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Iconic Thrifty Ice Cream Chain Shuts 500 Stores Leaving Fans Heartbroken

Once a beloved West Coast staple, Thrifty Ice Cream is closing all its Rite Aid scoop counters as part of a massive bankruptcy fallout, putting its future in serious doubt.

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Thrifty Ice Cream’s signature square scoops are disappearing from Rite Aid stores as 500 locations shut down due to bankruptcy. ( Source:

In a heartbreaking blow to ice cream lovers across the U.S., Thrifty Ice Cream, the beloved brand famous for its square scoops and nostalgic counters, is closing 500 locations inside Rite Aid stores. The closures come as a direct result of Rite Aid’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, signaling the end of an era for this iconic chain — and potentially the brand itself.

Thrifty Ice Cream began in 1940 in West Hollywood, California, and quickly earned a cult following. Its creamy, affordable ice cream was a highlight of Rite Aid pharmacy visits for generations, especially on the West Coast. Known for flavor innovation and its signature cylindrical scoop, Thrifty has served up everything from classic vanilla to quirky concoctions like Bacon & Cheddar and Sriracha Swirl.

But despite decades of popularity, Thrifty is now caught in the crossfire of Rite Aid’s financial collapse. All 500 in-store scoop counters will be permanently closed, as these locations are integrated within Rite Aid pharmacies and cannot be sold separately. For fans who have fond memories of grabbing a cone after picking up prescriptions, this news feels like the loss of a local treasure.

Thankfully, not all hope is lost. Thrifty Ice Cream is still available in the freezer sections of major grocery retailers like Albertsons, Vons, and others — and a handful of independent franchise counters continue to operate in California, Arizona, and parts of Mexico. The ice cream itself may also survive under new ownership. As part of Rite Aid’s bankruptcy, Thrifty’s manufacturing plant and brand rights are up for sale. A buyer could choose to preserve the brand, supply retail stores, or even reintroduce scoop shops independently.

Still, the brand’s future remains uncertain.

“Thrifty was never just about ice cream — it was a memory-maker,” one longtime fan commented on social media. “It’s where I took my kids after school and where my parents took me decades ago. This really hurts.”

Industry experts note that while Thrifty has strong brand recognition, its survival hinges on whether a strategic buyer steps in with a plan to revitalize and expand its presence beyond Rite Aid.

Until then, fans are left with only memories of those uniquely shaped scoops served with a smile — a sweet chapter of Americana melting away far too soon.

Technology News

Inside the Mind of the Man Who Trusts Dogs to Lead Movies

From AI labs to film sets, BARK innovation chief Mikkel Holm has a radical idea — what if dogs weren’t just stars, but storytellers?

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Meet the Man Who Thinks Dogs Should Be Film Directors | Daily Global Diary

In an era where artificial intelligence is already writing scripts, composing music, and generating entire films, one creative mind is asking a question that feels equal parts absurd and oddly profound: Why shouldn’t dogs be directors?

That mind belongs to Mikkel Holm, the Chief AI & Innovation Officer at BARK, the pet brand best known for turning dog culture into a billion-dollar business. Holm isn’t pitching a gimmick. He’s questioning how creativity itself is defined — and who gets to own it.

From Fetch to Final Cut

Holm’s thinking sits at the crossroads of AI, storytelling, and animal behavior. With generative tools becoming more intuitive, he believes creativity no longer needs to start with a human idea. A dog’s reactions — what excites them, what scares them, what keeps their attention — could become the raw data that shapes narratives.

“Dogs already tell us what they like,” Holm has suggested in industry conversations. “We just haven’t been listening in a cinematic way.”

ALSO READ : Younghoe Koo Explains Botched Field Goal After Slip: “The Ball Was Moving So I Pulled Up”

Using sensors, computer vision, and behavioral AI models, a dog’s gaze, movement, or excitement could guide editing decisions, pacing, or even story arcs. The result wouldn’t be about dogs — it would be cinema filtered through a non-human perspective.

The Birth of the First Park Chan-Woof?

Holm jokingly refers to the possibility of minting the next Park Chan-wook — except this auteur would wag instead of walk the red carpet. The joke lands because it highlights something serious: great directors don’t just tell stories, they feel them. And dogs, arguably, are pure instinct.

Unlike human creators shaped by trends, algorithms, or box-office anxiety, dogs respond honestly. They don’t care about three-act structures or Rotten Tomatoes scores. They react in real time — and Holm believes that authenticity is something modern storytelling desperately needs.

Meet the Man Who Thinks Dogs Should Be Directors 
The Chief AI & Innovation Officer of BARK, Mikkel Holm, has a few ideas for minting the next Park Chan-woof.


Why BARK Is the Perfect Place for This Idea

At BARK, data about canine behavior isn’t abstract. It’s central to the business. Millions of interactions — toys chewed, treats rejected, boxes loved — already inform product design. Translating that behavioral intelligence into creative output feels like a natural extension.

Holm’s role isn’t about replacing human creators. Instead, it’s about collaboration — humans setting the framework, AI translating signals, and dogs influencing the final creative choices in ways we’ve never seen before.

Is This Art or Absurdity?

Skeptics, of course, will laugh. Dogs as directors sounds like a headline built for clicks. But then again, so did AI-written novels, virtual influencers, and fully synthetic pop stars — until they weren’t jokes anymore.

Holm’s idea taps into a deeper cultural shift: creativity is no longer exclusively human. As tools evolve, authorship becomes shared — between humans, machines, and perhaps, one day, animals.

And if the result is strange, emotional, or unexpectedly beautiful? That might be the point.

A Future Where Creativity Isn’t Just Human

Cinema has always evolved with technology — from silent films to sound, black-and-white to color, analog to digital. Holm’s vision suggests the next leap might not be technical, but philosophical.

What happens when we stop asking who is allowed to create?

If the first dog-directed short film ever premieres at a festival someday, don’t be surprised if it doesn’t explain itself. Dogs, after all, have never felt the need to justify their instincts. Maybe storytellers shouldn’t either.

Continue Reading

Technology News

Inside the Vision of the Man Who Trusts Dogs to Tell Stories on the Big Screen

From AI labs to film sets, BARK innovation chief Mikkel Holm has a radical idea — what if dogs weren’t just stars, but storytellers?

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Meet the Man Who Thinks Dogs Should Be Film Directors | Daily Global Diary

In an era where artificial intelligence is already writing scripts, composing music, and generating entire films, one creative mind is asking a question that feels equal parts absurd and oddly profound: Why shouldn’t dogs be directors?

That mind belongs to Mikkel Holm, the Chief AI & Innovation Officer at BARK, the pet brand best known for turning dog culture into a billion-dollar business. Holm isn’t pitching a gimmick. He’s questioning how creativity itself is defined — and who gets to own it.

From Fetch to Final Cut

Holm’s thinking sits at the crossroads of AI, storytelling, and animal behavior. With generative tools becoming more intuitive, he believes creativity no longer needs to start with a human idea. A dog’s reactions — what excites them, what scares them, what keeps their attention — could become the raw data that shapes narratives.

“Dogs already tell us what they like,” Holm has suggested in industry conversations. “We just haven’t been listening in a cinematic way.”

ALSO READ : Younghoe Koo Explains Botched Field Goal After Slip: “The Ball Was Moving So I Pulled Up”

Using sensors, computer vision, and behavioral AI models, a dog’s gaze, movement, or excitement could guide editing decisions, pacing, or even story arcs. The result wouldn’t be about dogs — it would be cinema filtered through a non-human perspective.

The Birth of the First Park Chan-Woof?

Holm jokingly refers to the possibility of minting the next Park Chan-wook — except this auteur would wag instead of walk the red carpet. The joke lands because it highlights something serious: great directors don’t just tell stories, they feel them. And dogs, arguably, are pure instinct.

Unlike human creators shaped by trends, algorithms, or box-office anxiety, dogs respond honestly. They don’t care about three-act structures or Rotten Tomatoes scores. They react in real time — and Holm believes that authenticity is something modern storytelling desperately needs.

Meet the Man Who Thinks Dogs Should Be Directors 
The Chief AI & Innovation Officer of BARK, Mikkel Holm, has a few ideas for minting the next Park Chan-woof.


Why BARK Is the Perfect Place for This Idea

At BARK, data about canine behavior isn’t abstract. It’s central to the business. Millions of interactions — toys chewed, treats rejected, boxes loved — already inform product design. Translating that behavioral intelligence into creative output feels like a natural extension.

Holm’s role isn’t about replacing human creators. Instead, it’s about collaboration — humans setting the framework, AI translating signals, and dogs influencing the final creative choices in ways we’ve never seen before.

Is This Art or Absurdity?

Skeptics, of course, will laugh. Dogs as directors sounds like a headline built for clicks. But then again, so did AI-written novels, virtual influencers, and fully synthetic pop stars — until they weren’t jokes anymore.

Holm’s idea taps into a deeper cultural shift: creativity is no longer exclusively human. As tools evolve, authorship becomes shared — between humans, machines, and perhaps, one day, animals.

And if the result is strange, emotional, or unexpectedly beautiful? That might be the point.

A Future Where Creativity Isn’t Just Human

Cinema has always evolved with technology — from silent films to sound, black-and-white to color, analog to digital. Holm’s vision suggests the next leap might not be technical, but philosophical.

What happens when we stop asking who is allowed to create?

If the first dog-directed short film ever premieres at a festival someday, don’t be surprised if it doesn’t explain itself. Dogs, after all, have never felt the need to justify their instincts. Maybe storytellers shouldn’t either.

Continue Reading

Technology News

Meet the Man Who Wants Dogs in the Director’s Chair and Thinks Cinema Needs a Bark Side

From AI labs to film sets, BARK innovation chief Mikkel Holm has a radical idea — what if dogs weren’t just stars, but storytellers?

Published

on

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Meet the Man Who Thinks Dogs Should Be Film Directors | Daily Global Diary
A playful yet provocative idea: Can canine instincts and AI collaboration reshape the future of filmmaking?

In an era where artificial intelligence is already writing scripts, composing music, and generating entire films, one creative mind is asking a question that feels equal parts absurd and oddly profound: Why shouldn’t dogs be directors?

That mind belongs to Mikkel Holm, the Chief AI & Innovation Officer at BARK, the pet brand best known for turning dog culture into a billion-dollar business. Holm isn’t pitching a gimmick. He’s questioning how creativity itself is defined — and who gets to own it.

From Fetch to Final Cut

Holm’s thinking sits at the crossroads of AI, storytelling, and animal behavior. With generative tools becoming more intuitive, he believes creativity no longer needs to start with a human idea. A dog’s reactions — what excites them, what scares them, what keeps their attention — could become the raw data that shapes narratives.

“Dogs already tell us what they like,” Holm has suggested in industry conversations. “We just haven’t been listening in a cinematic way.”

ALSO READ : Younghoe Koo Explains Botched Field Goal After Slip: “The Ball Was Moving So I Pulled Up”

Using sensors, computer vision, and behavioral AI models, a dog’s gaze, movement, or excitement could guide editing decisions, pacing, or even story arcs. The result wouldn’t be about dogs — it would be cinema filtered through a non-human perspective.

The Birth of the First Park Chan-Woof?

Holm jokingly refers to the possibility of minting the next Park Chan-wook — except this auteur would wag instead of walk the red carpet. The joke lands because it highlights something serious: great directors don’t just tell stories, they feel them. And dogs, arguably, are pure instinct.

Unlike human creators shaped by trends, algorithms, or box-office anxiety, dogs respond honestly. They don’t care about three-act structures or Rotten Tomatoes scores. They react in real time — and Holm believes that authenticity is something modern storytelling desperately needs.

Meet the Man Who Thinks Dogs Should Be Directors 
The Chief AI & Innovation Officer of BARK, Mikkel Holm, has a few ideas for minting the next Park Chan-woof.


Why BARK Is the Perfect Place for This Idea

At BARK, data about canine behavior isn’t abstract. It’s central to the business. Millions of interactions — toys chewed, treats rejected, boxes loved — already inform product design. Translating that behavioral intelligence into creative output feels like a natural extension.

Holm’s role isn’t about replacing human creators. Instead, it’s about collaboration — humans setting the framework, AI translating signals, and dogs influencing the final creative choices in ways we’ve never seen before.

Is This Art or Absurdity?

Skeptics, of course, will laugh. Dogs as directors sounds like a headline built for clicks. But then again, so did AI-written novels, virtual influencers, and fully synthetic pop stars — until they weren’t jokes anymore.

Holm’s idea taps into a deeper cultural shift: creativity is no longer exclusively human. As tools evolve, authorship becomes shared — between humans, machines, and perhaps, one day, animals.

And if the result is strange, emotional, or unexpectedly beautiful? That might be the point.

A Future Where Creativity Isn’t Just Human

Cinema has always evolved with technology — from silent films to sound, black-and-white to color, analog to digital. Holm’s vision suggests the next leap might not be technical, but philosophical.

What happens when we stop asking who is allowed to create?

If the first dog-directed short film ever premieres at a festival someday, don’t be surprised if it doesn’t explain itself. Dogs, after all, have never felt the need to justify their instincts. Maybe storytellers shouldn’t either.

Continue Reading
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