CENTRAL AREA
DOWNTOWN L.A.
Booked Up: The downtown Los Angeles office of accounting firm KPMG LLP has been honored by the Family Literacy Support Network, an office of the Los Angeles County Office of Education. The KPMG branch was saluted for its Family for Literacy program, which raises funds to buy books, and runs reading events to benefit local schools and other groups.
Cleaning Up: Urban Life Cleaners, a dry-cleaning shop, will be opening in downtown Los Angeles. The store, at 421 S. Main St., will feature Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV and wall space for artwork by neighborhood artists.
LOS ANGELES
German Foothold: Variety, a trade publication for the show business industry, has announced the opening of a German office in Munich. James Davies will be in charge of the new outpost, which was established to cover German companies’ increased involvement in financing mainstream Hollywood movies.
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY
CHATSWORTH
On Track: Pentadyne Power Corp., a Chatsworth manufacturer of flywheel energy storage systems, has signed a supplier contract with the Metropolitan Transit Authority of New York. The authority will use Pentadyne as the supplier of a 2.4 megawatt energy recycling system that captures, stores and reuses the braking energy of trains.
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY
IRWINDALE
Industrial Deal: The Irwindale Community Redevelopment Agency has purchased an industrial property for about $3 million from a family trust. The tenant, American Medical Response, will continue to occupy the 2.8-acre property, at 5257 Vincent Ave.
WESTSIDE
WEST LOS ANGELES
Different Culture: Froplay, a self-serve frozen yogurt shop, has opened in West Los Angeles. Customers get a cup at the entrance to the store, at 11551 Santa Monica Blvd., and can then choose from 12 flavors.
BEVERLY HILLS
On the Move: Jewelry and specialty gift retailer David Orgell will be moving its flagship location to Two Rodeo, a retail area in Beverly Hills. David Orgell plans to move into the new space at 262 N. Rodeo Drive this winter. The retailer has been in its current location at 320 N. Rodeo Drive since 1959.
Symbol Change: Tomi Environmental Services Inc., a Beverly Hills provider of air quality services, has changed its trading symbol on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board to TOMZ. The company was previously trading as OZOM.
WESTWOOD
Fueled Up: Rentech Inc., a Westwood-based renewable fuel company, has signed a multiyear agreement to supply eight airlines at Los Angeles International Airport with 1.5 million gallons per year of renewable synthetic diesel for ground service equipment operations. The airlines are: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, UPS Airlines and US Airways. The deal will begin in 2012, when Rentech’s Rialto Renewable Energy Center plant is scheduled to come on line. (See story on page 5.)
MID-CITIES
POMONA
Hot Acquisition: Energy Efficiency Solar Inc., a Pomona-based installer of solar energy systems, has been targeted for acquisition by Acro Energy Technologies Corp., a Houston solar energy system installer. Under the letter of intent, Acro Energy will acquire all of the listed and outstanding common shares of EE Solar for a purchase price of $1.95 million.
SOUTH BAY
COMPTON
Staying Put: Crown Crafts Infant Products, an infant products importer in Compton, has signed a five-year lease extension with Sares-Regis Group in a deal valued at $4.5 million. The 157,400-square-foot warehouse is at 711 W. Walnut St.
Industrial Lease: National Retail Systems, a global logistics services provider in Compton, has renewed its lease with Sares-Regis Group in a 50-month deal valued at $2.5 million. The 100,000-square-foot space is at 425 W. Carob St.