have led to another dispute with a major carrier wanting to expand or improve facilities at Los Angeles International Airport. The latest conflict revolves around a proposal by Federal Express, the express mail ...
More problems surface for owners of L.A.'s Broadway Garment Mart. (Los Angeles, California)
May 02, 1994; ... The controversial effort to convert the big downtown L.A. building once housing May Co.'s flagship local store into a garment manufacturing facility took another strange twist recently. The property's second trust deed holder took title through foreclosure -- and subsequently filed for ...
Trying to keep trade on track: Alameda Corridor agency general manager Gill Hicks sets course for the future. (Journal Profile )
May 02, 1994; ... Gill Hicks, who has had a and in the Alameda Corridor project since its inception a decade ago, says frustration has been an integral part of the long road. "There have always been high moments and low moments. We've had setbacks from time to time," concedes Hicks, who now ...
Restructuring may not be over at Hughes Electronics: more jobs could go at county's largest private employer. (GM Hughes Electronics Corp.)
May 02, 1994; ... More jobs could go at county's largest private employer The restructuring of GM Hughes Electronics Corp., Los Angeles County's largest private employer, may not be over, a company spokesman said last week. The spokesman, Rand Christensen, said continues cuts in ...
Couple focuses on profits by putting kids into computerized scenarios. (FantaScapes)
May 02, 1994; ... Michele and Scott Jewett's studio for children's photography looks no bigger than the standard cookie store at The Plaza at West Covina. But the Jewetts think they have built a concept they can transform into a mini-empire. With their "FantaScapes" technology, the Jewetts have ...
Business climate looks good to interconnect vendors: industry leaders remain on top in rapidly changing arena. (Industry Overview)
May 02, 1994; ... The demand for interconnect vendors -- companies that set up commercial telecommunications systems -- may be a good indicator of the strength or weakness of the indicator of the strength or weakness of the economy. And according to this week's List of the 25 largest vendors in Los Angeles ...
Pantages theater may be converted to church activities: tribulations darken landmark showplace's prospects.
May 02, 1994; ... The president of the company that owns the Pantages theater on Hollywood Boulevard said last week that his firm may soon be forced to convert the landmark building to church uses because fears about Metro Rail construction disruption and damage from relocating utility lines have left the ...
Muppies, opals, and suppies! Industry experts reveal the myths about advertising to the senior market. (mature up-scale post professionals; older people with active lifestyles; senior urban professionals)
May 02, 1994; ... Industry Experts Reveal the Myths About Advertising to the Senior Market It's another evening across suburban America. Television sets are tuned in, but there's nothing on. At least, nothing of much interest to most viewers over 50 years old. Even the TV commercials have little ...
Value of seven L.A. area teams posts 10% gain. (major professional sports franchises in the Los Angeles, California area)
May 09, 1994; ... The value of the seven major professional sports franchises in the Los Angeles area rose an average of 10 percent in the last year, according to an annual industry survey to be published today (May 9) by Financial World magazine.The only Southland team to decline in value over the ...
Valet firm serves up (and services) your car at LAX's portals. (Airport Valet Inc. in Los Angeles International Airport)
May 09, 1994; ... This familiar scenario is replayed countless times daily in Los Angeles:Driver -- clad in black pants, white shirt and brightly colored jacket or vest -- steers car curbside, exits to allow car owner to take the wheel, steps aside, smiles and bids goodbye.In an unusual ...
Public develops fetish for fetishes; New Age set hits Venice to grab up stone carvings handcrafted in Zuni nation. (Venice, California)
May 09, 1994; ... While talented artists from the Zuni nation carve away on artworks in their native lands of western New Mexico, soul-searching Anglos spend big bucks -- in trendy Venice, of all places -- for the animal-shaped stone "fetishes" that have become all the rage among the New Age set. ...
Wilshire businesses' subway construction lawsuits mount; firms, MTA differ over who's forcing litigation. (Wilshire Boulevard; MTA Travelways Corp.)
May 09, 1994; ... Wiltern Associates has placed a $20 million figure on its claim for Metro Rail subway construction damage to Wiltern Center, bringing to $73 million the total damage claims from only three major property owners along Wilshire Boulevard.All told, 426 claims have been filed against ...
Local hotel business up in March, signals slump may be over. (Los Angeles County)
May 09, 1994; ... Hotel room occupancy in Los Angeles County continued to rise in March, indicating that the long industry slump may indeed be over.The results of the monthly survey by the Los Angeles office of PKF Consulting, a national accounting and consulting firm, also seem to indicate industry ...
Post-earthquake purchases help retail sales surge; some see February figures presaging end of recession. (Los Angeles County, California)
May 09, 1994; ... Los Angeles County retail sales took a big leap in February, with most of the jump coming from post-earthquake purchases but possibly presaging a bottoming-out of the recession.The surge comes on the heels of a sales decrease in January but signs indicate that March retail sales ...
Stockholders have lots to say about Southland oil companies' earnings. (Los Angeles, California)
May 09, 1994; ... Stockholders owning shares of Los Angeles' top three oil companies had a lot to say about executive compensation recently -- especially in light of the mostly disappointing earnings announced at the latest annual shareholders meetings.Westwood-based Occidental Petroleum Corp. had a ...
Multi-agency task force cracks down on quake fraud; so far 24 people have been hit with criminal complaints. (Los Angeles Earthquake Fraud Task Force)
May 09, 1994; ... A Los Angeles Earthquake Fraud Task Force is cracking down on people who have filed fraudulent disaster claims following the Jan. 17 earthquake. The task force has filed criminal complaints against 24 defendants since March 3, has sent one offender to jail and is awaiting sentencing on nine ...
Hawthorne Savings looks to restructure, sell branches; CEO Braly says he doesn't expect regulator action. (Hawthorne Savings and Loan Association; Hawthorne's Scott Braly)
May 09, 1994; ... Hawthorne Financial Corp., parent of troubled Hawthorne Savings & Loan Association, intends to further shrink by selling off branches, Hawthorne Chief Executive Scott Braly told the Business Journal last week.He also said that he does "not anticipate" that the Hawthorne-based ...
Neighborhoods around rail stations may get funds; state mulls bill to cite these areas for redevelopment. (California; Transit Village Development Act, Assembly Bill 3152)
May 09, 1994; ... A bill making its way through the state Legislature would designate all land within a one-quarter mile radius of a rail transit station in California eligible for government funding of development projects.Under the Transit Village Development Act, Assembly Bill 3152, redevelopment ...
CRA faces challenge in refinancing mortgage bonds; underwriter faces May 16 deadline to lower interest rate. (Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency; Grigsby Brandford Powell Inc.)
May 09, 1994; ... The Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency will be jumping through a series of hoops in its quest to refinance the $31.3 million balance on some of its outstanding mortgage revenue bonds by May 16 to take advantage of relatively low market rates.The deal's lead underwriter, San ...
Wardlaw courts a new career; lawyer William Wardlaw turns to investment management, keeps his hand in as political strategist.
May 09, 1994; ... "Every corporate lawyer's dream is to become a businessman," grins ex-lawyer Bill Wardlaw from the catbird seat at his executive desk.Wardlaw traded his briefcase in for a portfolio in 1988, when he joined Freeman Spogli & Co., a West Los Angeles investment firm that acquires and ...
Business brokers report business is good in Southland; brokers see the effects of exploding pent-up demand. (Los Angeles County, California)
May 09, 1994; ... Activity is picking up for business brokers -- outfits that act as go-betweens in buying and selling businesses -- on this week's List because of pent-up demand, more available capital and a surge of entrepreneurs."We've had one of the best quarters in a long time," said John ...
One Price Clothing Stores plans to enter Southland market in big way. (One Price Clothing Stores Inc. in Los Angeles, California)
May 09, 1994; ... The fast-growing One Price Clothing Stores retail chain, which offers all its apparel items for $7 apiece and locates primarily in lower income communities, has launched an aggressive local expansion campaign that could reach 50 new stores.The Spartanburg, S.C.-based, publicly ...
Western Waste stock hits six-month high as hauler reports earnings rise. (Western Waste Industries)
May 09, 1994; ... Western Waste Industries Inc.'s stock price topped a six-month high after the Torrance-based waste hauler announced last week sharp increases in both earnings and revenues as a result of numerous changes going on at the company.Western Waste reported net income in the fiscal third ...
Major bank consortium to launch new electronic service. (Electronic Data Interchange Bank Alliance Network Exchange) (Banking and Finance Special Report)
May 09, 1994; ... The next generation of corporate banking may be void of checks, paper invoices and billing statements when a new computerized payment system comes on line this fall.EDIBANX, which stands for Electronic Data Interchange Bank Alliance Network Exchange, will allow corporations for the ...
Bank industry 'techies' develop branch-free future; move to on-line banking similar to earlier ATM trend. (automated teller machines) (Banking and Finance Special Report)
May 09, 1994; ... High-tech gurus of the banking world are spending a lot of time these days dreaming up the bank of the future. And it is not a cleaner, brighter, more-modern version of the bank branch customers go to now. If things go as some techies predict, the bank branch of the future will likely be ...
Imperial looks to finance wedding between Hollywood, Silicon Valley. (Imperial Bank) (Banking and Finance Special Report)
May 09, 1994; ... Survival in the banking industry means creating a niche market and knowing more about that niche than any other bank in town.Imperial Bank has jumped into funding the marriage of high technology with entertainment and is hoping to cash in big by being the first Los Angeles-area ...
Highly rated Pico Rivera bank aims to overcome longstanding obscurity. (Pacific Western National Bank; California) (Banking and Finance Special Report)
May 09, 1994; ... Pacific Western National Bank, a small Pico Rivera-based institution, has quietly been accumulating a track record that may well make it the envy of the industry. It has been consistently profitable for more than 13 years, in spite of an unkind banking economy. It's rated consistently high ...
Local banking industry job losses begin to subside; but depository institution employment 20% below peak. (Los Angeles County, California) (Banking and Finance Special Report)
May 09, 1994; ... The banking industry continues to bleed jobs, but at a gentler flow than in years past."We're not seeing the rate of change we were seeing a year ago," said Gary Saenger, Los Angeles regional manager for outplacement firm Right Associates.The worst hemorrhaging, ...
Mortgage lenders unveil plethora of new programs; rising interest rates cause refinance market to dry up. (Los Angeles County, California) (Banking and Finance Special Report)
May 09, 1994; ... Mortgage financing activity is increasing in Los Angeles County, according to several local lending institutions, as area lenders seek to counteract the chilling effects of rising interest rates by offering a range of new programs featuring low down payments, reduced fees and insurance, and ...
Financial institutions adapt to rising interest rates; mortgage bankers may face toughest short-term future. (Los Angeles, California) (Banking and Finance Special Report)
May 09, 1994; ... Experts are divided on how the recent rise in interest rates is likely to affect Los Angeles' financial institutions.Banks, thrifts and mortgage bankers will each be affected in different ways. Most analysts agreed, however, mortgage bankers will likely have the toughest time ...
New fair-lending guidelines draw mixed response; many officials at small banks express deep concern. (Banking and Finance Special Report)
May 09, 1994; ... On March 8, a united front of federal agencies released harsh new guidelines on fair lending practices. Reaction from local bankers and statewide banking experts has ranged from unconcerned to confused to absolutely infuriated."These guidelines have raised a lot of questions in the ...
Local Asian banks try to break out of ethnic niche; Spanish-speaking staffs hired to serve Hispanic clients. (Banking and Finance Special Report)
May 09, 1994; ... One of the biggest flaps during Los Angeles' last mayoral race arose from charges of loan discrimination by Cathay Bank, a Asian-American owned bank based in the Chinatown section of downtown L.A.And some of the accusing fingers were pointed at then-candidate Michael Woo, whose ...
Business as usual for downtown Los Angeles after Northridge Quake. (Focus on Downtown)
May 09, 1994; ... High-Profile Tenants, Government Agencies, Insurance Companies Seek Space; Corporate America Issues Commitment to Los AngelesNot surprisingly, Los Angeles' biggest 'mover and shaker deal' in early 1994 was the earthquake which rumbled through Southern California on January 17 ....
Vision for downtown looks far different from today, experts say. (Los Angeles, California) (Focus on Downtown)
May 09, 1994; ... When urban planners, developers, architects, and brokers look out upon the Downtown region from their various perches, they often have a vision of a city that looks far different from the rather tawdry profile it has today.In their collective visions for Downtown Los Angeles, the ...
Downtown office market outlook. (Los Angeles, California)
May 09, 1994; ... Downtown Los Angeles has emerged with an energetic new urban identity of business, industry, government, and culture. Nowhere is this more evident that in the recent completion of public areas such as Pershing Square, The Los Angeles Central Library, and the new Hope Street Promenade across ...
Downtown marketing council continues to "ceLAbrate" downtown. (Los Angeles, California) (Focus on Downtown)
May 09, 1994; ... Upcoming events are being finalized as the Downtown Marketing Council continues to "CeLAbrate Downtown." The seasonal series of Wednesday night events featuring free entertainment and discounts was launched in October of 1993. The series will continue in 1994 with events scheduled for July ...
The new Pershing Square - a symbol of downtown's bright future. (Los Angeles, California) (Focus on Downtown)
May 09, 1994; ... From the smallest villages of Mexico to Saint Peter's Square in Rome, communities the world over always have had a public square or plaza -- a focal point where young and old meet and mingle, shop, dine, and play or simply relax and watch the world go round. And Los Angeles is no exception ....
Downtown sees significant decline in sublease inventory. (Los Angeles, California) (Focus on Downtown)
May 09, 1994; ... In one of the most in-depth studies of the Downtown Los Angeles market, Cushman Realty Corporation (CRC) reports a modest decrease in direct sublease vacancies during 1993 -- and a significant decline in sublease inventory as compared with 1992.The study focused on what is ...
Keeping long distance telecommunications competitive. (Telecommunications)
May 09, 1994; ... It is a rare occasion when private business supports government intervention and regulation of a competitive marketplace. It is even more rare when a small company like WCT-World Call Telecommunications |TM~ finds itself on the same side as much bigger and more well-known competitors like ...
Why your business needs a communication strategy. (Telecommunications)
May 09, 1994; ... A TYPICAL-DAY AT THE OFFICEYou've just received your thirtieth call of the week from another voice on the phone claiming to be able to save you 30% on your long distance bill. You've been through this before. "Let me look at your bills," the voice says, "I'll guarantee not to ...
A network that is world class. (Telecommunications)
May 09, 1994; ... So much has been said about the Information Superhighway that it's in danger of being labeled the Information Superhypeway. But there is a solid foundation beneath all the hot air.The fact is that we live in an Information Age. Access to information, and the ability to manipulate ...
Long distance resellers help growing companies reduce costs. (Telecommunications)
May 09, 1994; ... While AT&T, MCI, and Sprint battle publicly for the hearts, minds, and long distance dollars of corporate America, long distance resellers are offering many smaller companies a viable alternative with lower rates and more personalized service.Resellers, among the fastest-growing ...
Alice in wonderLAN: high capacity office networks. (local area networks) (Telecommunications)
May 09, 1994; ... Executives responsible for office local area networks can think they're at a tea party with Alice and the Mad Hatter when it comes to choosing the office network that's best for their company. Many executives know they know they need to start planning to upgrade their networks to handle more ...
Making telecommunications work for you. (Telecommunications)
May 09, 1994; ... It wasn't long ago when the telephone was nothing more than an odd shaped box, sitting on the desk simply to make and receive telephone calls. Back then, it seemed the phone always rang at the most inconvenient times. Well, times have changed.In an age of computers, fax machines, ...
Southland auto sales zoom after prolonged idling.
May 16, 1994; ... Sales of automobiles, particularly domestic ones, are accelerating in Southern California after idling for years in the recession.Statewide, first-quarter sales surged 13.1 percent in comparison with a year earlier, said Bob Fitzharris, senior consultant with Agoura Hills-based ...
Auto-Shade outfit comes up with 'cap' for steering wheels.
May 16, 1994; ... Those enterprising folks at Auto-Shade, Inc., the company that introduced cardboard-accordion sunshades to the automobile dashboards of Los Angeles and the rest of the Western Hemisphere, say they've got another product that you're gonna love.They call it "Big Head" and tout it as ...
Does consultant's subway report have built-in bias?
May 16, 1994; ... Antonovich seeks review of study favoring subwayTwo companies involved in studies for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on the feasibility and cost of building a subway vs. an elevated rail system in the San Fernando Valley are both subsidiaries of the same holding company, ...
He'll always be Zachary All to us. (Edward Nalbandian)
May 16, 1994; ... In the 1960s, Nalbandian rivaled Cal Worthington as a TV fixture-pitchmanThe man remembered by millions as Zachary All pulls his hand out of his pocket, brandishing a thimble on the pinkie finger. "Yeah, I still do tailoring," he says, in the earnest voice instantly familiar to ...
Meeting organizers cool to L.A. for trade shows, conferences.
May 16, 1994; ... Los Angeles does not rank high among the country's meeting planners as a site for a convention or trade show, according to a recent industry survey and interviews with industry experts.In an informal survey of meeting planners by the American Society of Association Executives, Los ...
Regulator may order changes at insurer 20th Century. (20th Century Industries Inc.)
May 16, 1994; ... Financial rater considers downgrading company againState regulators may insist that 20th Century Industries Inc. change some of its business practices in the wake of its announcement last week that it will lose two-thirds of its capital in paying off damage claims from the ...
Ex-chief of failed First Network Savings Bank quits California bar. (Carl M. Rheuban)
May 16, 1994; ... Carl M. Rheuban, only a few years ago a lawyer, Westside financial kingpin, politico, philanthropist and professor at Southwestern University, has resigned from the state bar, while facing official charges of having taken money from clients' trust accounts for personal use.The bar ...
Study predicts vehicle fuel cells could power jobs here. (Southern California)
May 16, 1994; ... Group says industry could produce 7,000 start-up jobsMore than 7,000 jobs could initially be created in the four-county Southern California region if a vehicle fuel cell industry develops in the United States, according to a study released last week by a Los Angeles-based research ...
Major expansion plans in holding pattern at LAX. (Los Angeles International Airport)
May 16, 1994; ... Carriers, airport commission in dogfight over controlA new policy on lease agreements at Los Angeles International Airport has sparked another controvery between airlines and the city, with the carriers claiming the rule is a serious threat to further development of the sprawling ...
Employee union prepares offer to buy Daily News. (Los Angeles Newspaper Guild)
May 16, 1994; ... Sale announcement prompts employees to eye ESOPThe Los Angeles Newspaper Guild is "preparing" to make an offer for the employees of the Daily News in the San Fernando Valley to purchase their paper through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, said guild administrative officer Jim ...
Interactive entertainment firm's stock gets rattled. (Iwerks Entertainment Inc.)
May 16, 1994; ... Iwerks' shares plunge since glowing IPO in OctoberIwerks Entertainment Inc. was one of the Cinderella stocks of 1993. But lately the Burbank-based producer of movie-based specialty theaters has been trading at less than one-third of the $37 a share it hit the day after it debuted ...
Financial data processer gets set to set up in L.A. (Systematics Financial Services Inc.)
May 16, 1994; ... Moves comes as trend grows to contract out bank jobsSystematics Financial Services Inc., one of the nation's largest data processing service providers to financial institutions, is opening a new regional headquarters in L.A. County. This comes at the same time that a number of ...
Singing the praises of downtown L.A.: New Music Center President Shelton Stanville looks to lure more people downtown.
May 16, 1994; ... Unlike the thousands of Latinos who visit downtown L.A.'s Broadway on a Saturday afternoon, the patrician-looking Anglo man walking its length doesn't come to shop or go to the movies. Shelton Stanville, the new president of the Music Center of Los Angeles County, is looking to dispel myths ....
Smith's scales back plans, blames recession, increase in competition. (Smith's Food and Drug Centers Inc.)
May 16, 1994; ... Smith's Food & Drug Centers plans to open smaller stores and at a slower rate in Southern California than it originally planned because of the recession and increased competition from other supermarkets.Smith's currently operates 30 stores in Southern California, nine in L.A ....
Real estate appraisers size up to tough environment. (Industry Overview)
May 16, 1994; ... Pacific Coast Valuations leads amid turbulent timesDespite signs of stabilization in some sectors of the battered local real estate market, the firms on this year's inaugural List of L.A. County's 10 largest real estate appraisal firms are facing no shortage of turbulence. ...
Southern California Bank plans headquarters move.
May 16, 1994; ... Officials say Orange County provides greater opportunitySouthern California Bank, a Los Angeles County-based bank for 30 years, is moving its headquarters to Orange County and plans to expand there because of "better business opportunities," Norman Morales, chief financial officer ...