News roundup: Denham Springs Smoothie King takes top honors nationally once again … Louisiana's state tax holiday next week … Clarke named president/COO of The Camelot Club

Published Jul 25, 2012 at 10:00 am (Updated Jul 25, 2012)

Smooth moves: The Smoothie King at 1122 S. Range Ave. in Denham Springs is officially known within the franchise as "store #346," but they might as well change it to No. 1. The store, which was Smoothie King's "Franchise of the Year" four years in a row between 2005 and 2008, was recently named the franchise's "Store of the Year"—and it's not the first time the store has received the award. That's a high honor considering there are more than 600 Smoothie Kings operating in 32 states, the Cayman Islands and the Republic of Korea. The store is owned by Stephanie and Roger Wilder, and J. T. Davidson.

A penny saved: Louisiana's forthcoming two-day state sales tax holiday is aimed at helping small businesses recover from the recession. On Friday and Saturday, Aug. 3-4, shoppers can make purchases free of the 4% state sales tax. The exemption applies to the first $2,500 of the purchase price of each eligible item. Local sales taxes will apply unless the local taxing authority allows its own exemption. The state tax holiday does not apply to vehicles, meals, admission to events and taxable services such as hotel occupancy or rentals. For complete details, click here.

In the club: Michael Clarke has been named president/COO of The Camelot Club. Clarke was the club's general manager in the early 1990s, when it was owned by Club Corporation of America. The club is now owned by Tom Tanner of Baton Rouge. "The Camelot Club was my first experience in Louisiana. It feels like coming home," says Clarke, who has more than 30 years of private club management.