Pike Nurseries management is pleased to announce the company has combined with Armstrong Garden Centers, its sister corporation in California, to operate under an established Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The plan transfers ownership to Pike Nurseries and Armstrong Garden Centers employees through a defined contribution benefit program. 

“The ESOP program allows us to reward our employees for their hard work and longevity with the company,” said Mike Kunce, CEO and Chairman of the Board at Pike Nurseries and Armstrong Garden Centers. “This structure not only enables management continuity, but also ensures the employees who have built and sustained Pike Nurseries and Armstrong Garden Centers play an integral part in the future success of the business.”

(BUSINESS JOURNAL) -- Best Buy Co. Inc. plans to cut hundreds of jobs throughout its U.S. store operations, according to a report in the New York Post.

The article, citing anonymous insiders, says the "layoffs could affect upwards of 2,000 managers," though the exact scope isn't known. The retailer does not plan to close any of its 1,055 U.S. stores at this time.

Best Buy, which reports its fourth-quarter earnings on Thursday, declined to comment. The chain has 19 stores in metro Atlanta.

Late last month, Best Buy announced it was laying off roughly 950 full-time employees at its Best Buy and Future Shop stores in Canada as part of a store-restructuring initiative. The company said it will consolidate sales departments and reduce management layers in an effort to "streamline its store operating model as part of the company's long-term growth strategy in Canada."

ATLANTA -- Atlanta-based Tin Lizzy's Cantina is in a growth spurt.

The chain of "Flex-Mex" taquerias looks to more than double its number of locations over the next two years, according to Chief Operating Officer Tory Bartlett.

Tin Lizzy's today has six locations: Buckhead, Midtown, Grant Park, Perimeter, Emory Point and Mall of Georgia.

But, it wants to grow to 15 locations by the end of 2016.

That could bring the brand to new markets, such as Augusta, Ga. or Charleston, S.C. The company hopes to open its first restaurant outside of metro Atlanta in 2015.

"We want to grow the brand through the Southeast," said Bartlett, who was brought on late last year to aid Tin Lizzy's growth. He previously worked for Hooters of America LLC. In his 20-year tenure, he worked his way from dishwasher to director of operations, opening more than 120 Hooters locations.