Beloved Food Icon Dies | New Tax | $1M Vacation Time Payout On Taxpayers: CA Business News

CALIFORNIA — This week in California business news: There's pushback in over a proposed minimum wage of $30 for some workers; Gov. Gavin Newsom is blaming President Donald Trump for a decline in Mexican and Canadian tourists; and the man behind 25 different California restaurants has died.

Additionally, robot burger flippers are already among us, cooking up sliders at several California restaurants.

But before getting to the biggest business stories in the Golden State, here are some of the best consumer deals of the week:

Freebies, Deals And Steals

• There's loads of Cinco de Mayo promotions set for Monday. Ar Chipotle, guests can get free chips and queso blanco, free delivery and, as part of a game launch, a chance to win a free entrée. The chain has full details on its website.
• In celebration of National Nurses Week and Teacher Appreciation Week, nurses and teachers can get a free appetizer with the purchase of any entree through May 10 at Applebees locations owned by the Flynn Group, which includes restaurants across California.

Check out this week's top headlines for California business news on Patch:

• Beloved Food Icon Dies: Bob Morris Founded 25 CA Restaurants
• Robots Are Making Hamburgers At These CA Restaurants
• Bay Area Homes Flood The Market But People Aren't Biting
• Plan For $30 Tourism Minimum Wage Draws Resistance
• This CA City Is Taxing Soda — Despite A Statewide Ban On Sugar Taxes
• CA Tourism From Canada And Mexico Down; Newsom Blames Trump
• 12 Parakeets Hidden, Tied Up In Smuggling Attempt At Border
• Welcome To The First Fire-Resistant Neighborhood. Now What About The Rest Of California?
• CA Chocolatiers Worried As Potential Tariffs Could Add To Surging Cocoa Prices
• CA Prison Dentist Gets $1.2M Payout From State For Unused Vacation Time

The Bottom Line

• McDonald's is facing the worst sales decline in the U.S. since 2020, when the pandemic forced many locations to close. In its quarterly earnings call, the company reported double-digit drops in traffic from consumers earning $45,000 per year or less dropped by double digits, and similar declines from middle-income guests. Only those making $100,000 or more continued to come through McDonald's drive thru regularly.
• Legal weed is about to get more expensive. California's cannabis excise tax will increase by 26% in July as part of an aim by Newsom to offset declining tax revenues in the legal cannabis market. Industry leaders are warning that the hike could drive more consumers to the untaxed illicit market.

More Restaurant News

Pleasanton Wine Stroll Tickets For Sale

Enjoy local wines, live music, and bites from local restaurants in downtown Pleasanton.

VR Car Racing, New Restaurant Open In San Ramon

Dumpling Time is closed at City Center, but two new businesses are opening up soon.

Auteur Wines Unveils New Russian River Tasting Space

The duo behind the winery, famous for its pinot noir, welcome visitors to their new immersive space, where vineyards meet redwoods.

CA 'Winery Of The Year' Awarded To Temecula Winery-Resort

California State Fair announced the Golden State Winery of the Year for 2025 as one of Temecula's own.

UC Riverside's Getaway Cafe Closes After Nearly 3 Decades

Citing post-COVID woes and a dispute with the university, the iconic student haunt is closing down, despite a campaign to save it.

Global Gelato Brand To Open Storefront In Irvine

The Friday event features free gelato scoops, exclusive Gelatissimo swag and the chance to make a difference for local people in need.

More Retail News

Gourmet Dog Food Store Opens In Bay Area

Just Food For Dogs opened a new pantry that offers a variety of fresh, gourmet meals for dogs.

24 Hour Fitness To Reopen San Gabriel Valley Location After Renovation

The gym is debuting new features with its grand reopening, including new amenities designed to help post-workout recovery.

UPS To Cut 20K Jobs, Close Over 70 Facilities

The company operates hundreds of stores in California

Rite Aid Store In Wildomar Permanently Closing

Many Rite Aid customers saw the writing on the wall, but some were hopeful.

More Business News

Elon Musk's Future With Tesla Unclear

Musk defends his work with DOGE as he prepares to wind down his role.

San Leandro Celebrates Small Business Week With Free Workshops

The City is partnering with San Leandro Chamber of Commerce to offer free events supporting local entrepreneurs during Small Business Week.

Southern California Metrolink Train Ridership Sets New Record

Weekend ridership on Metrolink trains was higher than ever last month.

Trump Executive Order To Impact 95 CA TV And Radio Stations

Government funding for media is "outdated and unnecessary," an executive order signed by President Donald Trump says.

New Lakers Star To Cover The Restoration Cost Of Vandalized Kobe Mural

"Kobe is L.A.," said the recently acquired Lakers star Luka Doncic.

These CA Colleges Rank Best In US At Setting Up Grads For Big Paycheck

Of the top 20 schools ranked nationally, five are located right here in the Golden State.

NorCal Student Creates Interactive Environmental App

Soha Guller created the "Climate Challenge" app, which provides games and trivia related to environmentalism.

These Are CA's Safest Hospitals, New Ranking Says

More than 120 California hospitals earned an "A" grade in the newest rankings, but dozens more didn't earn passing grades.

Biden Let California Get Creative With Medicaid Spending. Trump Is Signaling That May End

California uses Medicaid to pay for a range of nontraditional health care services, including housing. Trump wants to scale back.

LA County Fair Opens With Theme of 'Art Unleashed'

The Getty, Music Center, LA Opera, the Center Theater Group, and the LA County Museum of Art join to put art center stage at the fair.

These Are CA's Top Eco-Friendly Cities For Car-Free Transit

California has some of the best cities for walking, biking and commuting without a car, according to a new report.

LA Seeks To Aid Film Industry Amid Economic Struggles

The City Council on Tuesday advanced a package of proposals meant to support film production in the city.

Court Rules Against Apple In Antitrust Case

Apple was held in contempt of court.

Former SoCal Mayor, Developer Accused Of Corruption

A hearing is set for the case against former Mayor Steve Pougnet and a real estate developer, alleging decade-old land development schemes.

LA County Workers End 48-Hour Strike

The 55,000-person Los Angeles County worker strike was intended to protest what the union called unfair labor practices.

‘A Ghost Town': How Bodega Bay Is Adapting To The Ailing Seafood Industry

Collapsing salmon runs and restrictions on Dungeness crab have forced restaurants, charter boats and commercial fishers to adapt.

Dublin Student Nonprofit Helps Clean Beaches Around Bay, Ghana

REEFlect, founded by Dublin High School students, is organizing beach cleanups, creating open-source marine technology, and more.

LA To Go After SoCal Edison Over January Wildfire

The Jan. 7 Hurst Fire in Sylmar appeared to have originated in an area where SoCal Edison has a transmission tower, according to the city.

Benicia Community Coming To Grips With Valero's Decision To Potentially Close Refinery

Valero is offering many of the employees jobs elsewhere, but Felsoci is concerned with the push towards green energy.

Bay Area App Uses AI To Help People With Early Detection Of ALS Symptoms

"I wish I didn't have to think about this," Mindy Uhrlaub said. "But at the same time, I try not to let it consume my life."

Marin County Spring Fling Event Offers Music, Food and Fun

This event will help support chamber of commerce programs and initiatives.