Bethesda, Md. — Fish Taco, a new Baja-style eatery, has opened its latest location at Wildwood Shopping Center in Bethesda, Md. The interiors were designed by GTM Architects.
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Atlanta — Tropical Smoothie Café has appointed Barry Schnur as chief financial and administrative officer. In addition to his roles leading the company's fiscal functions and day-to-day operations, Schnur will play a significant role in developing and implementing technology initiatives for the franchise system.
Glendale, Calif. — Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar® is spending $75 million to unveil new, American-made, wood-fired grills as the centerpiece of its 2,000 U.S. restaurants as part of a revamped and streamlined menu.
Atlanta — Restaurant and franchise veteran Jarrod Brooks has joined Huddle House as director of franchise development to support the aggressive expansion of the brand.
Broomfield, Colo. — Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom has signed a four-unit franchise development agreement to open new restaurants in South Carolina in Greenville, Spartanburg and Horry counties, with the first location slated to open in Myrtle Beach in fourth quarter 2016. This is part of Old Chicago’s aggressive franchise expansion plans for South Carolina.
Dallas — Cushman & Wakefield, a global leader in commercial real estate services, has inked a deal with Jamba, Inc. to lease approximately 25,000 square feet of space in HALL Office Park, HALL Group’s 2.2 million square-foot office park in Frisco, Texas. Once complete, the move will relocate the company’s headquarters from Emeryville, Calif., to North Texas.
Livingston, N.J. — McAlister's Deli recently opened at The Shoppes at the Livingston Circle in Livingston, N.J. The restaurant, which occupies approximately 3,000 square feet, marks the fast-casual chain’s first location in New Jersey.
Denver — Tom Ryan, a Smashburger co-founder and food industry icon, will assume the role of chief brand officer, spearheading brand evolution as the company expands its operations and global ambitions. Ryan and partner Rick Schaden co-founded Smashburger in 2007; Ryan has since served as chief concept officer.
Canton, Mass. — Paul Twohig, president of Dunkin' Donuts U.S. and Canada, has decided to retire at the end of the first quarter of 2017. Dunkin' Brands, the parent company of Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, plans to name a successor before the end of the year.
Fort Worth, Texas — East Coast Wings & Grill, a fast-growing casual dining chicken wing franchise, has partnered with customer analytics firm Buxton. The new partnership will focus on helping East Coast Wings & Grill identify growth opportunities and optimize site selection decisions.
San Diego — Dickey's Barbecue Pit recently signed a 12-store development agreement with Owner/Operator Michael Tucker. Already the owner of the La Quinta Dickey's location, Tucker's agreement originally contained four stores, which are slated to open in Indio, Moreno Valley and Redlands, Calif. The new agreement adds eight stores to the existing four-store deal.
Atlanta — During first quarter 2016, Tropical Smoothie Café, a leading fast-casual café concept, signed franchise agreements to open 36 new restaurants that will expand the sandwich and smoothie franchise into new and existing markets nationwide. Additionally, the brand achieved a 9.5% growth in same-store sales over the first quarter of last year.
Houston, Texas — Westech Building Products, a Westlake Chemical company, has secured the specification to a new corporate project with Panera Bread® eateries where its wood-alternative product will be installed on the façades of several locations in North America.
Lansing, Mich. — Chick-fil-A’s long-awaited Michigan expansion will officially get under way on April 19, 2016, with a groundbreaking event at the site of its new Lansing restaurant — the first of 15 to 20 locations the chain expects to open in the state within the next 5 years.
Atlanta — As of December 31, 2015, Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. (ARG) reached 15.2% total energy reduction per company-owned restaurant from a 2011 baseline, exceeding the “15 Percent By 2015” energy savings goal set by the brand in 2012.
New Hartford, N.Y. — MOD Pizza has opened its 115th store in the U.S. outfitted with PAR’s Brink POS® software and PAR EverServ® 500 terminals. ParTech, Inc. (PAR) is a leading global provider of point-of-sale (POS) and food safety solutions to the restaurant industry and subsidiary of PAR Technology Corporation.
Los Angeles — An affiliate of Z Capital Partners, L.L.C., the private equity management arm of Z Capital Group, L.L.C., a leading global alternative investment manager, has agreed to acquire the "original Rock 'n Roll Mexican" restaurant brand, Pink Taco.