Miscellaneous

🍕 In fall 2023, Dave Ligas opened Casano’s Pizza Parlor in Rutherford, N.J., inspired by his late grandmother Marie Casano. No slices are available; pizzas are sold whole, with fresh mozzarella and dough made via a multi-day process. The retro-styled interior has vintage furniture and family photos. Ligas donates $2 per cheesesteak sale in October to breast cancer research. Formerly a delivery driver in Wallington, Ligas transitioned from Tavolino Pizzeria, which closed in 2022.

🎭 New York-based studios GLO and Present Forms converted a former tobacco warehouse in Hudson into "The Spark of Hudson," an arts and education hub. In 2020, a philanthropic couple bought the 1980s-converted office space. The team renovated the 10,000 sq ft building at 502 Union, adding 1,000 sq ft on the roof. The project involved new windows and a rooftop extension for light and air, creating a flexible community space with an open-plan second floor and a Solarium.

✈️ India's aviation industry saw passenger revenue increase by 9% to $18.3 billion in 2024, with a total of 191 million passengers flown. As of March 2025, the country had 855 aircraft, with plans for 1,600 more. Delhi's airport reached a capacity of 109 million. IndiGo is expanding internationally, while Air India merged with Vistara on November 12, 2024. Risks include the April 2025 Kashmir attack and the June 2025 Air India crash. India's aviation market ranks third globally.

🍴 Bret Thorn has been Nation’s Restaurant News’ food & beverage editor since 1999. From 2005-2008, he was a columnist for The New York Sun. In 2006, he won the Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award. Thorn is a Tufts University graduate who studied at Le Cordon Bleu, Nanjing University, and Beijing University. He was inducted into the Disciples d’Escoffier in 2014 and lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. He covers food trends and was president of IFEC in 2005.

☕ © 2025 Franke Group. The website “Franke Coffee Systems” features a navigation menu with language options (English and German) and a footer promoting social media follows. The footer includes legal links such as “Imprint” and “Privacy & Cookies Policy.” The Franke logo is displayed in various sections, emphasizing brand identity. The site’s URL is “aline.franke.coffee” with sections dedicated to brewing.

🍹 Bar Leone in Hong Kong clinched the top spot in the World’s 50 Best Bars 2025, marking the first Asia-based bar to do so. Handshake Speakeasy in Mexico City ranked second. Superbueno in New York City placed 12th, leading among five U.S. entries. Bar Leone, just 2 years old, emphasizes approachable drinks and unpretentious hospitality. The rankings are based on votes from over 800 global drinks experts, spotlighting new and established bars worldwide.

📑 Ron Ruggless, a senior editor at Nation’s Restaurant News since 1992, covers foodservice mergers and marketing. He began his career as a restaurant critic at the Dallas Times Herald in 1982. Ruggless frequently moderates industry events including MUFSO and RestaurantSpaces. Previously, he held editing roles in Dallas, Charlotte, and Omaha. His articles have been featured in Food & Wine and Food Network magazines. Connect with him on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok at @RonRuggless.

🏨 Fordham School of Professional and Continuing Studies, part of Fordham Real Estate Institute, launches a new hospitality program in 2025. The program includes a Master of Science in Hospitality, advanced certificates in Hotel Management, and Hospitality Investment and Development. It kicks off with the “Business of Hospitality” series on November 4, 2025, featuring leaders from MCR Hotels, Highgate, Marriott, and Colliers. The initiative prepares students for leadership roles through degrees, certificates, and industry panels.

🛸 InterLnkd partners with Viasat to introduce AirMall, the first digital inflight shopping mall, announced at the World Aviation Festival in Lisbon. Over 60 airlines using Viasat's inflight broadband can access more than 20,000 brands via AirMall. This collaboration allows airlines to monetize Wi-Fi investments without extra hardware or software. InterLnkd CEO Barry Klipp highlights the potential for monetizing passenger behavior, while Viasat's Nathan Clapton focuses on scalable revenue solutions and enhanced passenger experiences.