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Katie Lee

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Bojangles Returning to New York City with 20-Unit Franchise Agreement

by Katie Lee

New York City — Bojangles, the North Carolina-born restaurant chain specializing in craveable breakfast and Southern-style chicken, biscuits and tea, has signed a 20-unit agreement that will bring the concept back to New York City. After a brief chapter in the city during the 1980s, this agreement marks the beginning of a new era for Bojangles in the city. The agreement, spearheaded by experienced restaurant owner and operator Habib Hashimi and Hashimi Holding Corporation, is expected to bring Bojangles to New York City over the next 10 years, with the …

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construction and designNewsretailers

Wawa Breaks Ground on First Tennessee Stores

by Katie Lee

Wawa, Pa. — Wawa, a privately held, family-owned chain of more than 1,100 convenience retail stores currently operating in 12 states and Washington, D.C., will soon be opening in Middle Tennessee. On Aug. 12, construction began on new stores in Murfreesboro and Clarksville. Both stores are projected to open in the second half of 2026. “We are thrilled to continue growing in new markets to provide the community with our one-of-a-kind offer and commitment to supporting the community,” says Joe Collins, director of store operations for Wawa. “We are excited …

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energy managementgreen newsHVAC/RIndustry Voiceskitchen equipmentrestaurantssupply chainvendors

Cutting Cooler Costs

by Katie Lee

— By Steve Benes — Designing a smarter barrier strategy for your walk-in cooler with air curtains. Walk-in coolers are critical for restaurants and cafeterias to store perishable goods, but they also contribute significantly to energy consumption. To maintain consistent low temperatures, walk-in coolers run continuously with little to no relief. Research from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) suggests that refrigeration accounts for about 20% of the total energy use in restaurants, making it a major driver of utility costs. Every time the cooler door is opened, warm air …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsremodelsrestaurants

Rita’s Italian Ice to Open Nearly 40 New Locations in 2025

by Katie Lee

Philadelphia — With nearly 40 new locations on track to open in 2025 and recognition as one of the nation’s top-performing restaurant brands, Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard is celebrating strong mid-year momentum rooted in innovation, accessibility and franchise growth. In the first half of the year, Rita’s opened 16 new shops, including locations in new and developing markets like Grand Rapids, Mich.; Nexton, S.C.; and Liberty Township, Ohio. With 19 additional shops currently in the pipeline, the brand is poised for continued growth across the U.S. “As we …

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franchise developmentNewsretailers

Norman’s Hallmark Expands With 22 Store Locations in Maryland

by Katie Lee

Newtown, Pa. — Norman’s Hallmark continues to grow its brick-and-mortar footprint with a portfolio of 22 stores in Maryland. The acquisition, which includes locations in Annapolis, Baltimore, Bethesda, Columbia, Frederick and Rockville, punctuates sustained growth for the Newtown, Pa.-based greeting card and specialty gift retailer and marks the company’s largest portfolio addition in its 86-year history. With 100 locations and a strong e-commerce presence, Norman’s Hallmark has grown from a single retail store in Trenton, N.J., to a leading force in the social expression industry. An independent owner of Gold …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Marco’s Pizza Opens 41 New Stores in First Half of 2025

by Katie Lee

Toledo, Ohio — Marco’s Pizza, one of the nation’s fastest-growing pizza brands, is celebrating a powerful first half of 2025, marked by 41 new store openings. If current trends continue, the brand is poised for a 28% year-over-year increase in new store openings — reinforcing its strength in a highly competitive market. “We entered 2025 with momentum from a very intentional development strategy — and that pipeline is now turning into stores,” says Gerardo Flores, chief development officer of Marco’s Pizza. “The potential of our model and the power of …

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Newsproperty managementretailers

UK-Based Retailer Boden to Launch First U.S. Store

by Katie Lee

Alpharetta, Ga. — British fashion brand Boden is opening its first brick-and-mortar store in the United States, marking a key milestone in the brand’s U.S. growth strategy. Located within Avalon, in Alpharetta, Ga., the 2,000-square-foot retail space will open in mid-November 2025. The in-store design includes a gallery-style exhibition of hand-selected work curated by British artists, alongside the brand’s signature use of stripes and color in joyful, unexpected combinations and details throughout the interior. Bespoke Boden wallpaper visually illustrating the brand’s heritage, inspiration and British wit will wrap the fitting …

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franchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurants

Sonny’s BBQ Strengthens Leadership Team with Key Executive Hires

by Katie Lee

Orlando, Fla. — Sonny’s BBQ, an industry-leading BBQ restaurant, has added Matt Zeiger to its team as chief financial & development officer. In this key leadership role, he will oversee finance and development, bringing his strategic vision and deep expertise to support Sonny’s growth plan. “Matt brings an impressive 25 years of exceptional financial and operational leadership, having worked with some of the most respected restaurant franchise brands in the industry,” says George McAllan, chief growth officer at Sonny’s BBQ. “His depth of expertise will help guide Sonny’s BBQ as …

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kitchen equipmentmanagementNewsProduct Spotlightrestaurantssoftware/technologyvendors

Push Operations and Crumbl Cookies Partner to Streamline Restaurant Management

by Katie Lee

Vancouver, B.C. — Push Operations, the all-in-one cloud-based workforce management platform built uniquely for the hospitality industry, has forged a strategic partnership with Crumbl Cookies, one of North America’s fastest-growing dessert chains. This collaboration makes Push’s integrated HR, payroll, scheduling and time-tracking solutions available to Crumbl’s 1,000+ locations, enabling franchise owners who adopt the platform to optimize operations through data-driven decisions. The partnership addresses challenges faced by multi-location franchisees with automated solutions that reduce administrative tasks while enhancing labor cost management. Participating franchise owners can leverage real-time analytics to balance staffing …

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Newspeopleretailers

The Vitamin Shoppe Names EVP, Chief Strategy Officer

by Katie Lee

Secaucus, N.J. — On Aug. 5, The Vitamin Shoppe® appointed Mike Forbes as executive vice president and chief strategy officer. In this newly created role, Forbes will lead enterprise-wide strategy and long term growth planning, with a focus on digital acceleration, innovation and organizational transformation. He will report directly to CEO Sharon Leite. Forbes brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in the retail and consumer packaged goods sectors, including CEO roles at MaryRuth Organics, Alter Eco Foods and Safely. His proven track record of scaling digital-first brands and …

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