NewsFeeds 11.18.09

Chester company buys 172 Exxon stations (Times-Dispatch)
Chester-based Southside Oil LLC has bought 172 Exxon retail gasoline stations, mainly in Maryland, more than doubling the company’s retail operations.

U.S. Foodservice to close 206-worker warehouse in Beach (Virginian-Pilot)
U.S. Foodservice Inc., a major distributor of food and supplies to restaurants and institutions, said Tuesday it will close its Virginia Beach operations by the end of January as it consolidates some of its facilities.

UVa board OKs dorms demolition (Daily Progress)
The University of Virginia’s Board of Visitors on Tuesday approved the demolition of three 1960s-era dorms to make way for construction of a modern residence hall and an adjacent outdoor recreation area.

Union says Verizon laying off 1,000 (USA Today)
The largest union for Verizon Communications workers said the phone company is laying off more than 1,000 employees in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

Retailer Earnings Show Stabilization (NY Times)
Some of the nation’s largest retailers, discount and luxury chains alike, posted better- than-expected earnings on Tuesday and said they were seeing signs of broader stabilization.

Giving Employees a Share (WSJ)
Forming an employee stock-ownership plan, or ESOP, isn’t for everyone. However if you’re looking for a tax-advantaged way to exit your business, consider giving employees a share. Here’s how:

The Most Shoplifted Items of 2009 (TheStreet.com)
Since we are all essentially picking up the tab for many of these items, we might as well see what we’ve bought. Here are some of the most shoplifted items of the past year. Some will undoubtedly surprise you.