THREE READS | July 22

ONE | The NY Times reports on the highest grossing independent restaurant in the U.S.—Tao Las Vegas. In its first full year open in 2006, Tao recorded $55.2 million in sales. The next closet U.S. independent restaurant was Tavern on the Green in New York which pulled in sales o $39 million in 2006. >>READ MORE

TWO | I’m not in Harry Potter. Haven’t read an HP book or seen an HP movie so this primer (.pdf) on the Harry Potter phenomenon from THE WEEK was super-informative. It is amazing to think 66% of children in the US have read a Harry Potter book. >>READ MORE (.pdf)

THREE | Much has been written recently about the John Mackey's “rahodeb” dealio. But this Wall Street Journal article shares interesting insights into Mackey’s hyper-competitive personality. >>READ MORE

Comments

[Laura]

mmm... I have just watched the latest HP movie on Saturday :). It's just that I find HP (both the movies and the books - especially during exam sessions at the university) extremely relaxing.

Note: And I'm not a kid anymore ;)) Female respondent, 23, Bucharest, Romania :)

[Victor Howard]

Interesting brief on Harry Potter. I have not read any of the HP books, but saw the 1st movie. Last Saturday, I went to Barnes & Noble for a different book and had to weave through a very large crowd of black robed kids (most with their parents). I did not see any evidence of BN working to engage the parents in other experiences or cross-selling activities (only security doing crowd control). What a missed opportunity with a captive audience of customers. Oh, and even if the bookstores are not making money on the books, I can assure you the Starbuck cafe made a killing!