— By Jordan Munro — Flooring strategies for retail & restaurant facilities: balancing aesthetics, durability and long term ROI. In today’s retail and restaurant environments, flooring decisions are no longer purely aesthetic choices. Facility managers, operators and designers are increasingly aware that the surfaces beneath our feet play a critical role in shaping customer experiences, operational efficiency and long term financial outcomes. Whether it’s a boutique retailer, a bustling quick-service restaurant or a luxury dining establishment, flooring must withstand relentless foot traffic, align with evolving design trends and deliver measurable …
construction and design
San Antonio — On Dec. 19, 2025, Teriyaki Madness (TMAD) celebrated a major milestone with the grand opening of its 200th shop, located at 18410 Highway 281 N. in San Antonio. Franchisees Daniel Gifford and Gilbert Vergara are behind the new restaurant, marking their second TMAD shop in the Alamo City. This milestone is part of TMAD’s 2025 expansion, which saw 47 new shops open during 2025 alone, bringing the brand’s total to 200 locations nationwide. The San Antonio shop joins three additional openings on Dec. 19: Fresno, Calif.; Niles, …
Fremont, Calif. — MINISO, a global lifestyle brand, will open its largest Bay Area store on Jan. 17, 2026 at Pacific Commons Shopping Center in Fremont, Calif. Spanning more than 12,000 square feet, the new location represents a major milestone in MINISO’s Northern California expansion. Managed by Phoenix-based Vestar, Pacific Commons Shopping Center is conveniently located off the I-880 Freeway at Auto Mall Parkway. The new MINISO store is situated at the intersection of Boscell Road and Curie Street, next to T.J. Maxx and across from Costco. “The opening of …
Mellow Mushroom Finishes 2025 With Expanded Kitchen Tech and New Growth Plans
Atlanta — Mellow Mushroom, the psychedelic pizza franchise known for its imaginative pizzas, hand-tossed stone-baked dough and unique atmosphere, spent 2025 focused on restaurant operations. Work centered on kitchen execution, back-office efficiency and guest engagement infrastructure. Those initiatives carry into 2026, during which the company expects to be bullish on renewals and new restaurant growth. Over the last year, about one-third of restaurants moved onto a digital kitchen platform. Implementation took place location by location to align with each restaurant’s layout and workflow. The platform is already showing improvements in …
New York City — Zales, a legendary fine jewelry retailer, is ushering in a new era of jewelry shopping with the launch of The Edit, a next-generation in-store retail concept that blends style, storytelling and premier service. Now open in four markets with plans for continued expansion in 2026, The Edit introduces a fresh, modern approach to jewelry discovery — one that’s more personal, inspiring and intuitive. The new stores mark a pivotal step in Zales’ transformation following its 2025 “Own It” rebrand, reinforcing the company’s vision of making fine …
Utah City, Utah — Bella’s Market has opened in Utah City, Utah, making it the first new grocery store in Utah City for more than 100 years. Bella’s is locally owned and operated by Lee’s Marketplace in Utah City. Design teams RDC and DyeLot Interiors collaborated on the project, with RDC serving as the store’s architect, and DyeLot providing interior design and branding services. Bella’s Market is supported and managed by Logan, Utah-based Lee’s Marketplace through a partnership with Utah City, built by Woodbury Corp and Flagship Cos. “The concept …
Dallas — Twin Hospitality Group Inc., parent company of Twin Peaks Restaurant, has signed a new area development agreement to bring its signature Twin Peaks sports lodge experience to Connecticut. The agreement marks Twin Peaks’ debut in the state and includes development rights for three future lodges across key markets, including New Haven, Hartford, Danbury, Stamford/Bridgeport and Waterbury. The new lodges will be developed by New London Hospitality, led by business partners Deepak Verma and Kam Singh, both seasoned entrepreneurs with extensive experience in the hospitality space and multi-unit operations. …
Pacsun Opens First International Store in Dubai; Plans 20 Stores Across the Middle East
Los Angeles — Pacsun is rolling out significant retail expansion, including U.S. locations opening across key domestic markets and its first international store opening planned for spring 2026 at the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. The milestone arrives as Pacsun experiences a resurgence in brick-and-mortar performance in the United States, with double digit growth in in-store traffic. The debut flagship Dubai store, set for early 2026, marks Pacsun’s first international location in its 40-year history. Through an exclusive regional partnership, Majid Al Futtaim and Pacsun plan to open up …
New York City — Captain D’s, the nation’s leading fast-casual seafood restaurant, has officially made its debut in the Northeast with a Dec. 8 grand opening at 763 E. Gunhill Rd. in the Bronx. Founded over five decades ago in Tennessee, the Nashville-based brand is expanding up the eastern seaboard with a first location in New York. This highly anticipated arrival features a new walk-up design tailored to dense metropolitan areas with limited space and heavy foot traffic. Three additional Captain D’s are currently in development for the New York …
Vancouver, British Columbia — In late November 2025, lululemon debuted its new store design concept with the opening of two flagships in iconic locations around the world: SoHo, New York City, and Gangnam, Seoul. The elevated creative expression sets the blueprint for the future of lululemon retail as the company continues to invest in enhancing its guest experience globally. As part of this new playbook, the company is incorporating a breadth of considered structural materials and color palettes that are designed to take guests on a journey through the store …