In October 2019, the $5 billion entertainment complex and mega-mall American Dream opened in East Rutherford, New Jersey, after about two decades of planning.
Then, the pandemic hit. It reopened again in October 2020 at a time when most Americans had shifted to online shopping for a safer experience.
Now that vaccines are readily available, American Dream developer Paul Ghermezian and his team are hoping customers will look for that in-person experience that they missed throughout 2020. Not only does the mall boast stores at all price ranges, from Hermes to Zara, but it also is home to the DreamWorks Water Park, the Nickelodeon Universe theme park, and the Big Snow indoor ski slope, among other attractions. As the holiday shopping season gets in full swing, he's hoping people will stop by for gifts as well as to take advantage of the special events and deals American Dream will offer.
Spain's government has fined Airbnb 64 million euros or $75 million for advertising unlicensed tourist rentals. The consumer rights ministry announced the fine on Monday. The ministry stated that many listings lacked proper license numbers or included incorrect information. The move is part of Spain's ongoing efforts to regulate short-term rental companies amid a housing affordability crisis especially in popular urban areas. The ministry ordered Airbnb in May to remove around 65,000 listings for similar violations. The government's consumer rights minister emphasized the impact on families struggling with housing. Airbnb said it plans to challenge the fine in court.
Roomba maker iRobot has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, but says that it doesn’t expect any disruptions to devices as the more than 30-year-old company is taken private under a restructuring process. iRobot said that it is being acquired by Picea through a court-supervised process. Picea is the company's primary contract manufacturer. The Bedford, Massachusetts-based anticipates completing the prepackaged chapter 11 process by February.
Serbia’s prosecutor for organized crime has charged a government minister and three others with abuse of position and falsifying of documents related to a luxury real estate project linked to U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. The charges came on Monday. The investigation centers on a controversy over a a bombed-out military complex in central Belgrade that was a protected cultural heritage zone but that is facing redevelopment as a luxury compound by a company linked to Kushner. The $500 million proposal to build a high-rise hotel, offices and shops at the site has met fierce opposition from experts at home and abroad. Selakovic and others allegedly illegally lifted the protection status for the site by falsifying documentation.
Wealthfront’s CFO Alan Iberman talks the $2.05B IPO and the major moment for robo banking as the company bets on AI, automation, and “self-driving money."
