Katie Lee

Atlanta — Mellow Mushroom is entering the second half of 2026 with significant franchise development momentum after signing six franchise deals through the first half of the year, preparing to open new restaurants and expanding into new markets — including its first-ever location in Montana. During the first quarter, Mellow Mushroom signed four franchise agreements representing six restaurants across Kentucky, Montana, Arkansas and Georgia. Since then, the development pipeline has continued to expand. The brand is now preparing for four restaurant openings next year, including its highly anticipated debut in Bozeman, …

Boston — Gong cha, the world’s leading bubble tea brand with nearly 2,200 locations across 33 international markets, has signed a 50-unit exclusive area development agreement in Texas with seasoned franchise operator Bakers Acres & Cattle Company (BACC). The agreement marks the largest direct franchising deal in Gong cha history and further expands the company’s U.S. footprint. This deal follows Gong cha’s recent acquisition of master franchise rights for 170 U.S. locations, across 13 states, including Texas. “As Gong cha continues expanding across the U.S., we’re seeing strong interest from …

San Diego — Wienerschnitzel, the world’s largest hot dog franchise, is bolstering its non-traditional development with the opening of its first-ever military base location at Naval Base San Diego through the Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM). Located in the Navy Exchange food court in San Diego, the restaurant opened in early July. Naval Base San Diego is one of the largest concentrations of active-duty military personnel on the West Coast. The military base opening builds on a period of significant momentum for Wienerschnitzel. Over the past year, the brand has …