[August 08, 2011] The Anniston Star, Ala., Business as Usual column Tweet Aug 08, 2011 (The Anniston Star - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- When is a new business not a new business? When it's a Red Burrito. The Hardee's corporation announced last week that it would be remodeling its local restaurants and adding a sister restaurant at each location -- something called Red Burrito. Dual-branded restaurants are becoming a fairly familiar site these days, as anyone knows from traveling on the interstate, where Burger King and Taco Bell share signage and sell grub in gas stations. Hardee's has already added Red Burrito locations at its restaurants in Oxford and Sylacauga, and will soon add them in Anniston and Jacksonville. Mike Vosika, regional vice president of marketing for Hardee's, said the remodel was done to "better meet the needs of the community." In brief, the community still likes the standard Hardee's fare but would like more choices and is tired of eating in restaurants that look more or less like they did in 1982. The chain has also launched a new ad campaign that features a robot smashing himself in the face with a burger, and an online video game called "Robot Death March." That's how they roll at Hardee's. Perhaps the best news to come out of the deal is that the re-branding is expected to add eight to 10 jobs at the Oxford and Anniston locations, and 10 to 15 new jobs in Sylacauga. Incidentally, the Red Burrito phenomenon is already widespread out West, where the taco joints are paired with Carl's Jr. and known as Green Burrito. "The reason for that is that we've found that people in the South really don't know what green sauce is," said Vosika. Green sauce is a jalapeno-flavored hot sauce that is apparently common on Tex-Mex fare when served west of the Mississippi. Here, you get a milder red salsa. -- Tim Lockette Oxford's new worst-kept business secret There's still no official confirmation that Academy Sports and Outdoors will be headed to the Oxford Commons development. But there's no shortage of hints. Mention of an Academy Sports in the Commons slipped out during the Tuesday Oxford City Council meeting. Developers and city officials have not officially confirmed an Academy Sports will be built at the retail complex, which will be located at exit 188 off Interstate 20 and should be completed by fall 2012. Developers have announced only that a Publix Super Market will be part of the retail complex. Still, despite the lack of official confirmation, a basic blueprint of the complex, which the developers released in May, shows a large section of the project has been set aside for a "sporting goods" retailer. The city already has a Dick's Sporting Goods at the Oxford Exchange -- Patrick McCreless Tax holiday is really over The start of the work week signals the end of Alabama's sales-tax holiday. Until last year, east Alabamian bargain-hunters could enjoy a second sales tax holiday if they were willing to drive to Georgia. Not any longer. Both last year and this year, the Georgia Legislature has passed on the suspension of sales taxes on back-to-school supplies. Lawmakers blame the bad economy and need for tax revenue. Georgia state Rep. Debbie Buckner, D-Columbus, told her local paper, the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, "When we first started doing it, we were in a different financial situation. It's like you go all out one year at Christmas and buy a lot of things, but the next year when you don't have as much money, you cut back." Alabama's other neighbors -- Tennessee, Mississippi and Florida -- continued their sales tax holidays this year. -- Bob Davis Off-roading trails closed Bad news for dirt-sport enthusiasts this month, as the Doc Hilt Trails announced that the last weekend in July was its last weekend open. The privately-owned trail system in northern Clay County had operated for more than two years before succumbing to the poor economy. Owner Gannon Murphy announced the closing in a mass email and by posting a note on the Doc Hilt Trails' denuded website. There, he thanked volunteers who helped improve the off-road vehicle park expressed regret about the state of the economy. "The closing is simple math," Murphy wrote in an email response to an interview request. "Not enough coming in to justify expense and effort." -- Jason Bacaj Readers, customers, business owners -- if you spot trends, new products or new services being offered by area businesses, or if a special business-related event is coming up that you believe might have unique news value, please drop a line to [email protected]. Or reach assistant metro editor Tim Lockette at 256-235-3560. To see more of The Anniston Star or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.annistonstar.com/. Copyright (c) 2011, The Anniston Star, Ala. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]