Jersey Mike’s IPO, summer hiring, Vegas dining
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July 6, 2026
Jersey Mike’s is officially going public. The fast-casual sandwich chain filed documents with federal regulators for a $100 million IPO. The offering comes less than two years after the company was sold to the private-equity firm Blackstone. Jersey Mike’s plans to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange and will use the funds to pay off debt and for other corporate purposes. The offering could also end up the largest such offering in restaurant industry history, at least until Dunkin’ owner Inspire Brands goes public, which is expected later this year.
So much for a boost in summer hiring. Restaurants and bars cut 33,000 jobs last month, according to labor department data released on Thursday. But the department also revised downward May’s jobs numbers by more than 10,000, more than wiping out the year’s jobs gains. The industry has cut more than 19,000 jobs so far this year, continuing a pattern of low growth over the past three years. Since 2022, restaurants have created jobs at about a third of the rate that they did before the pandemic. The lack of restaurant hiring led to a weaker-than-expected jobs report in which the economy added just 57,000 jobs.
Elizabeth Blau is largely credited with transforming the Las Vegas restaurant scene, turning the city into a world-class dining destination. But she claims it was a combination of luck, connections, ambition, and opportunity that led her to Steve Wynn and her development of the Bellagio restaurants. Steve’s wife, Elaine, was also an influential mentor and “second mom,” showing her the importance of women’s leadership and philanthropy. Now Blau runs her own restaurant development company with her husband, Chef Kim Canteenwalla. Read all about her latest projects and how she’s paying it forward.
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About the Authors
Leigh Anne Zinsmeister
Managing Editor
Leigh Anne Zinsmeister is a managing editor for Informa’s Foodservice Media, with brands including Nation’s Restaurant News, Restaurant Business, and Foodservice Director. Leigh Anne works on all of the brands’ special reports, including Nation’s Restaurant News’ annual Technomic Top 500 report. She also manages the group’s digital engagement team.
Leigh Anne lives in New York City, but also claims Phoenix, Dallas and Cleveland as hometowns. Leigh Anne holds a bachelor’s degree in print journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, where she also studied European history.
Email Leigh Anne at [email protected]
Leigh Anne Zinsmeister’s experience:
Group Managing Editor, Foodservice Media (June 2026-present)
Group Managing Editor, Informa’s Foodservices Vertical (Aug. 2021-June 2026)
Group Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (Feb. 2020-Aug. 2021)
Digital Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (April 2018-Feb. 2020)
Digital Content Producer, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (June 2016-April 2018)
Community Moderator, Mail Online (March 2014-June 2016)
Wire Editor, Gannett’s Phoenix Design studio (The Arizona Republic, The Reno Gazette-Journal, The Statesman Journal, The Great Falls Tribune, The Visalia Times-Delta, The Tulare Advance Register, The Salinas Californian, The St. George Spectrum, The Desert Sun, The Coloradoan) (Jan. 2012-March 2014)
Group Managing Editor, Foodservice Media (June 2026-present)
Group Managing Editor, Informa’s Foodservices Vertical (Aug. 2021-June 2026)
Group Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (Feb. 2020-Aug. 2021)
Digital Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (April 2018-Feb. 2020)
Digital Content Producer, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (June 2016-April 2018)
Community Moderator, Mail Online (March 2014-June 2016)
Wire Editor, Gannett’s Phoenix Design studio (The Arizona Republic, The Reno Gazette-Journal, The Statesman Journal, The Great Falls Tribune, The Visalia Times-Delta, The Tulare Advance Register, The Salinas Californian, The St. George Spectrum, The Desert Sun, The Coloradoan) (Jan. 2012-March 2014)
Lisa Jennings
Executive Editor, Restaurant Business
Lisa Jennings is a veteran restaurant industry reporter and editor who covers the fast-casual sector, independent restaurants and emerging chain concepts. Her experience includes other industry publications as well as the daily newspaper The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tenn., where she was Food Editor. Her work has been cited in the Los Angeles Times, Business Insider, FoodBeast, The Huffington Post, Time.com and more.
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Source: This story originated with Nation's Restaurant News.
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