franchise development

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% …

Atlanta — Craveworthy Brands, a fast-growing multi-brand restaurant platform, is collaborating with the Georgia Institute of Technology to bring multiple concepts in its portfolio to campus under Crave Kitchen Georgia Tech. Set to open in August 2026 on the second level of the John Lewis Student Center, the location will serve a student body of more than 56,000 at one of the nation’s leading public research universities. Craveworthy’s differentiated model brings multiple brands together within a food hall, supported by the infrastructure to operate efficiently at scale. Non-traditional venues — …

Phoenix — Bringing a taste of Carolina flavor to the Grand Canyon State, Bojangles has officially landed in the Phoenix DMA. The new restaurant, located in Gilbert, Ariz., opened on July 20 and marks its first location in the state of Arizona. This expansion into Arizona marks a significant step in Bojangles’ strategic growth plan. In the past year, the brand has successfully entered new markets, with its most recent opening Morganville, N.J., following expansions into in Oklahoma City; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Austin, Texas; Brooklyn, N.Y.; Piscataway, N.J.; Las Vegas; …

Cincinnati — Penn Station Sandwiches, formerly Penn Station East Coast Subs, is celebrating a strong first half of 2026 driven by a strategic brand refresh, expanded menu offerings and accelerated franchise growth. The company’s new identity reflects its commitment to innovation while staying rooted in the high-quality subs and sandwiches, fresh-cut fries and hand-squeezed lemonade that have defined the brand for more than 40 years. The transition to Penn Station Sandwiches marks an evolution for the company as it broadens its appeal to new audiences. The rebrand is designed to …

Atlanta — Atlanta-based chicken chain Zaxbys® is opening its first two locations in New York this summer, representing a significant step in its national expansion strategy and bringing its operations across 24 states. Zaxbys is opening new restaurants in the Bronx and Manhattan. “New York is one of the most influential food cities in the world, and we’re incredibly proud to introduce Zaxbys to this market,” says Bernard Acoca, chief executive officer of Zaxbys. “Opening our first two restaurants in New York this summer marks an exciting milestone in our …