Marriott Vacation Club International operates about 50 time-share resort properties with one-, two-, and three bedroom villas in prime vacation destinations in the US and about five other countries. The villas are jointly owned by more than 390,000 people who have exclusive use of the properties for limited periods of time. Owners can also trade their intervals for time at other Marriott Vacation Club resorts, or for other rewards programs. A division of hotel giant Marriott International, many of the resorts are located near Marriott hotels.

This company is looking to make a strike in the recreation business. Bowl America owns and operates about 20 bowling centers in four markets, including the Baltimore-Washington, DC, area; Jacksonville and Orlando, Florida; and Richmond, Virginia. The bowling centers offer a total of more than 750 lanes for both league and non-league bowling, as well as Cosmic Bowling (with glow-in-the-dark balls and laser light shows) for younger patrons. The centers also feature game rooms, food and beverage services, and other amenities. President Leslie Goldberg and his sister Merle Fabian together own more than 50% of Bowl America.

Gresham Hotel Group, formerly Ryan Hotel Group, was founded in 1949 by Dermot Ryan. It was purchased and taken private in 2004 by Precinct Investments. European business travelers looking for a posh pillow to plump might be familiar with Gresham Hotels. The company has five upscale properties in Europe that cater to business travelers. Gresham Hotels' properties are located in the city centers of Brussels; Cork, Ireland; Dublin; Hamburg, Germany; and London. The company gets its name from its flagship hotel located on Dublin's O'Connell Street.

Restaurants-America Consulting Group is a multi-concept restaurant operator with about 20 locations encompassing half a dozen dining brands. Its primary concepts include Red Star Tavern, a contemporary grill featuring upscale burgers, sandwiches, and cocktails, and The Grillroom Chophouse & Winebar, a modern take on the steakhouse. Other bar and restaurants brands include Bluepoint, One North, Primebar, and Townhouse. Restaurants-America Consulting Group, Inc. has restaurants more than half a dozen states, mostly in Illinois and Florida. Partners Roger Greenfield and Ted Kasemir started developing restaurants together in 1990. In 2010 Restaurants-America Consulting Group sold its flagship Bar Louie chain to Sun Capital.

Middlesbrough Football & Athletic Company Holdings owns and operates UK soccer team Middlesbrough Football Club. Known to supporters as The Boro, the team was started in 1876 and plays host at Riverside Stadium. The company generates revenue primarily through ticket sales, broadcasting rights fees, and the sale of merchandise. Middlesbrough Football & Athletic Company is controlled by self-made millionaire Steve Gibson.

Sticky Ribhouse operates about 20 Sticky Fingers barbecue restaurants mostly in South Carolina, but also in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Florida. The eateries offer a variety of barbecue chicken and pork ribs, along with sandwiches and side dishes. In addition to its restaurants, the company bottles its barbecue sauces for sale at leading supermarket chains and it ships selected menu items anywhere in the US. Partners and childhood friends Todd Eischeid, Jeff Goldstein, and Chad Walldorf opened the first Sticky Fingers outlet in 1992.

Welcome to the Starbucks antidote: Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate. The family-owned company serves up such treats as muffins, biscuits, meringues, pastries, fruit tarts, and scones at its Bettys Café Tea Rooms. The six-chain teashop opened its first location in 1919. Today it serves tea, cakes, chocolates -- and yes -- coffee. The company's teas and coffees are sold under the Yorkshire Tea and Taylors of Harrogate brands. Bettys & Taylors also teaches cooking classes and sells its confections online. Jonathan Wild, great-nephew of one of the company's founders, is chairman of Bettys & Taylors, which adopted its current name in the early 1960s when "friendly rivals" Taylors and Bettys joined forces.

Lady of America Franchise Corporation company franchises about 300 fitness clubs in 45 states across the US and about ten foreign countries. Lady of America offers members a workout alternative to the co-ed gym at its Lady of America and LOA Fitness for Women full-service gyms, or the smaller Ladies Workout Express, which is designed to get its members in and out in less than 30 minutes. The company allows men at its Workout Express and Health Clubs of America locations. Lady of America was founded in 1984 by Roger Wittenberns; it began franchising in 1989.

When Mom wants a salad, Dad craves fried chicken, and little Johnny is screaming for enchiladas, what's an all-American family to do? A simple trip to the cafeteria line at Luby's may do the trick. Luby's owns and operates about 95 cafeteria-style restaurants that offer dozens of different entrees, salads, vegetable dishes, and desserts. The chain's menu is heavy on such comfort foods as mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and fried chicken. Nearly all of the restaurants are found in Texas; Luby's has a small number of eateries in three other states. In addition to its core restaurant business, Luby's offers contract foodservices to a small number of clients in the health care and education industries.

Boston sports fans don't need St. Patrick to draw them to the TD Garden (formerly TD Banknorth Garden). Built in 1995 as a replacement for the revered but aging Boston Garden, the TD Garden serves as the home for the NBA's Boston Celtics and the NHL's Boston Bruins. The $160 million, 755,000 square-foot arena boasts a maximum capacity of about 19,600 seats, three full-service restaurants, 90 executive suites, and 1,100 club seats. In addition to sporting events, the arena also hosts concerts and other events among its 200 annual bookings. TD Garden is owned by concessions company Delaware North Companies, which is controlled by Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs.

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