All in the Family
— By Katie Lee — At Mamoun’s Falafel, it’s one big, happy (growing) family — with over 40 new franchises soon to join the fold. As one of the oldest falafel restaurants in New York City, Mamoun’s Falafel
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Figs by Todd English Plans International Expansion with Fransmart
Boston — Figs by Todd English, the casual dining concept founded by award-winning celebrity chef and restaurateur Todd English, is now franchising with the help of Fransmart, an industry-leading franchise development company, to bring its original thin crust pizza and
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L.A.-based The Dolly Llama to Begin Franchising Nationwide
Los Angeles — The Dolly Llama, a popular waffle concept that currently dominates the Los Angeles dessert-scene with its own unique take on Hong Kong’s iconic Bubble Waffle, has signed with DCV Franchise Group as its franchising partner to expand
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This Is It! Southern Kitchen and BBQ Launches Franchise Program, Names CEO
Atlanta — This is it! Southern Kitchen and BBQ, an Atlanta-based Southern home-style restaurant brand, has launched its franchising program and signed professional NBA player Paul Millsap as its first area developer for Greater Atlanta. The newly revamped Southern food
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Slater’s 50/50 Plans First Colorado Restaurant
Denver — Slater’s 50/50, a full-service restaurant concept known for first creating the 50/50 burger patty made with 50% ground bacon and 50% ground beef, will soon make its Colorado debut. The restaurant will open at in Denver’s RiNo Arts
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Eggs Up Grill Names VP of Franchise Development
Spartanburg, S.C. — Eggs Up Grill has appointed Todd Owen as its new vice president of franchise development. Owen brings a rich background in successful franchise development, leading sales and business development with brands that included Qdoba Mexican Eats, spearheading
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Krystal to Sell 100-150 Corporate Restaurants to Franchisees as Part of Brand Revitalization
Atlanta — The Krystal Company plans to refranchise approximately 100-150 company-owned restaurants to well-capitalized multi-unit operators as part of its ongoing business and fleet revitalization. To that end, Krystal has engaged The Cypress Group, a specialized investment banking firm, to manage the
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Moe’s Southwest Grill Opens First Restaurant in the State of Minnesota
Minneapolis — Moe’s Southwest Grill®, a fast-casual restaurant franchise that serves southwestern food, opened its first restaurant in the state of Minnesota on October 18. The restaurant is located between Terminals E and F in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. The
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Aloha Poke Co. Launches Strategic Franchise Expansion Plan
Chicago — Aloha Poke Co., a fast-casual brand that 3 years ago pioneered Poke concept restaurants in the Midwest, plans to expand through franchising. Solidified already in five U.S. markets as the top spot for innovative poke bowls inspired by
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Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh to Open First Boston Location
Boston — Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh, a leading fast-casual Mediterranean franchise, is coming to Boston. This will be the fast-growing brand’s first location in New England. The restaurant is opening this winter at 134 Boylston St. and will be followed by
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Slim Chickens Plans to Reach 600 Locations Over the Next 10 Years
Fayetteville, Ark. — Slim Chickens, a leading fast-casual franchise which features dine-in and drive-through, has launched an aggressive multi-unit growth initiative to expand its presence in key markets across the United States. With a goal to reach 600 locations over
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Tropical Smoothie Cafe Awards 64 Franchise Agreements in Third Quarter
Atlanta — Tropical Smoothie Cafe, a leading national fast-casual cafe concept, has awarded 64 franchise agreements in the third quarter. The brand plans to sign 200 franchise agreements, open 130 cafes and grow same-store sales by 5 percent in 2019.
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Potbelly Inks Multi-Unit Deal to Open Restaurants Inside Macy’s Stores
Chicago — Potbelly Sandwich Shop, the iconic neighborhood sandwich shop, has signed a multi-unit franchise agreement to open shops in Macy’s department stores, adding to the fast-casual brand’s significant multi-unit franchise growth in 2019. “This franchise agreement marks a major
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MOOYAH Plans to Add 26 Locations in Houston by the End of 2021
Houston — Plano, Texas-based MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes, a fast-casual, “better burger” chain, is planning to add 26 locations across greater Houston by 2021. It is specifically scouting out real estate in Galveston, The Woodlands, Cypress, Spring, Conroe, Baytown,
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Franchising Franks
— By Katie Lee — Pasadena, California-based Dog Haus is entering new markets through franchising and partnerships with Kitchen United and Live Nation. Dog Haus is an emerging new restaurant concept that, frankly, isn’t that new. But it is
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Juice It Up! Taps Jamba Veteran to Lead Operations
Irvine, Calif. — Juice It Up!, one of the nation’s leading handcrafted smoothie, raw juice and superfruit bowl chains, has appointed Susan Taylor as vice president of operations. Leveraging over 26 years of experience in the restaurant industry, Taylor has
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Bojangles’ Names New Chief Development Officer
Charlotte, N.C. — Bojangles’, Inc. has hired Jose R. Costa as its first chief development officer, reporting to CEO Jose Armario. In this new role, Costa will be responsible for driving the overall unit growth of the company, recruiting new
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Potbelly to Open 10 Locations in Las Vegas
Las Vegas — Potbelly Sandwich Shop has signed a franchise agreement to open 10 shops in the Las Vegas market. Eric Persson, an experienced, multi-brand restaurant operator and owner, will be bringing Potbelly to the area. The deal marks the
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Fuzzy’s Taco Shop Promotes EVP to CFO
Dallas — Fuzzy’s Taco Shop has named Jessica Wescott as chief financial officer. She previously served as the executive vice president of finance for the Baja-inspired franchise. Wescott began her career in wealth management before moving into the franchising world
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Round Table Pizza Opens First Redesigned Store as Part of Planned System-Wide Updates
Sacramento, Calif. — Round Table Pizza® has reopened its first location to undergo a complete redesign to embody Round Table’s recently updated logo and brand identity: “Pizza Royalty.” The Round Table store, located at 398 Florin Rd. in Sacramento, Calif., is the first location
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Tropical Smoothie Cafe Opens 800th Location
Atlanta — Tropical Smoothie Cafe, a leading national fast-casual cafe concept, is opening its 800th location. The location will open on September 6, 2019 in Arlington Heights, Ill. This milestone opening comes on the heels of a tremendous growth year
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MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes to Add 9 Locations in Orlando, Fla.
Orlando, Fla. — MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes, a fast-casual “better burger” chain founded in Plano, Texas, in 2007, is set to have two openings in late 2019 and early 2020 in Orlando, Fla. The Orlando openings mark the second
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Tin Drum Asian Kitchen to Open the First of 5 Restaurants in Houston
Houston — Atlanta-based Tin Drum Asian Kitchen, a Pan-Asian restaurant that transports its guests to a street side café in Asia, complete with hawker style cuisine and atmosphere, will open the first of five restaurants in Houston this year. Tin
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Blink Fitness Inks Multi-Unit Deals Representing Nearly 40 Units
New York City — Blink Fitness, a premium-quality, affordable fitness concept, has hit its stride with multi-unit franchising. In the past few months, Blink has signed three major franchise development agreements representing nearly 40 units in Sacramento, Calif.; Boston and
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Potbelly Sandwich Shop Plans 38 New Franchise Units
Chicago — Potbelly Corporation, a neighborhood sandwich shop concept, has signed three new franchise agreements. Over the last 6 months, the company signed franchise agreements that, when fully built out over the coming years, will nearly double its franchise footprint
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Newk’s Eatery Signs 18-Unit Development Agreement
Jackson, Miss. — Newk’s Eatery plans an 18-restaurant expansion across Texas and Oklahoma over the next few years. Openings are slated for 10 Dallas area locations, as well as eight Oklahoma locations throughout Oklahoma City, Norman, Moore and Stillwater. “We’re
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Indian Fast-Casual Concept ‘Curry Up Now’ Opens First East Coast Location
Atlanta — Curry Up Now, a fast growing Indian fast-casual concept in the United States, will open its first franchise location on July 30, 2019 in Decatur, Ga. The new greater Atlanta area storefront is the brand’s first East Coast
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