Cover Story

Wendy’s Next Generation

by Katie Lee December 13, 2023

— By Katie Lee — The QSR leader never stops innovating — from the current rollout of its new Global Next Gen restaurant design to the highly anticipated launch of its future high-capacity kitchen. It’s hard to imagine that quick-service restaurants once existed without drive-thrus, but someone had to start somewhere. In 1970, Wendy’s Founder Dave Thomas popularized the “Pick-Up Window” at a freestanding Wendy’s restaurant and that innovation became, essentially, one of the first modern drive-thrus. While the pick-up window wasn’t brand new, no one had made it work …

December 13, 2023

Cover Story From The Magazine retailers

In The Bag

by Katie Lee November 10, 2023

— Interview with Don Oakes — Built into every Sea Bags product are style, substance and sustainability — and now these unique, handmade bags from Maine are showcased in 50 U.S. stores and counting. Within the last 4 years, Sea Bags, the designer and manufacturer of stylish and durable bags, totes and accessories handmade from recycled sails, has opened 26 new stores, increased its employee count to 300 — all while keeping up with demand. In order to accommodate the sales demand, the brand expanded its manufacturing space from 10,000 …

November 10, 2023

Cover Story franchise development From The Magazine restaurants

Welcome to (the New) Moe’s

by Katie Lee September 27, 2023

— By Katie Lee — The Southwest-style brand is modernizing its brand positioning with a refresh that is a win-win for customers and franchisees alike. With more than 600 locations nationwide (and counting), Atlanta-based Moe’s Southwest Grill® remains focused on growth — and on flexibility. According to its chief brand officer, Tory Bartlett, Moe’s will continue expanding in new markets and in new formats to meet guests where they are. Thanks to the introduction of new prototypes, Moe’s is able to provide franchisees with flexibility to develop with competitive real …

September 27, 2023

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Bealls Bets on Branding

by Katie Lee September 13, 2023

— Interview with Matt Beall — How Bealls has streamlined its name and its brand identity, all while robustly growing its store count. Spanning more than a century and four generations, Bealls Inc. has been owned and operated by its founding family in Bradenton, Florida, since 1915. This year, the veritable scion of retail is undergoing a significant rebranding of two of its largest chains. The company’s 600 Bealls Outlet and Burkes Outlet locations in 23 states are uniting to become “bealls.” Bealls, Inc. also operates a retail chain that …

September 13, 2023

construction and design Cover Story From The Magazine restaurants

Better Together

by Katie Lee August 16, 2023

— By Kristen Hartman — Co-branding the future of QSR — dos and don’ts. The concept of co-branding has resurfaced again as a way for brands to maximize their product and capitalize on the variety of opportunities it allows. The idea is exactly as it sounds: multiple brands partner with each other under one roof to provide a wider variety of products that are complementary to one another. This creates excitement and interest among consumers while allowing the brands to see savings on rent and other costs, all while streamlining …

August 16, 2023

construction and design Cover Story restaurants retailers

Retail Placemaking

by Katie Lee June 27, 2023

— By Kristin Harlow — Owners are incorporating new uses and tenants in their retail redevelopment projects that help foster an environment where consumers want to linger. The future of retail has been questioned many times in the last few years, but the sector continues to evolve and overcome the obstacles that arise. Today’s consumers want a gathering place to dine, drink and be entertained, especially after the isolation and stay-at-home mandates they endured throughout the pandemic. With that in mind, owners are redeveloping many underutilized retail properties …

June 27, 2023

construction and design Cover Story facilities management remodels restaurants

On The Border Bets on Bold

by Katie Lee May 3, 2023

— By Katie Lee — Rethinking its operations since the pandemic, On The Border rebrands with bold changes for its food and the guest experience. When the COVID-19 pandemic upended the world’s economy 3 years ago, many industries were forced to turn on a dime, to rethink their entire business models, to reengineer some shred of stability in the shakiest of markets. As On The Border can attest first-hand, the restaurant industry was among the trickiest terrain to navigate. But the Texas-based brand was agile enough to …

May 3, 2023

Cover Story franchise development retailers

Unlimited Access

by Katie Lee March 22, 2023

— By Hayden Spiess — Wild Birds Unlimited offers backyard bird feeding retail for an increasingly diverse customer base, with a growing flock of franchised locations. Jim Carpenter’s aspirations were not always avian in nature. The founder and CEO of Wild Birds Unlimited originally had his sights set on medical school. However, in 1981 he pivoted, opening the first Wild Birds Unlimited store in Indianapolis, driven by a passion for nature and birding. This same passion unites Wild Bird Unlimited store owners, managers and customers across the …

March 22, 2023

construction and design Cover Story From The Magazine remodels restaurants software/technology

Variety Show

by Katie Lee February 23, 2023

— Interview with Eduardo Luz — Panera puts on a show with several new design formats catering to the needs of an increasingly digital and off-premise guest. If variety is the spice of life, the many evolving iterations of Panera these days is keeping its real estate and construction game pretty hot. Currently boasting more than 2,100 bakery-cafes (in 48 states and Ontario, Canada), Panera operates under the Panera Bread® or Saint Louis Bread Co.® names; roughly half of these cafes are company-owned. Never a brand to sit …

February 23, 2023

Cover Story From The Magazine retailers

Customer First

by Katie Lee January 12, 2023

— By Katie Lee — David’s Bridal exists for magical moments — and puts customers front and center its new store format. In November 2022, David’s Bridal announced plans to debut a new store format systemwide, following a hugely successful soft launch of this concept earlier in the year in select locations, including Torrance, California; West Chester Township, Ohio; Lexington, Kentucky; and Cool Springs, Tennessee. The Conshohocken, Pennsylvania-based bridal retailer reopened 25 stores in 2022 and anticipates an estimated 30 new format stores will open in 2023 …

January 12, 2023

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