Business

South Lake Tahoe, Calif. - Its been eight months of scrubbing, painting and planning for Jody Filgo and Sallie Ross-Filgo as they took an old, run down donut shop at the "Y" in South Lake Tahoe and turned it into Rainbow Sprinkles. And now they are ready to serve some happiness.

"I can't wait until I can turn on the lights," said Sallie. The shop will be opening in South Lake Tahoe this Saturday, January 21 at 6:00 a.m.

One of the most popular and dynamic business events of the year will be held on Friday, March 31 at Harvey's Lake Tahoe from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce (Tahoe Chamber) has now opened the 2017 Business Expo booth registration.

The following 37 businesses took out licenses with the City of South Lake Tahoe in the month of November, 2016.

11/03/2016
BIJOU CREATIVE - JAGACIEWSKI DANIEL
CONFORTI PLUMBING INC - CONFORTI PLUMBING INC
KEN WAGNER CONSULTING - WAGNER KEN
LAKE TAHOE WOW - SKIBUM FAMILY INC

11/04/2016
AMBLER CONSTRUCTION - AMBLER MICHAEL
MICHAEL HARRIS RIDE SHARE - HARRIS MICHAEL

11/07/2016
BURKE WILLIAMS AND SORENSEN LLP - BURKE WILLIAMS AND SORENSEN LLP
ENGEL INSULATION INC - ENGEL INSULATION INC

While many locals have probably never used the pool at MontBleu, guests of the South Shore casino hotel are being treated to the first major renovation at the pool in over 30 years.

The pool's signature rock waterfall is gone, something that was deteriorating after then of thousands of timed falling water displays, In its place is a small lazy river, popular with the younger set due to its four-foot depth.

What many knew as Passaretti's for over 30 years in South Lake Tahoe has been transformed into "The Lake House," not only a fine dining restaurant in a beautiful, extensively remodeled place, but also home to Lake Tahoe Catering.

Aiming for a goal of understated perfection, new owners Jeff and Misty Sparrow created an ambiance of concrete and chandeliers, wood and art, all in an attempt to bridge the gap between fancy and casual.

Enjoy the beauty of Christmas lights but hate the hassle of untangling cords, climbing ladders and replacing bulbs? A new Lake Tahoe business is in town to relieve you of those duties, and they store them until next year too!

Tahoe Lights is the brainchild of Savannah Jackson. She had five successful seasons in Mammoth Lakes and wanted to expand her magic to the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Weekly wages in Nevada averaged $874 during the second quarter of 2016, up from $854 a year ago, which equates to a gain of 2.3 percent, according to figures released Monday by the state's Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.

“Weekly wages are at a record high and have grown at least 2 percent in four of the past five quarters,” said Tim Wilcox, an economist with the Research and Analysis Bureau for the state's employment agency. “Wages have been trending up since 2011, albeit at a modest pace.”

What were once three separate South Lake Tahoe motels have merged into one new lodging property, the Hotel Becket.

The San Francisco hotel chain Joie de Vivre merged the Park Tahoe and 968 Park motels into their first location in Lake Tahoe. Located at the corner of Highway 50 and Park Avenue in South Lake Tahoe, Hotel Becket was originally two Travelodge motels and one Day's Inn. Several years ago the Travelodges merged into the Park Tahoe and the Day's Inn became 968 Park.

Hotel Becket is named from the "becket knot," a nautical term for tying two ropes into one.

As the traditional giving season approaches, there is one important item to add to your to do list: Create a holiday budget. Before the gift shopping and wrapping begins, take control of your wallet through financial preparation. Remember, you can avoid the credit card crunch and the dangerous pitfall of borrowing against your company's retirement savings plan or IRAs.

Here's how to establish a holiday wish list and spending budget:

A new federal law goes into effect on December 1 that entitles salaried employees to get overtime pay if they make less than $47,476 per year. To help people understand this change they are holding a lunchtime workshop on Wednesday, November 16 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Tahoe Mountain Lab.

According to the White House, an estimated 4.2 million white collar workers will become entitled to overtime pay when they work extra hours as a result of the new rule, and wages for workers will increase by $12 billion over the next 10 years.

Ever find yourself spending a day on the slopes when you wish you could get a quick work task completed, then get back to skiing or boarding? That wish will be a reality this winter as Tahoe Mountain Lab and Vail Resorts have developed a first of its kind coworking space at Heavenly Mountain's Lakeview Lodge.

Starting in December, the on-mountain solution will open for people that need to hammer out a few hours of work but would still like to enjoy a day on the slopes.

The Tahoe Mountain Lab founders were honored Thursday for their creation of a unique business that promotes the expansion of opportunities in the South Lake Tahoe community.

The following 54 businesses took out business licenses with the City of South Lake Tahoe during the month of August:

08/01/2016 - AIR & LUBE SYSTEMS INC
08/02/2016 - MORRIS MASONRY
08/03/2016 - BEN SAVELLI RIDESHARE
08/03/2016 - MICHAEL KULIGOWSKI RIDESHARE
08/03/2016 - SLT DETAILED HOUSEKEEPING
08/04/2016 - JOHN MCCOLLUM RIDESHARE
08/04/2016 - ROSE MARIE GRAPINET SKINCARE
08/04/2016 - SABRINA SORENSON RIDESHARE
08/05/2016 - GRUPE FAMILY
08/08/2016 - DYNAMIC MOVEMENT THERAPEUTICS
08/09/2016 - JASON HOWARDS HANDYMAN SERVICE
08/09/2016 - NATURES GARDENER

Kmart is closing 64 stores across 28 states.

Sears Holdings, which owns Sears and Kmart, informed Kmart employees of the closures on Friday, according to several local news reports and multiple employees who spoke with Business Insider.

The stores that are closing will begin liquidation sales on September 22 and close by mid-December, employees said.

Here's a full list of stores that will close in December, according to employees:

Kmart #3044: Lawton, OK
Kmart #3180: Merrillville, IN
Kmart #3241: Springfield, IL
Kmart #3320: Houma, LA
Kmart #3328: New Lenox, IL

The top agents for Lake Tahoe's Chase International were recently announced during a gathering at the historic Thunderbird Lodge.

For the second quarter, April 1 through June 30, Mike Dunn earned the accolade of top agent in Lake Tahoe. Dunn also led all other agents in sales volume sold (a total of $10.6 million). Trinkie Watson was named top agent in listing volume, while Brent Johnson and Alison Elder tied for agents listing the most units on the lake. Clif Chase was the listing agent with the most volume sold and Johnson was the top sales and listing agent in units sold.

Views are a given when in South Lake Tahoe, but being able to combine dining, drinking with mountains, blue sky and airplanes is a treat that the new Flight Deck Sports Bar & Grill at the Lake Tahoe Airport is hoping to highlight.

"Getting people out to the airport is a goal," said new co-owner Tina Shannon. "The beauty and the sunsets out here are amazing."

Tina, who along with husband Mike have reopened the Flight Deck, which shares the airport with the government center for South Lake Tahoe. They opened on June 22 and celebrated a grand opening on Wednesday.

South Lake Tahoe natives Nicole Riegel Smith and Chris Smith have returned to their hometown, this time as college graduates with an expertise in brewing beer and a desire to open a new business on the South Shore.

Plans have been submitted and the work will soon begin on the Smith's venture. South Lake Brewing Company. They have signed the lease for the long vacant Ace Hardware building on the corner of Tata Lane and Lake Tahoe Blvd.

Pier 1 is out of their location in South Lake Tahoe, and Goodwill Industries is heading in now that escrow has closed on the building at 1069 Emerald Bay Road. Goodwill will be celebrating the opening their 27th Northern Nevada/Sacramento area location with a four-day grand opening starting July 21 at 8:00 a.m.

Karen McClaflin, the Chief Development Officer for Goodwill Sacramento Valley & Northern Nevada, told South Tahoe Now that that the company has been actively engaged for the past seven years looking for a store and community training center in the Tahoe Basin.

Las Vegas based Diamond Resorts International Inc said it agreed to be bought by private equity firm Apollo Global Management LLC for about $2.2 billion.

Apollo Global's offer of $30.25 per share in cash represents a premium of about 26 percent to Diamond Resorts' closing stock price on Tuesday. Shares of Diamond rose to $30.00 in morning trading, just shy of the offer price.

The deal follows a series of mergers in the hospitality industry this year.

Nothing is normal about the new Coachman Hotel in South Lake Tahoe, and that suites management just fine.

Gone is the stuffy front desk. Gone are plastic outdoor furniture and generic beds. What takes their place are locally made wooden furniture, fire pits, a bar that doubles as the check-in counter, and books, games and s'mores to make guests feel like they're just hanging out in someone's home.

The owners of Jamba Juice in South Lake Tahoe will have a celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony at their newly remodeled store on June 16 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Abra Teague, owner of Jamba Juice since January 2011, has seen a year on year increase of customers as visitors flock to enjoy the natural beauty and outdoor activities that South Lake Tahoe has to offer.

Discover techniques and phrases that make your customers feel valued; manage difficult situations more effectively; and learn how to turn customers into raving fans. With these skills, turn your business into a powerhouse of repeat custom, or elevate your career with the highest level of customer service standards.

Anne Marie Smith, Business Coach Coordinator will be leading the class for both Chamber members and non-members. Cost of the 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. program is $20 for members, $40 for non.

Get ready for some sunshine and happiness at the "Y" area of South Lake Tahoe. Rainbow Sprinkles Donuts and Frozen Yogurt is coming this summer, and locals and visitors alike are in for a treat.

Jody Filgo and Sallie Ross-Filgo have been planning their dream for a long time, and now they have the space to do it, the old donut shop next to Raley's.

They got the keys on Tuesday and popped the sign up in the window, letting people know what is coming.

While the official grand opening isn't until May 26, the doors have opened and office spaces are filling up at the new Tahoe Mountain Lab in South Lake Tahoe. What was once the Tahoe Daily Tribune offices on Lake Tahoe Blvd. is now home to 24 private offices, shared work spaces, tables and desks as well as the local paper's new office.