Mattoon, Ill. — Rural King, a family-owned retailer dedicated to the rural lifestyle, is opening its first store in the state of New York, located in Elmira. Grand opening festivities will take place Sept. 25-27, 2026. With a legacy spanning more than six decades, Rural King has established itself as a cornerstone of the communities it serves. The new Elmira location at 299 S. Main St. includes updates designed to enhance the shopping experience, including mobile and self-checkout options, while maintaining the personal touch that defines Rural King’s customer service. …
construction and design
Harris Teeter Plans $253 Million Investment to Enhance Stores & Expand in Charlotte, NC
Matthews, N.C. — Harris Teeter plans to invest approximately $253 million over the next 3 years to refresh and modernize select stores across the Charlotte, N.C., area. The investment also includes the development of three new stores. The investment includes stores throughout the Charlotte metro area, with renovations and enhancements planned for locations such as Fort Mill and Rock Hill, S.C., and Matthews, Waxhaw, Concord and Huntersville, N.C., along with many other communities across the region. In addition, Harris Teeter plans to open three new stores in Fort Mill, S.C., …
Pasadena, Calif. — Dine Brands Global, Inc., the parent company of Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar® and IHOP®, is continuing the rapid expansion of its dual-branded restaurant concept with the opening of a new location in San Antonio. Less than 2 years after launching the first standalone U.S. dual-branded restaurant in nearby Seguin, Texas, the two iconic brands are approaching 50 dual-branded locations nationwide. The new restaurant is the eighth dual-branded Applebee’s | IHOP location in the greater San Antonio market, underscoring the region’s strong embrace of the concept. “We …
New York City — Ernesta, a leading retailer of custom-sized rugs, opened its first West Coast showroom on Sept. 14, in Santa Monica, Calif. Situated in Santa Monica’s tree-lined, upscale shopping corridor known for its mix of home-focused boutiques and design-driven retailers, the new space marks a key milestone in the brand’s retail expansion. The Santa Monica showroom offers a welcoming space to explore Ernesta’s full assortment of wool, natural fiber and performance rugs firsthand. Through one-on-one consultations with Ernesta’s in-store design team, customers receive expert guidance and enhanced local …
Atlanta — Smalls Sliders is opening its first-ever college campus locations at the University of Central Florida (UCF) and the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). The milestone marks Smalls Sliders’ official entrance into collegiate dining and the beginning of a long term strategy to bring the brand to more high-traffic, non-traditional environments across the country. The UCF location is slated to open in September, with the Ole Miss location expected to open in October. The two locations showcase the versatility of the Smalls Sliders concept while bringing the brand directly …
Freeport, Me. — L.L.Bean, the legendary outdoor retailer since 1912, has completed a 7-year, $50 million renovation to its Freeport, Me., flagship store. Grand opening celebrations are scheduled to take place Sept. 18 through Oct. 25, 2026. The modern, reimagined flagship stays true to L.L.Bean’s heritage but also offers more retail space (150,000 square feet), new areas to explore and thoughtful features throughout. According to the company website, “Every detail is intended to immerse customers in the outdoor lifestyle and surround them with the products to help them enjoy it.” …
Atlanta — Chicken Salad Chick, the nation’s only fast-casual chicken salad restaurant concept, plans to open its first restaurant in New York, which will expand the brand’s footprint to 27 states. The grand opening will take place on Sept. 22 at The Shops at Village Plaza in Clifton Park, N.Y. Chicken Salad Chick of Clifton Park is the first restaurant to open under a 25-unit franchise agreement bringing locations to the Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and the Upper Hudson Valley areas across New York. The agreement represents Chicken Salad Chick’s …
New York City — Macy’s, Inc. has reported financial results for the second quarter 2026. Overall, the company delivered 2.7% comparable sales growth, exceeding expectations across all key metrics; Macy’s comparable sales rose for the fifth consecutive quarter, led by Reimagine 200 stores; and Bloomingdale’s delivered second consecutive quarter of double-digit comparable sales growth and its highest second-quarter sales volume. “Our second-quarter performance builds on the progress our colleagues have consistently delivered through our Bold New Chapter strategy,” says Tony Spring, chairman and chief executive officer of Macy’s, Inc. “The …
Newport Beach, Calif. — Chipotle Mexican Grill has opened of its first restaurant in Asia in Seoul, South Korea, in partnership with Sangmidang Holdings (formerly SPC Group). Along with Sangmidang Holdings, Chipotle plans to continue its expansion with two additional locations in South Korea by the end of 2026, followed by its first restaurant in Singapore in 2027. South Korea will serve as a reference market for Chipotle’s expansion across Asia, establishing a model for how the brand can enter new markets while maintaining its culinary and operational standards. The …
San Diego — QDOBA Mexican Eats has signed a new development agreement for 17 restaurants across San Diego County in California. The agreement is led by Hyperion Brands, LLC, a San Diego based multi-unit operator. “California is a priority growth market for QDOBA,” says Jeremy Vitaro, chief development officer at QDOBA. “We’re excited to grow the brand with the Hyperion Brands team, a proven, operations-first organization that also brings a strong development track record and a hometown advantage.” QDOBA and its franchise partners currently operate approximately 875 restaurants, with plans …