The final chapter has closed for one of Southern California's most recognizable snack food facilities. PepsiCo has completed operations at its longtime Frito-Lay site in Rancho Cucamonga, ending decades of activity at a location closely tied to the company's history and eliminating 248 jobs in the process. The closure marks the end of operations at a facility that had been part of the Inland Empire's manufacturing landscape [...]

Alabama played a major role in turning Buc-ee’s into a national brand, and its stores have helped make Interstate 65 one of the most important Buc-ee’s highways. But as of July 2026, the company has not announced where—or when—it will build its fifth Alabama travel center. That means Auburn remains Alabama’s newest Buc-ee’s. The store opened in April 2023 at 2500 Buc-ee’s Boulevard, beside Interstate 85 at Exit 50. The [...]

Kentucky's next Buc-ee's is still planned for Oak Grove, but drivers will have to wait much longer than originally expected. The state's existing Smiths Grove store has already made Interstate 65 a growing Buc-ee's corridor; the Oak Grove project would bring the chain to Interstate 24 near Fort Campbell. Unfortunately, its expected opening has now slipped to 2029. The location was announced in 2024 for property near [...]

Louisiana has never demanded that its restaurants behave normally. The state’s strangest dining rooms include a vampire café, a spinning bar and a restaurant that sets dinner for a ghost, giving them plenty in common with Alabama’s wonderfully weird restaurants. Here are five of Louisiana’s most unusual places to eat. New Orleans Vampire Café in New Orleans New Orleans already has vampires embedded in its folklore, [...]

North Carolina's restaurant scene experienced several high-profile losses in 2026 as national chains downsized and longtime local favorites closed their doors. From beloved neighborhood eateries to recognizable brands, these five closures left a lasting impact on communities across the state. 1. Bahama Breeze One of the year's biggest restaurant stories came when Darden Restaurants announced the end of the Bahama Breeze [...]

Pizza Hut's nationwide downsizing is becoming increasingly visible, and California appears to be among the states feeling the biggest impact. Dozens of restaurants have quietly disappeared across the country as the iconic pizza chain moves forward with plans to shutter hundreds of underperforming locations. California leads recent Pizza Hut closures Pizza Hut parent company Yum! Brands announced earlier this year that it [...]