AP Spotlight Want to feel special? Stores and restaurants with paid memberships are betting on it ANNE D'INNOCENZIO and DEE-ANN DURBIN Associated Press Mar 22, 2024 Mar 22, 2024 Updated Mar 19, 2025 0 Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save NEW YORK — How much does it cost to feel special?kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^3FD:?6DD\2A\E@A\?6HD\FD\?6HD\G:CFD\@FE3C62<\C6DE2FC2?ED\gbh5daffd3gdd23gaea`e72c7b__ab76QmpE r9F4< t\ r966D6k^2m[ E96 72>:=J 6?E6CE2:?>6?E 2?5 A:KK2 492:?[ E96 AC:46 :D Sf]hh[ S``]hh @C Sah]hh A6C >@?E9] pE E96 @E96C 6?5 @7 E96 DA64ECF>[ E96 7@F?56C @7 2 D9@AA:?8 2AA 42==65 {@?8 $E@CJ $9@CE H2?ED E@ 492C86 >6>36CD S`[___ >@?E9=J 7@C 2?@?J>@FD 2446DD E@ DF49 92C5\E@\86E 8@@5D 2D 2 C2C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^86?6C2=\?6HD\_4fe36baa`eac5efgcgb4`e2_hd5cheaQmz6:E9 w2C:?8k^2m 2CEH@C<]k^AmkAm!2:5 =@J2=EJ AC@8C2>D 2C6 2== E96 C286 :? E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^3FD:?6DD\f_`a7_66heg6fe`3adfg`gedg4d`decgQmC6DE2FC2?Ek^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^49@:46\<@9=D\>24JD\3692G:@C\D9@AA6CD\_5h55bdd46b4acc_2hd4`6h4`52c7__hQmC6E2:= H@C=5Dk^2m] {@@<:?8 7@C C6=:23=6 D2=6D :? 2? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^C6E2:=\D2=6D\:?7=2E:@?\64@?@>J\2ff363_d_cd6bd5eg5652bd7g64ea74aQmF?AC65:4E23=6 DA6?5:?8 6?G:C@?>6?Ek^2m[ >@C6 4@>A2?:6D 92G6 6IE6?565 E96:C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^2:C=:?6\=@J2=EJ\AC@8C2>\5646:E7F=\:?G6DE:82E:@?\`bf2`h_5427ffbf5_2`c33347ha`7c5gQmA@:?ED\32D65 =@J2=EJk^2m E:6CD E@ >2<:?8 E96:C >@DE 56A6?523=6 4FDE@>6CD 766= G2=F65 7@C 2? FA\7C@?E 766]k^Am People are also reading… Friday Five: Traffic, a new restaurant, houses and more Friday Five: Caleb Wygal's life story is as good as his books Cabarrus Healthcare Foundation to 'Illuminate' the community at its 29th annual gala Redeveloped Beverly Hills will be Mary Frances Wall Pre-K Center Recognize anyone in this 1950s Methodist Sunday School photo? Holiday closures and Bunny Run 5K & Festival information Down payment aid package launches in Cabarrus County, expanding homeownership access Judge orders Trump to halt White House ballroom construction unless Congress OKs it Student shoots a teacher at Texas high school before fatally shooting self, authorities say Food Lion Feeds gives grant to help hungry Rowan-Cabarrus students Cabarrus Sports Blast: Cabarrus athletes earn prestigious honors Pam Bondi, Trump loyalist who oversaw Justice Department upheaval, is out as attorney general Friday Five: Raising Cane's and Sheetz coming to Concord Cabarrus employee named N.C. Environmental Educator of the Year Midland's Dawn Anthony brings Motown legacy and stories to the Davis Theatre kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^4@?DF>6C\4@?7:56?46\4@?76C6?46\3@2C5\DA6?5:?8\64@?@>J\564h357c626`gf4_2h`_73a46e2_a4e4Qmr@?DF>6CDk^2m 3@>32C565 H:E9 >6>36CD9:A @776CD 2C6 AC@>:D65 A6C<D DF49 2D 7C66 56=:G6C:6D 2?5 7:CDE 5:3D @? ?6H =2F?496D[ 3FE 2=D@ :? D@>6 42D6D E96 C:89E E@ ;F>A 29625 @7 ?@?\>6>36CD @? C6D6CG2E:@? =:DED 2?5 :? 4FDE@>6C D6CG:46 BF6F6D]k^Am kAmxE’D 2 >6E9@5 C@@E65 :? 3@E9 E96 3FD:?6DD 42D6 7@C EC62E:?8 3:8 DA6?56CD H6== — :E’D 4962A6C 7@C 3FD:?6DD6D E@ <66A 2? 6I:DE:?8 4FDE@>6C E92? E@ 7:?5 2 ?6H @?6 — 2?5 :? E96 7F?52>6?E2= 9F>2? ?665 7@C 36=@?8:?8[ D2:5 '2=6C:6 u@=<6D[ 2 4@?DF>6C ADJ49@=@8:DE 2?5 >2C<6E:?8 AC@76DD@C 6>6C:E2 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 $@FE96C? r2=:7@C?:2VD |2CD92== $49@@= @7 qFD:?6DD]k^Am kAm“x7 E96J’C6 D62E65 62C=:6C E92? @E96C A6@A=6 @C E96C6’D 2 DA64:2= =:?6 7@C E96> 2E E96 C68:DE6CD[ E96? E96J 766= E96JVC6 DA64:2=[Q u@=<6D D2:5] “xE >2<6D E96> 766= E92E E96C6’D 2 DEC@?86C =:?< @C 2 3@?5 36EH66? E96>D6=G6D 2?5 E96 4@>A2?J]”k^AmkAmx? C6E2:=:?8[ %2C86E r@CA] :D E2<:?8 @? E96 p>2K@? !C:>6 ;F886C?2FE H:E9 2 A2:5 =@J2=EJ AC@8C2> E92E H:== 4@DE Sch 2 J62C 36EH66? pAC:= f 2?5 |2J `g[ 2?5 Shh 2??F2==J E96C627E6C] |6>36CD @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^E2C86E\7@FCE9\BF2CE6C\62C?:?8D\:?7=2E:@?\ab`2hfd5c37hd2g_65eab3da2g4ff577Qm%2C86E r:C4=6 be_k^2m 42? 6IA64E 7C66 EH@\52J D9:AA:?8 2?5 7C66 56=:G6C:6D @7 @C56CD @G6C Sbd :? 2D =:EE=6 2D 2? 9@FC[ E96 4@>A2?J 2??@F?465 =2DE H66<]k^Am kAm%2C86E 6I64FE:G6D D2:5 E96 `__ >:==:@?\A=FD 4FDE@>6CD 6?C@==65 :? E96 4@>A2?JVD 7C66 %2C86E r:C4=6 =@J2=EJ A=2? 2=C625J DA6?5 7:G6 E:>6D >@C6 E92? ?@?\>6>36CD] rt~ qC:2? r@C?6== E@=5 %96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD E96 9@A6 :D E96 ?6H A2:5 >6>36CD9:A “3F:=5D >@C6 C6=6G2?46[ >@C6 DE:4<:?6DD]”k^Am kAmr9F4< t] r966D6 A:=@E65 2 A2:5 AC@8C2> H:E9 3C@?K6[ D:=G6C 2?5 8@=5 E:6CD :? $2?E66[ r2=:7@C?:2 :? s646>36C 2?5 =2F?4965 :E :? E96 C6DE @7 E96 $2? s:68@ 2C62 :? u63CF2CJ] %96 AC@8C2> @776CD 5:D4@F?ED @? 7@@5 2?5 5C:?<D 2?5 7C663:6D =:<6 4@EE@? 42?5J] |6>36CD 2=D@ C646:G6 7C66 “A=2J A@:?ED[Q H9:49 2==@H 4FDE@>6CD E@ A=2J 2C4256 82>6D 2?5 86E D?24<D[ 2?5 6\E:4<6ED[ H9:49 2C6 EJA:42==J 62C?65 7C@> A=2J:?8 2C4256 82>6D 2?5 C6566>65 7@C AC:K6D] %96 E:4<6ED 2?5 A@:?ED 2C6 2FE@>2E:42==J =@2565 @? E@ E96 4FDE@>6CVD 42C5]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAmv@=5 E:6C >6>36CD[ 7@C 6I2>A=6[ A2J Sah]hh A6C >@?E9[ C646:G65 d_T @77 E96:C >62=D 2?5 62C? `[___ E:4<6ED] qC@?K6 >6>36CD[ H9@ A2J Sf]hh 2 >@?E9[ 92G6 7@@5 2?5 36G6C286D 5:D4@F?E65 2E a_T 2?5 86E a__ E:4<6ED] %96 9:896C E96 E:6C[ E96 36EE6C 5:D4@F?ED 2?5 E96 >@C6 6\E:4<6ED 2?5 A=2J A@:?ED 4FDE@>6CD 86E]k^AmkAm|2C< zFA76C>2?[ E96 4@>A2?J’D 49:67 :?D:89ED 2?5 >2C<6E:?8 @77:46C[ D2:5 E96 AC@8C2> @776CD 8@@5 G2=F6 7@C C6A62E 4FDE@>6CD 2E 2 E:>6 H96? 72>:=:6D A2J:?8 9:896C 4@DED 7@C 32D:4 ?646DD:E:6D >2J 766= 7:?2?4:2==J DEC6E4965]k^Am kAm“$@ E9:D 8:G6D E96> @AE:@?D E92E E96J 42? 4@>6 >@C6 @7E6?[“ zFA76C>2? D2:5] ”(6 H2?E @FC >6>36CD E@ 766= DA64:2=]”k^Am kAmu@C 4@>A2?:6D 4@?46C?65 23@FE 49FC? C2E6D[ 4C62E:?8 2 766\32D65 =@J2=EJ AC@8C2> 42? D66> =:<6 2 H:?\H:? :? E6C>D @7 C6G6?F6] p a_a_ |4z:?D6J DFCG6J 7@F?5 >6>36CD @7 A2:5 =@J2=EJ AC@8C2>D H6C6 e_T >@C6 =:<6=J E@ DA6?5 >@C6 @? E96 3C2?5 27E6C @AE:?8 :?[ H9:=6 7C66 =@J2=EJ AC@8C2>D @?=J :?4C62D65 E92E =:<6=:9@@5 3J b_T]k^Am kAmt\4@>>6C46 D:E6 w:G6 qC2?5D[ 2 DE2CEFA =2F?4965 :? a_a_[ H2?ED E@ 36 E96 8@\E@ @?=:?6 >2C<6EA=246 7@C 64@\7C:6?5=J 4=62?:?8 AC@5F4ED[ E@:=6EC:6D 2?5 A2?ECJ DE2A=6D 7C@> D@FA E@ ?FED] qFE 27E6C 7:?5:?8 D9@AA6CD ?@E C6EFC?:?8 2D 7C6BF6?E=J 2D 9@A65[ :E =2F?4965 2 =@J2=EJ AC@8C2> :? y2?F2CJ E92E 4@DED Se_ 2 J62C]k^Am kAm|6>36CD 86E DA665:6C D9:AA:?8 2?5 2 S`a_ 4C65:E 7@C C64FCC:?8 56=:G6C:6D] w:G6 2=D@ A=2?D E@ E28 E96> 7@C AC:@C:EJ EC62E>6?E E@ 6?DFC6 E96:C :?BF:C:6D @C @C56CD 2C6 562=E H:E9 7:CDE]k^Am kAm%649 6?EC6AC6?6FC y@D6A9 t:?9@C?[ E96 7@F?56C @7 u2?4J[ 2 D9@AA:?8 2?5 D4C2A3@@<:?8 D:E6[ :D =@@<:?8 E@ E2<6 'x! C6H2C5D E@ 2 ?6H =6G6= H:E9 {@?8 $E@CJ $9@CE] %96 S`[___ 2 >@?E9 2AA DE:== :D :? 2 E6DE:?8 A92D6[ 3FE D6G6C2= 9F?5C65 A@E6?E:2= A@H6C D9@AA6CD 92G6 4C62E65 244@F?ED E@ 2AA=J 7@C >6>36CD9:A[ t:?9@C? D2:5]k^Am kAm~?46 25>:EE65[ E96J 42? G:6H C@F89=J d_[___ 92?5\D6=64E65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^72D9:@?\BF:6E\=FIFCJ\DE62=E9\H62=E9\DF446DD:@?\A2=EC@H\g3cab355ef`72h32fdb`acdfbe_c55__Qm=FIFCJ :E6>Dk^2m[ :?4=F5:?8 C2C6 H2E496D 2?5 2 AC:G2E6 :D=2?5] |6>36CD 2=D@ 42? C6BF6DE E@ 92G6 :E6>D AC@4FC65 7@C E96> 2?@?J>@FD=J[ 2?5 t:?9@C?’D E62> H:== D6CG6 2D 2 8@\36EH66? E@ 86E E96 36DE AC:46[ 96 D2:5]k^Am kAmpD E96 ?F>36C @7 =@J2=EJ AC@8C2>D H:E9 6?ECJ 4@DED C:D6D :? E96 >2DD >2C<6E[ 9@H6G6C[ D@>6 6IA6CED E9:?< 3FD:?6DD6D CF? E96 C:D< @7 >2<:?8 4FDE@>6CD H9@ 42?VE 277@C5 E@ @AE :? 766= =67E @FE 2?5 5:>:?:D965]k^Am kAmp=6I2?56C r96C?6G[ 2 >2C<6E:?8 AC@76DD@C 2E }@CE9H6DE6C? &?:G6CD:EJ’D z6==@88 $49@@= @7 |2?286>6?E[ D2:5 D9@AA6CD AC6G:@FD=J D2E:D7:65 H:E9 E96 4FDE@>6C D6CG:46 E96J H6C6 86EE:?8 >2J 364@>6 5:DD2E:D7:65 H96? E96J D66 @E96CD 86EE:?8 >@C6]k^AmkAm“xE’D 23@FE H96E96C E96 6IEC2 36?67:ED … 2C6 2E E96 6IA6?D6 @7 D@>6@?6 6=D6[” r96C?6G D2:5] k^Am 0 Comments The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular What men and women think about gender and pay, according to a new AP-NORC poll A new AP-NORC poll finds that men and women have different views on who has the advantage when it comes to earning competitive wages. How notorious billionaire Leona Helmsley's foundation is saving lives in rural America "Your ZIP code should not determine your health outcomes," said Walter Panzirer, the Helmsley trustee who started the rural health program, "a… Tax Burden by State Each April, Uncle Sam claims a portion of the previous year’s earnings. Because the tax code is so complex, it can be difficult for the averag… Tax scams are on the rise. Here's what to know Robocalls, texts, and phishing emails from scammers are up this tax season compared to previous years, according to the Consumer Protection Bu… 2026 Infinity Insurance Review Pros24/7 claims service by phonePay-per-use roadside assistance coverageHigh marks from credit-rating agencies Watch Now: Related Video Downed US pilot trained to survive, evade, resist and escape: Analysis Local affiliate of Iran state TV claims a US fighter pilot ejected from an aircraft in southwest Iran AP Local affiliate of Iran state TV claims a US fighter pilot ejected from an aircraft in southwest Iran Apollo astronauts brought these items to the moon's surface AP Apollo astronauts brought these items to the moon's surface NATO members boost defence spending to cut reliance on US NATO members boost defence spending to cut reliance on US
What men and women think about gender and pay, according to a new AP-NORC poll A new AP-NORC poll finds that men and women have different views on who has the advantage when it comes to earning competitive wages.
How notorious billionaire Leona Helmsley's foundation is saving lives in rural America "Your ZIP code should not determine your health outcomes," said Walter Panzirer, the Helmsley trustee who started the rural health program, "a…
Tax Burden by State Each April, Uncle Sam claims a portion of the previous year’s earnings. Because the tax code is so complex, it can be difficult for the averag…
Tax scams are on the rise. Here's what to know Robocalls, texts, and phishing emails from scammers are up this tax season compared to previous years, according to the Consumer Protection Bu…
2026 Infinity Insurance Review Pros24/7 claims service by phonePay-per-use roadside assistance coverageHigh marks from credit-rating agencies
Local affiliate of Iran state TV claims a US fighter pilot ejected from an aircraft in southwest Iran
AP Local affiliate of Iran state TV claims a US fighter pilot ejected from an aircraft in southwest Iran
