Save-A-Lot food store to close in Waianae

Fourteen people will lose their jobs when Waianae-based Save-A-Lot food closes its doors around the middle of next month, according to a notice filed with the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations yesterday.

The store's owner, Washington state-based Omni Foods Inc., notified the state of its intention to close the store on or around July 10. Company officials could not be reached for comment, but said in their notification that financial conditions necessitated the closing.

Kaneohe office building placed on the market

A four-story office building in Kaneohe is for sale at an asking price of $2.8 million, including its half-acre of fee-simple land.

The building once housed the American Savings Bank Kaneohe branch, which has moved several blocks along Kamehameha Highway. Officially, the building is the Kaneohe Bay Plaza. It is on the corner of William Henry Road and Kamehameha, on the makai side of Kaneohe's main street and not far from Windward Mall.

Agent Douglas Pothul, vice president of the real estate firm Colliers Monroe Friedlander, said the property has 28,380 square feet of office space and a parking structure of 8,760 square feet. Details can be seen on his company's Web site, www.windwardoffice.com.

Pothul said the seller is a trust set up for a family that includes attorney Jan Sullivan, a former director of the city Department of Planning and Permitting.

Business help is at hand for Oahu entrepreneurs

Minority business owners and prospective entrepreneurs who are interested in establishing themselves on Oahu can attend an orientation session presented by The Minority Business Development Center of Honolulu.

The sessions provide business owners with information about center services such as developing a business or marketing plan, loan applications, employee handbook development, coaching and training opportunities, access to capital and strategic partners.

The free sessions will take place at the center's offices every Tuesday from 9 a.m. till 10:30 am. For more information, call the center at 521-6221 or e-mail info@mbdc-honolulu.com.

Hospitality expo booths are booking up for July

More than 300 vendors have reserved 520 exhibit booths for the eighth annual Hawaii Lodging, Hospitality & Foodservice Expo, scheduled for July 10-11 at Blaisdell Center.

The expo is produced by Douglas Trade Shows in cooperation with Hawaii Hotel Association and Hawaii Restaurant Association. Co-sponsors include American Express, HMAA, HFM Foodservice and Gebco. More than 4,600 hospitality industry buyers attended last year's expo.

For more information, call Douglas Trade Shows at (800) 525-5275 or visit www.douglastradeshows.com.