The Olive Garden Italian Restaurant’s opening is set for Monday, Feb. 16. Granite Quarry resident Russ Garland will be general manager of the new restaurant in Wallace Commons at 1425 Klumac Road.
Valerie Insignares, executive vice president of operations for Olive Garden, said Garland’s “track record of operational excellence makes him a great leader for our restaurant’s service and culinary teams.”
Garland has 25 years of restaurant industry experience. He has been with Olive Garden for more than 17 years, most recently as general manager of the Olive Garden at 121 Tunnel Road in Asheville.
In 2005 and 2006, Garland received Olive Garden’s prestigious Diamond Club Award.
He is one of more than 800 managers who have trained at Olive Garden’s Culinary Institute of Tuscany and visited its Riserva di Fizzano restaurant, which serves as the source of inspiration for many dishes on the menu. Throughout each year, 100 managers spend a week in Tuscany learning the time-honored traditions of Italian cooking and working side-by-side Olive Garden Executive Chef Romana Neri.
To apply for a position with Olive Garden, visit the restaurant Monday through Saturday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The phone number is 704-633-6198.
Olive Garden has 670 restaurants, more than 80,000 employees and $3.1 billion in annual sales. It is a division of Darden Restaurants Inc. and the Web site at www.olivegarden.com
J&J Tire and Auto open
J&J Tire and Auto Center has opened at 401 Bringle Ferry Road, offering oil changes, repairs and used and new tires.
Joel Flores, who has 12 years experience, runs J&J with three other employees.
Jesus Cordero has a sister repair shop at 2908 S. Main St.
Business hours are 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. The phone number is 704-637-0180 or 704-267-0922.
Bookkeeping Express coming
R. Ashley Early has signed a development agreement to open a Bookkeeping Express franchise in Salisbury.
“Bookkeeping Express has over 20 years of experience in the industry and their proven business model will help small business owners focus on growing their business,” said Early, 41.
Early, who has a law degree from Washington and Lee University, has the right to reach other franchise agreements with qualified investors across the state.
Bookkeeping Express offers accounting responsibilities such as setting up charts of accounts and general ledgers, monthly data entry, processing and managing accounts payable and accounts receivable. It uses an alternative pricing model that is based on the clients’ needs instead of hourly billing.
Early also signed a development agreement for territories around Richmond, Va.
For more information, visit www.bookkeepingexpress.com or call 877-525-5337.
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