franchise development

Columbia, S.C. — Surcheros® is expanding into South Carolina. The fast-casual favorite plans to open 4 new locations in the Columbia area over the next 4 years, with the first restaurant in Forest Acres set to open in November 2024. Surcheros also recently announced plans to enter Tennessee. Surcheros currently operates 30 restaurants across Georgia and Florida. Earlier this year, the company announced plans to open 100 restaurants within the next 5 years, with 15 to 20 locations expected to open in the next 10 to 18 months. “This is …

Pittsburgh — Dave’s Hot Chicken, the Los Angeles-based street food sensation turned break-through fast-casual brand, has signed a multi-unit agreement to open 10 locations over the next 5 years across Pittsburgh. The 10-unit deal is with established entrepreneurs and business partners Danny Costa, Michael Costa and Jonathan Wise along with Raj Patel, who already owns seven Dave’s Hot Chickens across Chicago and Indiana. The Costas and Wise, who own and operate 75 Dunkin’ locations in Pennsylvania and Maine, along with Patel, who owns and operates over 100 franchise locations with …

San Diego — QDOBA has inked a series of franchise development agreements that will significantly expand the brand’s presence with 39 new locations across key markets in the United States. Led by franchise operators Cafua Management Company and Mountain View Management among other experienced franchisees, this announcement underscores QDOBA’s aggressive growth strategy aimed at doubling its footprint to 1,500 units over the next 7 years. Leveraging their success with Dunkin’ franchises, Rick Albert and Mark Cafua are expanding into QDOBA with five new restaurants some of which are planned for …

Newport Beach, Calif. — Juice It Up!, a leading handcrafted smoothie, raw juice and açaí and superfruit bowl chain, has opened three new locations in the first half of the year, debuting in Long Beach, Bakersfield and Reedley, Calif., with another nine locations on track to open this year. With 30+ locations in the development pipeline, Juice It Up! is set to reach its 100-location milestone by the end of 2024, setting the brand on pace to surpass its 200-unit goal by 2028. “We are extremely happy to close the …

Phoenix — GoTo Foods, the parent company of Auntie Anne’s®, Carvel®, Cinnabon®, Jamba®, McAlister’s Deli®, Moe’s Southwest Grill and Schlotzsky’s®, has expanded Moe’s Southwest Grill into Arizona with a five-unit franchise agreement that will bring locations to the greater Phoenix area. Behind the deal are serial entrepreneurs and father-son team, Tony and Namit Mangat. “As proud Arizona residents, my son and I are excited for the opportunity to be the first to bring Moe’s Southwest Grill to the state,” says Tony Mangat. “We’ve wanted to make the jump into the …

South Portland, Maine — South Portland-based lobster roll concept Cousins Maine Lobster has announced plans for a multi-state food truck tour throughout the Midwest to introduce the brand to new markets. Franchisee Chris Papp — whose portfolio includes two restaurants and four food trucks — will lead the tour. Scheduled for Aug. 7-16, the tour will stop at breweries and festivals in South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri.