Author

Katie Lee

franchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurants

Little Caesars Announces Key Leadership Promotions

by Katie Lee

  Detroit — Little Caesars has made several senior leadership promotions. Effective Jan. 1, 2026, longtime CEO Dave Scrivano has been promoted to vice chairman of Little Caesars. Additionally, Paula Vissing has been promoted to president and CEO, global retail; Ed Gleich has been promoted to president and CEO, global services; and Leigh Burnside has been promoted to chief financial officer and chief administrative officer. Vissing joined Little Caesars in 2011 and under her leadership the brand experienced its strongest period of expansion in company history. In her role since 2023 …

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construction and designNewsproperty managementretailers

Von Maur Department Stores to Open First Location in New Jersey in Fall 2027

by Katie Lee

Davenport, Iowa — Von Maur Department Stores plans to open a new anchor store at Macerich’s Freehold Raceway Mall in Freehold, N.J., with an anticipated opening in fall 2027. The new location will mark the company’s first store in New Jersey, expanding its presence in the Northeast. Von Maur is renowned for its thoughtfully curated selection of brand-name and specialty apparel, shoes, accessories and gifts. The three-level, approximately 164,000-square-foot Von Maur location will feature the company’s industry-leading amenities including superior customer service, an interest-free charge card, a robust rewards program …

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franchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurants

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream Expands Leadership Team

by Katie Lee

Youngstown, Ohio — Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream has named two seasoned industry leaders to its executive team as the 80-year-old legacy brand continues its record-breaking expansion across the country: Garrett Snyder joins as vice president of real estate, construction and design, and Deepak Kahlon has been appointed vice president of operations. Snyder brings a proven track record to Handel’s with more than 15 years of franchise development and real estate expertise, previously serving as vice president of development at Mountain Mike’s Pizza and holding leadership roles at Blaze Pizza and …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsretailers

Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming Expands into New States

by Katie Lee

Miami — Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming, the neighborhood pet grooming and treat boutique, has made more progress in its national expansion, opening its first franchised stores in Boston and Fargo, N.D. Woof Gang’s expansion into Massachusetts and North Dakota marks another significant milestone in its growth strategy to scale to more than 450 locations across the United States and Canada by 2027. The new locations follow recent store openings in Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin and Maryland, and means Woof Gang now operates in 33 states and Canada. “Our entry into …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

QDOBA Plans Nearly 90 New Units Across Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York

by Katie Lee

San Diego — QDOBA Mexican Eats has signed new development agreements with several leading multi-brand operators, totaling nearly 90 new restaurants and fueling growth across the Eastern U.S. With these signings, QDOBA now has more than 650 development commitments in its pipeline. QDOBA signed a 35-restaurant development agreement with The Rose Group, plus two acquired corporate locations in State College and Williamsport, Pa., spanning key markets in Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey. The Rose Group operates 55 Applebee’s Grill + Bar restaurants and Shannon Rose Irish Pubs across the Mid-Atlantic. …

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NewsProduct Spotlightsignagesoftware/technologyvendors

Palmer Digital Group Sees Record Business Growth in 2025

by Katie Lee

Aurora, Ill. — Palmer Digital Group, a full-service supplier and installer of indoor and outdoor digital kiosks, drive-thru digital menu boards and canopy systems, celebrated 5 years of rapid business growth with the move into a 2,500-square-foot office space at the end of 2024. The move foreshadowed that bigger things were on the way — a reality reflected in the company’s record-breaking annual revenue in 2025. PDG’s launch of two new products and investment in three new laser machines and robot welder paved the way for the company’s most successful …

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construction and designNewsretailers

Universal Music Group Opening 2 New UMusic Shops in New York and London

by Katie Lee

New York and London — Universal Music Group (UMG), a world leader in music-based entertainment, in partnership with UMusic Hospitality & Lifestyle, its entertainment driven hospitality venture, is opening two new UMusic Shop locations in New York and London. Each UMusic Shop offers exclusive custom collections and pieces inspired by UMG’s iconic artists, songwriters and legendary labels, providing fans with new dedicated locations to meet, share and enjoy exclusive experiences that bring them closer than ever before to the artists they love. UMusic Shop NY opened on Dec. 10, at …

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franchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurants

Marco’s Pizza Names New CFO

by Katie Lee

Toledo, Ohio — Marco’s Pizza has appointed Bill Schaffler, a seasoned financial and operations leader with deep experience in high-growth restaurant and hospitality brands, as its new chief financial officer (CFO). Schaffler joins Marco’s Pizza with a strong foundation in private-equity environments, multi-unit expansion and enterprise-level financial performance. His background includes guiding financial strategy and technology modernization at Hopdoddy Burger Bar, leading brand and operational transformation as president and CEO of Ascension Coffee Company and driving systemwide efficiencies and growth in CFO roles at Nothing Bundt Cakes and La Madeleine. …

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construction and designdisaster recoveryIndustry Voicesmanagementproperty managementremodelswaste management/recycling

From Liability to Opportunity

by Katie Lee

— By Keith Etchells — Revitalizing Diamond Bar Shopping Center through strategic remediation. In retail real estate, environmental contamination can be a deal breaker. For property owners and investors, subsurface pollution such as solvents, hydrocarbons, heavy metals and other industrial byproducts can restrict the asset’s current and future uses and commonly comes with significant regulatory management costs. With the right combination of strategy, funding and technical expertise, resolving environmental challenges can be accomplished in ways that support long term property goals. The owner of the Diamond Bar shopping center in …

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franchise developmentNewsretailers

Build-A-Bear x Hello Kitty and Friends Workshop Expand with New Locations

by Katie Lee

St. Louis — Build-A-Bear Workshop and Sanrio®, the global lifestyle brand best known for Hello Kitty®, are continuing their national expansion of the Build-A-Bear x Hello Kitty and Friends Workshop with new locations set to open at American Dream in East Rutherford, N.J., and Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn., in early 2026. The first Build-A-Bear & Hello Kitty and Friends Workshop opened in Los Angeles last year and quickly became a go-to destination for collectors, families and devoted Sanrio fans. Its strong appeal made it clear that the experience …

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