A New Market Is Hiring, a Resort Hands Out Funds and Cox Ditches Mobile Services

In this week's L.N. Biz Briefs, the remodeling and demo work continues at the new iat the corner of Crown Valley Parkway and Golden Lantern. The market is also hiring according to a large sign tacked to the front facade of the building.

According to Convenience Store News, "Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market expects to hire 600-plus employees for more than 20 new stores that are set to open early next year, as well as stores in California and Nevada that are opening over the next several weeks."

In addition, the chain's CEO Tim Mason told the publication, "Since 2007, we have opened 184 stores and have created more than 5,000 jobs with comprehensive benefits in the neighborhoods we serve. We are continuing our growth and will provide even more jobs for our communities."

Entry-level positions at Fresh & Easy start at $10 an hour in California and include quarterly bonuses of up to 10 percent, a 401(k) with company match, a generous paid time off (PTO) program, and life skills training. Last year, more than 200 store employees were promoted to management positions, the article reported.

Also, Opus Bank, which recently moved its executive headquarters to Irvine, reports it will open a new location at 24050 Aliso Creek Road on the intersection of Aliso Creek Road and La Paz Road. This is the former home of First Team Real Estate. This is the same shopping plaza where signed a lease to open a new market in the former Tall Mouse craft store location.

Over at the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, October's Yappy Hour was a huge
success. So much so that Bruce Brainerd, general manager presented Pet Project Foundation President Sue Walsh with a check for $7,500 at the Howl-O-Ween Yappy Hour on Oct. 27.

“Yappy Hour is a fantastic example of our mission in hosting events that bring the local community together, but also generate awareness and support for charitable causes,” said Brainerd. “Since the first Yappy Hour in April, our canine cocktail events have grown in popularity with more than 1,200 guests attending Howl-O-Ween. As a pet-friendly resort, we take great pride in extending our love for canines by supporting compassionate causes such as Pet Project Foundation, whose mission is to enhance the quality of life of all companion animals in a pro-humane manner through compassion, responsibility, education and service."

The featured 136 contestants dressed as everything from devils, one-eyed-green monsters and sharks to cheerleaders, princesses and pirates. 

Yappy Hour is part of The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel’s Community Footprints program. Community Footprints was created to encourage leadership in volunteerism, fundraising, product donations and mentoring programs at a local level. 

If you were thinking about singing up for ’ wireless service, forget it. So, the next time you go into the local store at 28950 Golden Lantern St., to pay your bill, don't even think of asking about the service. 

Cox is canceling the sale of smartphones immediately and ending service March 30, 2012, not even a year old.

Orange County was one of three markets where Cox first launched the service.

Cox says it will offer a $150 credit for each line of service disconnected. Cox Wireless service, billed as “unbelievably fair,” launched first in Orange County, Omaha and Hampton Roads, Virginia in November of last year.

In a statement, Cox’s said its “decision to no longer sell its 3G wireless service was based on the lack of wireless scale necessary to compete in the marketplace, the acceleration of competitive 4G networks as well as the inability to access iconic wireless devices.”

The company launched 3G wireless service last November, selling Android phones with plans that offered money back for unused minutes.