Restaurant industry same-store sales increased 3.3% in May, and margins reached a 12-month high, according to the latest MillerPulse survey. Traffic at casual-dining chains, however, fell 2.3%, the segment’s worst performance since April 2014. Consumers apparently shifted spending to limited-service restaurants.

Blaze, a new pizza chain endorsed by LeBron James, among others, is combining Chipotle-style casual dining with delivery. As it plans it go nationwide, it sees putting some market share pain on chains like Domino's, Papa John's and Pizza Hut. The chain, which opened 50 stores last year in some major markets, plans to have 500 locations by 2020.

American Apparel, which had $340 million in net losses over the past five years, dragged down by scandals around CEO Dov Charney, hopes to get its power back. Paula Schneider, hired as CEO of the Los Angeles-based clothing company in January, says she wants the retailer to go from "chaotic to iconic," according to the presentation, as well as change its frequently criticized marketing efforts from "nudity and blatant sexual innuendo" to "confident and naturally beautiful." It also wants to improve its product assortment and broaden overseas expansion.

After a two-year delay, Tesla finally plans to bring its much-anticipated second product line, the Model X battery-electric SUV, to market within the next three to four months. The California-based manufacturer also expects to start offering its new auto-pilot, a semi-autonomous driving system, in the coming months, said CEO Elon Musk during Tesla’s annual shareholder’s meeting. On the rocket front, he is predicting a time when launches to Mars become relatively routine, possibly by the SpaceX private rocket company he also controls.

Kohl’s announced a series of organizational changes on Thursday, including the promotion of Michelle Gass to the newly created principal officer position of chief merchandising and customer officer. Gass joined Kohl’s in 2013 as chief customer officer from Starbucks, where she is credited with playing a key role in the coffee giant’s turnaround  several years back. The company is also on the hunt for a new COO. Gass will have oversight for all of Kohl's merchandising, planning and allocation, and product development functions. 

New York City's Department of Health is expected to propose that restaurant chains label menu items that are high in sodium. That would make the Big (salt-free) Apple the first U.S. city to require sodium warning labels on menus. Restaurant chains would be required to add a salt shaker symbol on menus next to entries for items that more than the daily limit of 2,300 milligrams, or about a teaspoon, of sodium.

Wal-Mart Stores will open a new Neighborhood Market store near its Bentonville, Ark., headquarters reflecting a new push for fresh foods, per officials. The new store will feature an expansion of the deli department, including a pizza oven, and new offerings in bakery including custom cake decorating.

Taco Bell features a "Millennial Word of the Week" at its headquarters as a reminder of how the chain's biggest fan base communicates. Niccol said the words are "curated" by a group of employees in their 20s who send out an email every Tuesday or Wednesday. The company says its success has been driven by the time it spends understanding what makes its customers tick.

Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler AG, auto supplier Bosch, and the car-sharing service Car2go are working on a valet system that could turn your car into a self-parking automaton: you simply step out under the awning, tap an app on your smartphone and the car goes off on its own to find a parking spot. At the end of the day, tap the app again and your car will come pick you up.

The NBA said it has expanded its relationship with the Walt Disney Co. to develop “The NBA Experience at Walt Disney World Resort.” It will be part of Disney Springs in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The NBA said the destination would feature “hands-on activities” that put visitors “in the middle of NBA game action.” There will be video productions, interactive experiences, a restaurant and (of course) a retail store.