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Black Rock Coffee Bar Names Chief Development Officer

by Katie Lee

Scottsdale, Ariz. — Black Rock Coffee Bar, Inc. has appointed Jon Vingo as chief development officer. In this role, Vingo will oversee Black Rock Coffee Bar’s restaurant development strategy, including real estate and site selection, prototype design and construction. “I’m very pleased to welcome Jon to the Black Rock team. Jon brings extensive experience leading disciplined, multi-market store expansion across a range of brands, and we’re confident his leadership will play an important role as we continue to execute our development strategy and scale the brand,” says Mark Davis, chief …

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construction and designCover Storyfranchise developmentFrom The Magazineretailers

Elevating the Experience

by Katie Lee

— Interview with Courtney Claghorn — Building on its founding principle of affordable luxury, SUGARED + BRONZED is smartly growing through store expansions, pop-up locations and 11 new stores in 2026. Retail takes all forms, and service-oriented retailers occupy a crucial, high-demand piece of a shopping center’s tenant mix. California-based SUGARED + BRONZED is one such brand. The growing salon was founded in 2010 and offers luxury at an affordable price, with services including hair removal and sunless tanning. With 48 units now open, as well as a pop-up store …

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construction and designfranchise developmentmanagementNewsrestaurants

Dunkin’ to Open Hundreds of Locations in Canada

by Katie Lee

Montreal — Foodtastic, one of Canada’s leading restaurant operators, has signed a master franchising agreement with Inspire Brands to open hundreds of Dunkin’ locations across Canada. The first Dunkin’ location in Canada is expected to open in late 2026 or early 2027. Foodtastic will manage market development, franchisee recruitment and operations in Canada. Foodtastic will have exclusive rights to develop the Dunkin’ brand nationally through both corporate and franchise-operated locations. This expansion strengthens Foodtastic’s relationship with Inspire Brands and adds a globally recognized coffee and donut concept to its Canadian …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsretailers

Hounds Town USA Marks 100 Locations Systemwide with Delaware Debut

by Katie Lee

Ronkonkoma, N.Y., and Dagsboro, Del. — Hounds Town USA is celebrating a defining moment in its growth with the opening of its 100th location. The milestone location opened on April 11 in Dagsboro, Del., introducing Hounds Town’s signature pack play model to the state for the first time. Founded in 2000 by former NYPD canine handler and Nassau County Police Department commanding officer Michael S. Gould, Hounds Town has grown from a single Long Island, N.Y., location into a national system built on a simple, consistent operating model. The brand’s …

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construction and designNewsretailers

Rally House Named Official Bookstore Operator for 3 Additional Universities

by Katie Lee

Fairfax, Va., Williamsburg, Va., and Glassboro, N.J. — Rally House, a premier retailer of officially licensed collegiate and professional apparel, team merchandise and locally inspired products, has formed new partnerships with George Mason University, William & Mary and Rowan University to serve as the official campus retail and bookstore merchandise operator beginning later this summer. Through these partnerships, Rally House will elevate the campus bookstore experience by delivering an expanded assortment of officially licensed apparel, gifts and spirit merchandise, alongside a modernized retail environment tailored to each university’s unique identity. …

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construction and designNewsretailers

Snow Peak Opens 4th North American Store, in Seattle

by Katie Lee

Portland, Ore. — Snow Peak, the renowned Japanese outdoor lifestyle brand with a 68-year legacy, has opened its fourth North American retail location, in Seattle’s vibrant Fremont neighborhood. The store is the brand’s first new retail store since the opening of its SoHo location (now relocated to Brooklyn) in 2014. Snow Peak Seattle offers guests an immersive environment to explore Snow Peak’s carefully curated collection of camping equipment, outdoor living essentials and lifestyle apparel. In addition to product displays, the space will host gear demonstrations, community gatherings and outdoor education …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

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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