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16 Handles Plans California Debut with 8 New Units in Multiple Markets

by Katie Lee

New York City — 16 Handles, the upscale frozen yogurt and dessert franchise, is bringing its concept to the West Coast, announcing its first-ever expansion into California with eight units planned across some of the state’s most high-demand markets. Initial locations are already in development across the Los Angeles metro area, the San Fernando Valley, the San Francisco Bay area and North San Diego. “We’ve always seen California as a natural second home for 16 Handles, but we wanted to enter the market the right way, with strong operators and …

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construction and designgreen newsNewsretailerswaste management/recycling

REI Co-op Reduces Emissions and Achieves Waste Diversion Goal

by Katie Lee

Seattle — In 2025, REI Co-op saw a 15% reduction in emissions compared to the 2019 baseline year and achieved its waste diversion goal for the second consecutive year. To help achieve this, REI continued investing in circular textile innovation by entering a 3-year offtake agreement with Ambercycle to help scale performance materials made from existing textiles rather than virgin polyester. The co‑op is among the first outdoor retailers to invest in this approach and plans to share learnings to help accelerate industry adoption. “We want to make our mark …

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construction and designNewsretailers

BRUNT Workwear Opens Very First Flagship Retail Store

by Katie Lee

North Reading, Mass. — BRUNT Workwear, the boot and apparel brand for modern trade workers, has opened its first flagship retail store, marking a major milestone in the company’s rapid expansion from a direct-to-consumer powerhouse to an omnichannel retailer. Situated at 70 Main St. in North Reading, Mass., the new 3,000-square-foot storefront introduces a new kind of retail experience all under one roof. Since launching at wholesale stores across the country with a selection of its core product assortment in 2024, BRUNT has grown its physical retail presence in partnership …

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construction and designfacilities managementfranchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurants

Sweetgreen Names New Chief Development Officer

by Katie Lee

Los Angeles — Sweetgreen, Inc. has appointed Ryan Slemons as its new chief development officer, effective May 4, 2026. He now leads all aspects of real estate, design, construction, facilities and portfolio management, and he reports directly to Jonathan Neman, co-founder and CEO. Slemons brings nearly two decades of experience in real estate, franchising and store development across various industries. Most recently, he served as chief development officer of Unleashed Brands, a portfolio of franchise brands including Urban Air Adventure Park, The Little Gym, Sylvan Learning Centers and more. “Ryan …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsremodelsrestaurants

Huey Magoo’s Introduces Freestanding Condensed Drive-Thru Prototype

by Katie Lee

Orlando, Fla. — Huey Magoo’s, a fast-casual chicken tenders chain, is introducing a freestanding drive-thru prototype designed to lower build costs and increase site flexibility for franchisees. The design allows development on sites that were previously not viable, supporting growth in more markets while reducing upfront investment. The prototype extends the brand’s cost-conscious design approach into a stand-alone drive-thru format, building on momentum from 2025, when Huey Magoo’s introduced a condensed 1,500-square-foot inline model to reduce buildout costs and expand access to high-traffic retail centers. That format created a more …

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construction and designNewsretailers

Zoom Tan Inc. Adds 23 Locations in Southeast

by Katie Lee

Naples, Fla. — Zoom Tan has acquired all 23 South Beach Tanning Company corporate locations, bringing the company-wide total to 167 salons, signaling an accelerated expansion strategy and a deeper push into the tanning and wellness market. The transaction highlights ongoing consolidation across the indoor tanning space, as growth-oriented operators look to expand market share. The acquisition strengthens Zoom Tan’s position as a scaled, growth-oriented operator at a time when the retail sector continues to reward brands with strong fundamentals, disciplined execution and loyal customer bases. South Beach Tanning Company …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurants

Freddy’s Strengthens Development Leadership Team

by Katie Lee

Wichita, Kan. — Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is strengthening its development team. Rafik Farouk has joined as vice president of business development, and Jackie Lobdell has been named vice president of franchise sales. As Freddy’s approaches 600 restaurants, the addition of these experienced leaders reinforces the team driving the brand’s expansion. Together, Farouk and Lobdell bring more than four decades of restaurant industry experience, adding significant depth to Freddy’s development bench. “Freddy’s is entering an exciting phase of growth, and Rafik and Jackie are two important additions to our …

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construction and designNewsrestaurants

goop kitchen Expands to New York, Marking First Launch Outside California

by Katie Lee

New York City — goop kitchen, the upscale, chef-crafted restaurant concept founded by Gwyneth Paltrow, made its highly anticipated New York City debut on April 20, marking the brand’s first expansion outside of California and a major new phase of growth. Built as a dark kitchen model, goop kitchen operates without traditional dining rooms, offering thoughtfully crafted meals designed specifically for delivery and takeout. The New York launch represents a significant milestone for the brand, bringing its delivery-focused model to one of the most sophisticated and competitive food markets in …

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construction and designIndustry Voicesproperty managementrestaurants

A Small, Simple Solution

by Katie Lee

— By Koji Kanematsu — Why landlords are turning to light-infrastructure food concepts to fill retail dead zones. Landlords and shopping center owners are facing a familiar problem. Many retail properties have space that gets foot traffic but doesn’t work for a traditional restaurant. Old kiosks, narrow inline units, corridors and spaces that cannot support full restaurant infrastructure are hard to lease. Too often, they sit empty. At the same time, many food operators want to expand but can’t justify the cost, time or risk of a full restaurant buildout. …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsremodelsrestaurants

Smoothie King Embarks on New Brand Evolution Plan

by Katie Lee

Dallas — Smoothie King is marking the beginning of the next chapter in its 53-year history by introducing a new brand evolution plan. The new plan is designed to build on its continued momentum, reinforce category leadership and accelerate long term growth. It includes more than 200 new store commitments, over 1,500 available trade areas in its development pipeline and a newly expanded food menu. The new brand evolution also introduces a transformed in-store experience, rolling out over the coming year. In 1973, Smoothie King introduced a new category to …

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