HEALTHCARE
Irvine-based medical and dental practice management service provider Quality Systems Inc. said it changed its corporate name to NextGen Healthcare Inc. Its stock started trading under the symbol NXGN today. “Our clients have known us as NextGen Healthcare for nearly 20 years,” Chief Executive Rusty Frantz said. “Today’s announcement is a significant milestone in our journey of aligning and simplifying our organization.” Meanwhile, Garden Grove-based cannabis packaging company Kush Bottles Inc. switched its name to KushCo Holdings Inc., saying it sells a wider variety of products and services than bottles.
— Sherry Hsieh
HOSPITALITY
Newport Beach and Huntington Beach hotels topped 90% occupancy in July, according to a monthly report by Los Angeles-based CBRE Hotels. Huntington Beach was tops at 90.6%, up from 77.5% year-over-year. Newport dropped from 92.8% to 90.3%. Anaheim essentially made the cut at 89.9%, down a tick from 90.7%. The other four submarkets—Costa Mesa, the John Wayne Airport area, North OC and South OC—were each at least 84.8% full for the month. Eighty percent is considered full occupancy in the industry. Average daily rates were up 3.2% countywide to $224, and revenue per available room was up 2.9% to $199.
— Paul Hughes
RESTAURANTS
Six affiliates of Ruby’s Diners Inc. filed for bankruptcy on Aug. 29, including Ruby’s Quality Diners LLC, Ruby’s SoCal Diners LLC, and four covering specific locations in Huntington Beach, Laguna Hills, Oceanside, and Palm Springs. A Ruby’s press release on Sept. 5 said Newport Beach-based outlet mall developer Steve Craig, who’s also a franchisee, has agreed to buy 60% of the company; Craig will lend it $2 million during the restructuring and invest $1 million after it exits bankruptcy. He will be chairman of the new entity at the end of the process, a news item said. Craig Realty and Ruby’s are based separately at 4100 MacArthur Blvd. in Newport Beach.
— Paul Hughes
Chipotle’s headquarters are now officially in Newport Beach after executives decamped here from Denver, Restaurant News reported. The company hasn’t said how many of the nearly 400 employees formerly based in Denver would move here instead of leaving Chipotle. The fast-casual burrito chain still has 90 employees in Columbus, Ohio, the trade publication said. It decided to shift its headquarters after naming Newport Beach resident Brian Niccol chief executive. He formerly headed Irvine-based Taco Bell. It earlier subleased two floors at the Irvine Co.-owned 610 Newport Center tower across from Fashion Island.
— Hannah Mitchell
Cheba Hut Franchising Inc. in Ft. Collins, Colo., plans to open eight restaurant locations in Orange County, as part of a push for at least 38 shops in Southern California. The expansion would also include 15 shops apiece in Los Angeles and San Diego. It had 20 restaurants in six states—Colorado, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Wisconsin—at the end of last year, including 12 franchised sites. That was up from 16 units three years ago. Several Cheba Huts are in college towns. The chain is cannabis-themed—“cheba” is slang for cannabis and has come to be associated with edibles—though the food itself doesn’t contain psychoactive elements.
— Paul Hughes
SERVICES
ShiftPixy Inc. said it will offer delivery driver employees to fast-food and fast-casual restaurant clients. The Irvine-based company provides temporary and short-notice shift workers to restaurants through an app and an online platform, essentially offloading traditional temp agency services to technology. The new employee category could tap operators too small to run their own insured driver workforces. ShiftPixy said in a press release the new service line can also prevent “brand damage and high costs from third-party delivery.”
— Paul Hughes
TRANSPORTATION
Atlantic Aviation named Kirsty Fournier interim general manager of its John Wayne Airport fixed-base operations, replacing Mike Phegley. Fixed-base operators provide general aviation services, such as fueling and repair to private plane owners and charter companies. Atlantic is one of two FBOs at JWA.
— Paul Hughes
ECONOMIC INDICATOR
MIXED: OC automakers’ year-over-year August sales. Hyundai’s were up 8.4%, Kia’s 1% and Mitsubishi’s 3% as Mazda’s dropped 0.1% and Hyundai’s Genesis brand fell 66%.
