construction and design

Boston — Gong cha, a premier bubble tea brand with more than 240 locations across 21 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, and nearly 2,200 stores across the globe, has appointed Michael Nedelkovich Jr. as vice president of U.S. non-traditional franchise development. A franchise executive with over 15 years in the industry, Nedelkovich’s expertise spans franchising, site selection and strategic partnerships — expanding F&B concepts into non-traditional venues, with a consistent focus on scalable growth and long term value creation. In his new role, Nedelkovich will lead Gong cha’s non-traditional …

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Irvine, Calif. — Pokeworks, a fast-growing fast-casual poke brand has finalized a 10-unit deal in San Antonio and is selling out its available Houston territories. With a goal to open 10 stores in two years, Agustin Guzman will be developing the greater San Antonio market as well as the Rio Grande Valley. Guzman, a former Olympic swimmer and seasoned entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience across various industries, currently operates Pokeworks’ McAllen, Texas, location and is in the process of opening his second location in Mission, Texas. “I’ve experienced …

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Los Angeles — Sweetgreen plans to open its first two locations in Arkansas — a significant step in its expansion across the southern United States. The brand will open in Fayetteville, Ark., later this year, with a second location to follow at Walmart’s new home office in Bentonville, Ark. “Northwest Arkansas is quickly becoming a hub for innovation and growth, and we’re excited to be part of it,” says Christopher Tarrant, chief development officer at Sweetgreen. “Opening on Walmart’s forward-thinking new home office campus and in Fayetteville, home of the …

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Birmingham, Ala. — At Books-A-Million, Rick Franz has been promoted to executive vice president of real estate, while Jack Fleming has been promoted to vice president of real estate. The company has also welcomed Pete Turner to the team as real estate manager. Since joining Books-A-Million, Franz has made significant contributions to our stores and our team, bringing strategic insight and leadership to the real estate department. In his new role, Franz will continue to shape the future of Books-A-Million’s store positioning and growth. Fleming has been a valued member …

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Boston — Wayfair Inc., the destination for all things home, plans to open its next large-format retail store in Yonkers, N.Y., in early 2027. The news comes as the company celebrates the 1-year anniversary of its inaugural large-format store in Wilmette, Ill. — a milestone that underscores Wayfair’s growing success in physical retail and its evolving omnichannel strategy. The Yonkers announcement follows the previously revealed plans for Wayfair’s Atlanta store, slated to open in 2026. “Over the past year, we’ve seen firsthand how a thoughtfully designed physical store can deepen …

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— By Kyle Klahre — The world of refrigeration is rapidly changing — here’s what grocers need to know. Refrigeration systems in the U.S. are rapidly evolving due to new government regulations affecting residential, commercial and industrial systems. To understand current changes, it’s helpful to look back at the history of refrigerant regulation. This regulatory journey can be traced back to the middle of the 1980s. The Baby Boomer and Generation X readers likely remember hearing NASA discovered a hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica. Well, the cause of …

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Rogers, Ark. — Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café, a restaurant brand serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and specializing in sweet and savory crêpes, hot drinks and more, is expanding its national presence by entering two new states: Arkansas and Missouri. In a four-unit signed agreement, two restaurants will be opening in Arkansas metropolitan cities, and two restaurants will be opening in Kansas City, Mo. The first restaurant is slated to open in fall 2025, at Pinnacle Hills Promenade in Rogers, Ark. Pinnacle Hills Promenade is a luxury retail lifestyle center …

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Dallas — Nothing Bundt Cakes is celebrating the opening of its 700th bakery, located in Rosenberg, Texas. The Dallas-based company has grown to the nation’s largest specialty cake company with locations throughout more than 40 states and Canada. The brand has ambitious plans to open its 1,000th location by 2027. Nothing Bundt Cakes opened 101 bakeries in 2024 and is on pace to do the same this year as this bakery opening is the 40th in 2025. The brand is on track to become one of the highest-growth companies in …

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Atlanta — Huddle House, an iconic family dining brand for the last 60 years, is undergoing a transformative evolution. Under the leadership of CEO James O’Reilly and Chief Operating Officer Blain Shortreed, the brand unveils a reimagined brand identity that includes a trio of new restaurant prototypes to accelerate the brand’s geographic expansion. “As we celebrate 60 incredible years, we lay the foundation for the next 60 in a big way, stepping confidently into our evolution,” says James O’Reilly, CEO of Ascent Hospitality Management, the parent company of Huddle House. …

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Atlanta — This May, Moe’s Southwest Grill®, one of the seven brands within the GoTo Foods platform company, unveils a record-breaking average unit volume (AUV) of $1,235,422 in 2024, showcasing 4 consecutive years of growth. It is also the brand’s 25th anniversary. Under the recent leadership of its chief brand officer, Mike Smith, who was appointed in October 2024, Moe’s continues to revolutionize the fast-casual Mexican dining space. Key Initiatives Driving Significant Brand Evolution: • Strengthening Franchise Development: Over the past year, Moe’s opened 15 new locations across the country. …

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