Grand Rapids, Mich. — Meijer will open three new supercenters in Northeast Ohio on May 8, increasing the retailer’s store count to 58 in the state. The new 159,000-square-foot supercenters will be located in Austintown, Medina and Richmond Heights. The stores will feature the wide assortment of fresh produce and grocery staples Meijer customers know and love. The supercenters will also include a full-service pharmacy, health and beauty care section, an expansive pet department, electronics, toys and sporting goods. A Meijer Express gas station will open on April 10 adjacent …
construction and design
Richmond, Va. — On March 18, Sweetgreen opened its first Richmond, Va., location in Carytown. The 2,162-square-foot location marks another milestone as Sweetgreen’s 250th restaurant. “Sweetgreen was founded just a couple of hours from Richmond with the goal of bringing communities together through fresh, high-quality food,” says Jonathan Neman, co-founder and CEO of Sweetgreen. “We’re honored to carry that mission forward in Carytown, partnering with local businesses and serving delicious meals made with real ingredients. Opening our 250th location here makes this moment even more special, and we couldn’t be …
Pasadena, Calif. — Dine Brands International is set to expand its dual-branded Applebee’s and IHOP concept in 2025. This expansion includes entering the Costa Rican market with franchisee BLT UK Holdings Limited, and opening the first non-traditional restaurants in Mexico with franchisees Grupo Shogua and ATH Group. The dual-branded format, combining Applebee’s and IHOP under one roof, has been a key part of Dine Brands’ international growth strategy. Currently, there are 18 dual-branded locations across seven markets: Mexico, Canada, UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Honduras and Peru. In 2025, the company …
West Covina, Calif. — Jollibee, a global fast-food fried chicken concept based in the Philippines, is launching its first franchising program in the U.S. The quick-service restaurant (QSR) chain is the flagship brand of Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC), also known as the Jollibee Group, one of the world’s fastest-growing restaurant companies. Jollibee opened its first North American location in 1998 in Daly City, Calif., and currently operates 76 stores spanning 14 states in the U.S. and 28 stores in Canada. Jollibee’s projected expansion goal is to have 350 stores across …
Orlando, Fla. — Perkins American Food Co. will unveil its highly anticipated flagship restaurant in Orlando, Fla., on March 19. The location signifies a major milestone in the brand’s evolution. The flagship restaurant will showcase a new state-of-the-art design, designed by Aria Group, that combines contemporary aesthetics with the brand’s heritage. The new venue spans 3,500 square feet and offers a bright and inviting atmosphere, showcasing how modern American hospitality comes to life. It also features an exterior patio and chic design elements. “We have put a lot of heart …
Marlborough, Mass. — BJ’s Wholesale Club plans to open 25-30 clubs over the next 2 fiscal years, including several clubs set for the Dallas-Fort Worth area starting in early 2026. BJ’s Wholesale Club is a membership-based retailer that has been delivering value and convenience to families for over 40 years. “We are eager to continue our expansion by bringing unbeatable value, convenience and assortment to the Dallas-Fort Worth community,” says Bob Eddy, chairman and CEO, BJ’s Wholesale Club. “Economic expansion and a growing population make Texas a great fit for …
Liberty Township, Ohio — Wawa, Inc. has named April 16, 2025 as the grand opening of the first Wawa store in the state of Ohio, kickstarting the retailer’s expansion into the Midwest. Located in Liberty Township, Ohio, this is the first of 8-10 Wawa stores slated to open in Ohio by year’s end. Not only does this grand opening date mark Wawa’s debut in its 10th state, but it coincides with the founding date of the first Wawa store that opened on April 16, 1964 in Delaware County, Pa. “We …
Gilbert, Ariz. — Mercy Center, a highly anticipated 11-acre mixed-use development in Gilbert, Ariz., is now open. Developed and leased by Diversified Partners, the new community hub includes Arizona’s largest Starbucks — and the largest solar-powered Starbucks in the country. The two-story design redefines eco-conscious, customer-centric retail. This first-of-its-kind Starbucks location features a rooftop solar array supplying 80% to 100% of the store’s energy needs. Excess power is fed back into the grid to support nearby homes. Designed for efficiency and accessibility, the flagship Starbucks includes a 23-car drive-thru, designated …
London — Whole Foods Market is expanding internationally, with a new store planned in London that will open on March 25, 2025. The store is the first new U.K. location for Whole Foods Market since 2014 and will serve as a premium retailer for the historic and celebrated destination of London’s King’s Road in Chelsea. “Whole Foods Market has roots deeply planted in the U.K., and we are thrilled to be bringing more natural and organic food to this market with the opening of our new King’s Road store this …
Minneapolis — At its financial community meeting in early March, Target Corporation outlined how ongoing investments will aim to accelerate its strategy and drive billions of dollars of profitable sales growth across its multi-channel business by 2030. Plans for 2025 and beyond include: • Elevating shopping with technology: The retailer will innovate with search, social and data-driven personalization. That includes enhancing solutions powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that offer more relevant product recommendations, optimize search results and integrate with social media trends. • New stores and remodels: Through its ongoing …