Author

Katie Lee

construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

PJ’s Coffee Opens First Location in Virginia

by Katie Lee

Alexandria, Va. — New Orleans-based PJ’s Coffee opened its first Virginia location, in Alexandria, on July 8. Located on the ground floor of the 400-unit South Alex apartment complex, the standalone café brings a taste of the French Quarter to Virginia with its signature beignets, small-batch roasted coffee and seasonal sips. Alexandria’s PJ’s Coffee marks the brand’s 15th state and seventh location in Maryland. The Alexandria location is locally owned and operated by the husband-and-wife entrepreneurs Ronald and Sofiya Ali Parker, both longtime residents of the Alexandria-Burgundy Village area. Phyllis …

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construction and designNewsretailers

Brochu Walker Opens its Fifth Store at The Post Montecito

by Katie Lee

Los Angeles — Brochu Walker, a quiet luxury lifestyle brand, is celebrating a significant milestone, announcing its fifth store location in the Montecito, Calif., area. The highly anticipated concept store brings Brochu Walker’s timelessly elegant collections to one of the most sought-after locations in the country. Doors are now open at The Post Montecito (Santa Barbara, Calif.). Brochu Walker has additional stores in Atlanta; Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif.; Westport, Conn.; and Southampton, N.Y. When selecting its newest store location, the brand prioritized finding a community that has shown great brand affinity and …

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facilities managementNewsProduct Spotlightretailerssecurity/loss preventionsoftware/technologysupply chainvendors

Energous Introduces Battery-Free e-Sense Tag for Retail & Supply Chain

by Katie Lee

San Jose, Calif. — Energous Corporation d/b/a Energous Wireless Power Solutions, a leader in over-the-air (OTA) wireless power networks, has launched the e-Sense tag: a battery-free, maintenance-free wireless sensor for location and temperature monitoring in retail, supply chain and logistics environments. Energous now offers a complete ambient IoT platform consisting of wirelessly-powered, battery-free sensors, RF-based energy transmitters and cloud-based monitoring software. This integrated system enables uninterrupted, real-time visibility across supply chains without relying on batteries, manual maintenance or conventional wired infrastructure. The tag continuously reports temperature and location data to …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Fatburger Accelerates Florida Growth with 40-Unit Development Deal

by Katie Lee

Los Angeles — FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc., parent company of Fatburger and 17 other restaurant concepts, has signed a new development deal with existing franchisee Whole Factor Inc., to open 40 additional Fatburger locations across Florida over the next 10 years, including new areas such as Jacksonville. Since 2021, Whole Factor Inc. has been steadily growing the Fatburger brand across the state with a 14-unit development deal to grow in the Orlando and Tampa areas, with two restaurants open to date in Riverview and Celebration. “Two years ago, …

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Newsretailers

Ollie’s Opens First Location in Nebraska

by Katie Lee

Harrisburg, Pa. — Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, Inc. is bringing its first store in the state of Nebraska to Omaha. Ollie’s is known for brand name closeouts at up to 70% off regular store prices. The newest Ollie’s officially opened on July 2 on 72nd Street, next to Marshalls, in a location formerly occupied by Big Lots. “We are excited to open our first store in the great state of Nebraska, where the folks have been so good to us,” says Eric van der Valk, president and chief executive officer of …

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Industry VoicesProduct Spotlightretailerssoftware/technologysupply chainvendors

Growth of Grocery AI

by Katie Lee

— By Tremaine Kirkman — Revolutionizing retail facilities — specifically grocers — with AI solutions. Independent grocery retail facilities, such as neighborhood markets, corner stores, family-run supermarkets and bodegas, fuel the heart of our communities. They bring fresh, often local, goods to consumers; offer diverse product selections; and foster a sense of connection while contributing significantly to local economies. However, as large retail chains with extensive resources dominate the grocery market, smaller and independent grocery retailers face mounting challenges, compounded by minimal adoption of advanced technology due to price and …

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construction and designNewsrestaurantsretailers

Chuck E. Cheese Launches New Concept: Chuck’s Arcade™

by Katie Lee

Dallas — Chuck E. Cheese, America’s favorite arcade and family entertainment center, is launching a new arcade concept, Chuck’s Arcade™. The new concept combines classic games and the hottest new games alongside iconic Chuck E. Cheese animatronic characters. The arcade was created for adults and lifelong fans who grew up surrounded by the electric glow of arcade screens, the symphony of digital soundtracks and the thrill of chasing high scores with friends long into the night. Chuck’s Arcade™ is a modern-day love letter to the games and people who made …

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franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Zaxbys Inks First Development Agreement for the Chicagoland Area

by Katie Lee

Chicago — Zaxbys™, a rapidly expanding Georgia-based QSR franchise, is making its entrance in the Chicagoland market. The brand has signed a multi-unit development agreement with a seasoned local entrepreneur to open several new restaurants across Chicago, with the first location expected to open within the next year. The operator, a Chicagoland native with nearly two decades of restaurant experience, currently owns and operates Zaxbys locations in Kansas City, Mo. The new agreement solidifies Zaxbys commitment to strategic growth in high-potential markets. “We’ve been looking to bring Zaxbys to Chicago …

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construction and designNewsretailers

Champs Sports Unveils First-Ever Reimagined Store Concept

by Katie Lee

New York City — Champs Sports, a banner under Foot Locker, Inc., has unveiled its reimagined retail concept designed to deliver an enhanced customer journey through an immersive retail experience. Reopening on July 1 in two key markets — Tampa, Fla. (Brandon Exchange) and Portland, Ore. (Washington Square) — the redesigned stores reflect Champs Sports’ commitment to blending sport and everyday life to deliver a redefined retail experience. The new concept introduces an inviting and modernized storefront featuring a bright, organized design and an extensive selection of multi-brand apparel, footwear …

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franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Cousins Maine Lobster Marks Milestone: Over $1  Billion in Systemwide Sales

by Katie Lee

Portland, Me. — Cousins Maine Lobster, the national food truck and fast‑casual dining concept beloved for its authentic Maine lobster rolls, has surpassed $1 billion in systemwide sales since its founding in 2012. Co‑founders and real-life cousins Sabin Lomac and Jim Tselikis celebrated the milestone. “This is an incredible moment, growing from a single food truck in Los Angeles to more than 85 units across the nation, we’ve brought the taste and spirit of Maine to diners nationwide — and built a franchise family along the way,” they said. Notable achievements: …

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