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.

🍹 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.

🛸 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.

✈️ Aeroitalia, established in 2022, is enhancing its operations with Navitaire's solutions, including New Skies, a modern reservation platform for hybrid carriers. This partnership aims to improve customer experiences through dynamic offers, real-time disruption management, and omnichannel distribution. Aeroitalia plans to expand its fleet of 15 aircraft with new routes to Ibiza from Milan and Rome by Q3 2025. CEO Gaetano Intrieri highlights New Skies' flexibility and scalability as key benefits.

✈️ RateGain announces on October 8, 2025, from Noida, that Sunrise Airways has selected its AirGain platform. This move enhances fare visibility and optimizes revenue across the Caribbean. Sunrise Airways, operating for 16 years, connects destinations like Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba. AirGain provides real-time market insights and AI-powered tools to adapt pricing strategies. RateGain, founded in 2004, serves over 3,200 customers in more than 100 countries, aiding airlines and travel sectors worldwide.

✈ Accelya and AWS have signed a five-year Strategic Collaboration Agreement to enhance airline retailing. The goal is scalable, secure, and modular solutions via the FLX ONE platform. This platform, already responsible for over 50% of global NDC volumes and 30 billion daily offers, will gain from AWS's technical expertise. This partnership will be highlighted at the World Aviation Festival in Lisbon, showcasing innovative advancements in airline technology.