Charlotte, N.C. — This month, Belk is opening two new stores in Texas and Florida, debuting a new store concept for the 136-year-old retailer. Belk Market locations offer a carefully curated assortment of top national and private label brands in a smaller footprint. The new stores are located at The Grove at Wesley Chapel in Wesley Chapel, Fla., and The Centre at Preston Ridge in Frisco, Texas. “We know our customers come to us for the brands and products they trust, and we’re always looking for new ways to match …
construction and design
Lausanne, Switzerland — KFC Europe is opening one of its most iconic European flagship stores, located at the heart of historical Rome near the renowned Trevi Fountain. This landmark launch is a testament to KFC’s continued growth throughout Europe. As one of the fastest growing retail brands in the world, KFC opens a new restaurant somewhere around the world once every 3.5 hours. The choice of Rome as the site for one of the first Western European flagship stores was a natural choice and reflects the brand’s rapid growth across …
— By Marc Mascarello — How hidden air diffusers are changing commercial interiors. Walk into a beautifully designed restaurant or retail space, and your eyes are drawn to the details — the layered lighting, the textures and materials, the sense of flow and spatial balance. But when HVAC components like air vents or grilles jump into view, they can interrupt that visual harmony in an instant. Mechanical systems are essential to occupant comfort, yet they’re often considered late in the design process or treated as background elements to work around. …
Gurugram, India — Moe’s Casa Mexicana™, the global evolution of the popular U.S. fast-casual chain Moe’s Southwest Grill®, is entering the Indian market with franchise partner Unify Foodworks. The brand’s international flagship restaurant will open on Dec. 6, 2025, at Elan Miracle with a second location set to open at Ambience Mall Vasant Kunj. “We are thrilled to bring Moe’s Casa Mexicana to New Delhi and make India our first international market,” says Steven Yang, senior vice president, APAC at GoTo Foods, parent company of Moe’s Casa Mexicana. “Unify Foodworks …
Dallas — Bonchon, a global leader in Korean Fried Chicken, is expanding to Puerto Rico. The company signed a 6-unit deal with a new franchise partner with the first restaurant slated to open in late 2026. “We’re thrilled to expand into a new market with strong demand for Korean cuisine and a trusted, experienced partner,” says Suzie Tsai, CEO, Bonchon. “As Korean food continues to gain global popularity, Puerto Rico presents an exciting opportunity for Bonchon to introduce our signature Korean Fried Chicken. Through our turnkey franchise program, we’re committed …
Irvine, Calif. — Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. is opening its 500th store this month. This milestone arrives alongside several new store openings across the nation — including stores in Killeen, Texas; East Peoria, Ill., Phoenix; Deptford, N.J.; Indio, Calif.; Chandler, Ariz. — and a meaningful return to Huntington Beach, Calif., where the very first Boot Barn store opened its doors in 1978. From that single storefront, Boot Barn has grown its nationwide presence to span 49 states. “Reaching our 500th store is a proud moment for all of us, from …
Minneapolis — International Dairy Queen, Inc. (IDQ), through its wholly owned subsidiary American Dairy Queen Corporation, has signed deals to open DQ® restaurants in new markets Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, and grow the number of DQ restaurants in Qatar. The deals commit to opening 187 DQ restaurants throughout the four markets. “Entering new markets and growing existing markets is a key component of our growth strategy,” says Nicolas Boudet, COO international at International Dairy Queen. “With 7,700 DQ restaurants in more than 20 markets, we’re pleased to add to …
Frisco, Texas — Layne’s Chicken Fingers has signed a monumental 44-unit franchise agreement with Eli Cohen, an experienced real estate and restaurant developer, across its home state of Texas. Layne’s will expand across West Texas, San Antonio and the Coastal Bend. With this deal, the Texas market is now over 90% sold out, leaving room for expansion in just El Paso and a few smaller, single-unit territories. “Sealing an over-40-unit deal in our home state is a major milestone for us as we approach 100% market saturation across Texas,” says …
Katy, Texas — Academy Sports + Outdoors has opened five new locations in Q4 2025 in Russellville, Ark.; Seguin, Texas; Fort Wayne, Ind.; El Paso, Texas; and New Braunfels, Texas. With the addition of these stores, Academy will have opened 24 total new locations by the end of fiscal 2025. “We are thrilled to expand our footprint with 24 new stores,” says Eric Friederich, senior vice president of retail operations at Academy Sports + Outdoors. Academy is a leading full-line sporting goods and outdoor recreation retailer in the United States. …
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. — Kevin Armantrout, who has held executive roles with several nationally recognized brands, has been named chief operating officer for Bagels & Co. which has several locations now open in Pennsylvania and Florida with plans to expand to additional cities across the U.S. Armantrout has built a distinguished career leading high-growth restaurant and hospitality brands through expansion, operational transformation and cultural renewal. His extensive experience in management, site selection, construction and building a strong foundation for franchising from the ground up are an asset to Bagels & …