franchise development

Atlanta — Chicken Salad Chick, the nation’s only fast-casual chicken salad restaurant concept, plans to open its first restaurant in New York, which will expand the brand’s footprint to 27 states. The grand opening will take place on Sept. 22 at The Shops at Village Plaza in Clifton Park, N.Y. Chicken Salad Chick of Clifton Park is the first restaurant to open under a 25-unit franchise agreement bringing locations to the Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and the Upper Hudson Valley areas across New York. The agreement represents Chicken Salad Chick’s …

San Diego — QDOBA Mexican Eats has signed a new development agreement for 17 restaurants across San Diego County in California. The agreement is led by Hyperion Brands, LLC, a San Diego based multi-unit operator. “California is a priority growth market for QDOBA,” says Jeremy Vitaro, chief development officer at QDOBA. “We’re excited to grow the brand with the Hyperion Brands team, a proven, operations-first organization that also brings a strong development track record and a hometown advantage.” QDOBA and its franchise partners currently operate approximately 875 restaurants, with plans …

Detroit — Little Caesars®, the third-largest pizza chain in the world, is building on its commitment to serving military communities with four new locations planned across U.S. Navy installations. The expansion follows the brand’s first military base opening at Pearl Harbor in 2025 and marks another step in its continued non-traditional growth. “Military communities are an important part of Little Caesars and our commitment to supporting those who serve,” says Sally Rampersad, director of non-traditional and development services for Little Caesars. “Since 2006, the Little Caesars Veterans program has helped …

St. Petersburg, Fla. — WOWorks, the parent company of better-for-you restaurant brands Saladworks, Frutta Bowls, Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh, The Simple Greek, Barberitos and Zoup! Eatery, has opened 23 new restaurants so far this year, with 15 additional locations currently in development. This brings WOWorks’ total footprint to nearly 240 restaurants nationwide and puts the company on pace for nearly 40 new stores by year’s end. New restaurants have launched across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast — including Ohio, Missouri, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Florida, Alabama, Virginia, Georgia and Texas — as …

Woodbury, Minn. — Moe’s Southwest Grill is bringing its bold flavors and signature hospitality to the Twin Cities area with the opening of its first traditional restaurant in the market. Slated to open by late September in Woodbury, Minn., the new location marks a milestone in the brand’s regional expansion and introduces local guests to the full Moe’s restaurant experience. While Moe’s currently serves travelers at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, the new 2,605-square-foot Woodbury restaurant is the brand’s first brick-and-mortar location in the Twin Cities area. “The Twin Cities area …

West Palm Beach, Fla. — During the first 6 months of the year, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill signed 20 domestic franchise agreements — including four multi-unit development agreements — totaling 30 future restaurants across high-growth markets, while also securing its first-ever franchise agreement in Massachusetts. The brand currently has 92 restaurants open across 22 states and internationally. Development activity included six locations for Nassau County, N.Y.; five locations for Dallas; three locations for Naples, Fla.; five locations spanning Omaha, Neb., and Sioux Falls, S.D.; two locations for Bakersfield, Calif.; …