By Griz Dwight, AIA, LEED AP Crafting smaller, purposeful F&B spaces. In the dining landscape, the mantra “smaller is better” has become increasingly relevant. This shift emphasizes the industry’s move toward compact yet highly impactful restaurant designs; in line with changing consumer habits, there is a renewed focus on creating intimate and highly efficient spaces that deliver exceptional experiences. By examining these changes through the lens of Oyster Oyster — a 1,047-square-foot restaurant in Washington, D.C. — we can explore how thoughtful design helps achieve both intimacy and efficiency in …
construction and design
Starbucks Verifies Over 9,000 Stores for Sustainable Practices
Seattle — As of the end of 2024, Starbucks had verified more than 9,000 stores for meeting robust standards, as verified by an outside auditor, across eight environmental impact areas such as energy efficiency, water stewardship and waste diversion. These measures — taking steps toward a more sustainable build, design and operations — are planned to be implemented across 10,000 stores in 2025. Of the 9,000 stores, Starbucks is celebrating five stores for excelling in innovation, environmental impact, community connection, inspiration, and customer and partner experience. These stores reflect Starbucks …
Jacksonville, Fla. — On April 17, Walmart opened a new 1 million-square-foot distribution center in Jacksonville, Fla. The facility receives and processes items for delivery to 18 Sam’s Club locations across Florida, Georgia and South Carolina as well as seven clubs in Puerto Rico. Located just 10 minutes from the Port of Jacksonville, the facility also stores and sorts imported goods for delivery to four distribution centers across the Southeast. “We’re proud to create a new slate of jobs in our community,” says Frank Herrera, general manager of the new …
Lexington, S.C. — Guthrie’s, the original chicken finger restaurant, is bringing its iconic chicken fingers to the Carolinas in 2025. The expansion officially kicked off on April 22 with the opening of a new location in Lexington, S.C., at 2404 Mineral Springs Rd. Additional restaurants across both North and South Carolina will open later this year. “Guthrie’s has a deep-rooted history in the South, and we are excited to strengthen that connection by bringing our signature chicken fingers to the Carolinas. As a family-owned restaurant with our name on the …
Newport Beach, Calif. — Chipotle Mexican Grill has signed a development agreement to open restaurants in Mexico for the first time. In partnership with Alsea, S.A.B. de C.V. (Alsea), a leading restaurant operator in Latin America and Europe, Chipotle will open a location in Mexico by early 2026 and begin exploring additional expansion markets in the region. “We are confident that our responsibly sourced, classically-cooked real food will resonate with guests in Mexico,” says Nate Lawton, chief business development officer at Chipotle. “The country’s familiarity with our ingredients and affinity …
Bentonville, Ark. — Sam’s Club, a division of Walmart, plans to remodel all 600 of its existing membership-based stores nationwide. As part of its long term strategy, Sam’s Club will also open 30 new locations over the next several years while building a pipeline to begin opening 15 new clubs annually. This marks the first expansion since 2017 after Sam’s Club closed 62 locations in 2018. The stores will be modeled after the Grapevine, Texas, location, which opened in December 2024. The new locations will span 160,000 square feet and …
— By Ulyses Camacho — Taco Cabana embarks on a new chapter of growth and innovation. At Taco Cabana, we’ve spent nearly five decades delighting guests with bold Mexican-inspired flavors, warm hospitality and vibrant dining experiences. As a beloved Texas institution, we’ve grown alongside our communities, continuously evolving to meet their needs while staying true to our roots. Now, as we look to the future, I’m excited to share how Taco Cabana is embarking on a new chapter of growth and innovation. In October 2024, we proudly launched our national …
Atlanta — Chicken Salad Chick, the nation’s only fast-casual chicken salad restaurant concept, is opening its first New Orleans-area restaurant in Metairie, La. Located near the Lakeside Mall and adjacent to Trader Joe’s, the April 22 opening marks the introduction of the brand to the New Orleans market. Chicken Salad Chick of Metairie marks the debut location for Nibbles Hospitality Group, led by Bill and Anne DiPaola and Tiffany and Paul Spring. The partners are two husband-and-wife teams who have signed on to bring four Chicks to the New Orleans …
Lake City, Fla. — Ellianos Coffee, a Southeast-based drive-thru specialty coffee brand, has expanded into Mississippi, with a new location under development in the state’s southern region. This development marks the sixth state in the company’s footprint. Established in 2002, Ellianos currently operates 65 locations throughout Florida, Georgia and Alabama, with locations in development in Tennessee and North Carolina. The company has expanded through its franchise model, focusing on quality products, efficient service and customer experience. Ellianos utilizes a double-sided drive-thru model to provide efficient service. “We’re excited to bring …
Atlanta — Saucy chicken chain Zaxbys™ opened its first-ever Las Vegas restaurant on April 14. Located at 5290 Blue Diamond Rd., the new Zaxbys is owned and operated by Royce Chow and Jie Zhou of Zax Nevada LLC. “Las Vegas is just the beginning of Zaxbys expansion plans as we aim to open our 1,000th store in 2025,” says Mike Mettler, chief development officer at Zaxbys. “We are thrilled to continue to build relationships with new franchisee partners and bring Zaxbys to additional growing markets including Arizona, Philadelphia, New Jersey, …