franchise development

Atlanta — Mellow Mushroom is entering the second half of 2026 with significant franchise development momentum after signing six franchise deals through the first half of the year, preparing to open new restaurants and expanding into new markets — including its first-ever location in Montana. During the first quarter, Mellow Mushroom signed four franchise agreements representing six restaurants across Kentucky, Montana, Arkansas and Georgia. Since then, the development pipeline has continued to expand. The brand is now preparing for four restaurant openings next year, including its highly anticipated debut in Bozeman, …

Boston — Gong cha, the world’s leading bubble tea brand with nearly 2,200 locations across 33 international markets, has signed a 50-unit exclusive area development agreement in Texas with seasoned franchise operator Bakers Acres & Cattle Company (BACC). The agreement marks the largest direct franchising deal in Gong cha history and further expands the company’s U.S. footprint. This deal follows Gong cha’s recent acquisition of master franchise rights for 170 U.S. locations, across 13 states, including Texas. “As Gong cha continues expanding across the U.S., we’re seeing strong interest from …

San Diego — Wienerschnitzel, the world’s largest hot dog franchise, is bolstering its non-traditional development with the opening of its first-ever military base location at Naval Base San Diego through the Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM). Located in the Navy Exchange food court in San Diego, the restaurant opened in early July. Naval Base San Diego is one of the largest concentrations of active-duty military personnel on the West Coast. The military base opening builds on a period of significant momentum for Wienerschnitzel. Over the past year, the brand has …

Frisco, Texas — At the close of the second quarter, Layne’s Chicken Fingers has expanded its footprint to more than 50 operating restaurants and signed two dozen franchise agreements. The growth is driven by a blend of internal growth and new franchisees joining the system; in the second quarter, Layne’s celebrated the 50-restaurant milestone in its home state while also laying the groundwork for its California debut with a new 12-unit deal in partnership with tenured IHOP operators. “We’ve added dozens of units to the pipeline this year, and we’ve …

Las Vegas — Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop is celebrating strong momentum during its milestone 50th anniversary year, opening 12 new restaurants so far and awarding development rights for 30 additional locations. The year’s development activity has introduced Capriotti’s into several new markets, including Lake County, Ill.; Killeen, Texas; Tempe, Ariz.; Southern Utah; Charleston, S.C.; and Fort Wayne, Ind., further expanding the brand’s national footprint as it works toward its long term goal of 750 restaurants by 2032. “Our 50th anniversary is all about creating momentum for the future while we celebrate …

Philadelphia — Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, the world’s largest Italian Ice concept with more than 600 locations, is on track to double its 2026 new shop signings. Rita’s has experienced a 100% increase in franchise ownership inquiries compared with 2025. “We’re seeing tremendous interest from entrepreneurs who want a proven franchise backed by a recognizable brand and an operating model designed for long term growth,” says Lawrence Brown, chief development officer of Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard. “Combined with smaller kitchen footprints, low COGS (less than 18% …