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La-Z-Boy Incorporated to Acquire 15 La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® Stores in Southeast

by Katie Lee

Monroe, Mich. — La-Z-Boy Incorporated, a global leader in the retail and manufacture of residential furniture, has signed an asset purchase agreement to acquire a La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® store network in the southeastern United States from Atlanta Furniture Galleries, LLC, owned by Tom and Amy DeGoey. The DeGoey business is the second-largest independent operator within the entire La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® store network, with 15 stores, four warehouses and approximately $80 million in annual sales. The acquisition will provide continuity for the highly successful Southeast-based business. Once complete, the 15 stores …

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Edible Brands Names Hospitality Veteran as President and Chief Stores Officer

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Edible Brands®, the parent company of Edible Arrangements®, Roti Modern Mediterranean® and Edibles.com, has appointed seasoned restaurant and franchising leader Matthew Walls as president and chief stores officer. A seasoned executive with extensive experience across operations, development, technology and general management, Walls will play a critical role in driving innovation, empowering franchisees and elevating all three of the brand’s core businesses. Walls’ background spans a variety of disciplines, from logistics and business intelligence to domestic and international growth, equipping him with a broad, strategic lens for scaling complex …

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Pure Green Aims to Have 100 Locations Open by 2026

by Katie Lee

Sunrise, Fla. — Pure Green, a functional wellness brand on a mission to build healthier communities through clean, nutrient-dense smoothies, açaí bowls, cold-pressed juices and wellness shots, is rapidly expanding its footprint and closing in on a major milestone: 100 open locations by early 2026. In just 6 months, the juice bar has grown from 43 to 70 open units — a 63% increase — and is on track to open three to five new stores each month through the end of the year. Founded in New York City in …

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R&R Brands Launches to Elevate Hospitality and Entertainment

by Katie Lee

Baton Rouge, La. — R&R Brands has officially launched as a parent company and embedded operating partner powering a portfolio of nearly 50 restaurant and entertainment locations across seven states. Built by operators, for operators, R&R exists to scale brands with real alignment and zero spin. The R&R Brands portfolio currently includes Party Fowl, Cody’s Original Roadhouse, Santa Fe Cattle Co., multiple franchise locations of Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux and Celebrity Theatres. Uniquely structured as both franchisor and franchisee — while also owning and operating brands directly — R&R brings a …

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PJ’s Coffee Opens First Location in Virginia

by Katie Lee

Alexandria, Va. — New Orleans-based PJ’s Coffee opened its first Virginia location, in Alexandria, on July 8. Located on the ground floor of the 400-unit South Alex apartment complex, the standalone café brings a taste of the French Quarter to Virginia with its signature beignets, small-batch roasted coffee and seasonal sips. Alexandria’s PJ’s Coffee marks the brand’s 15th state and seventh location in Maryland. The Alexandria location is locally owned and operated by the husband-and-wife entrepreneurs Ronald and Sofiya Ali Parker, both longtime residents of the Alexandria-Burgundy Village area. Phyllis …

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Fatburger Accelerates Florida Growth with 40-Unit Development Deal

by Katie Lee

Los Angeles — FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc., parent company of Fatburger and 17 other restaurant concepts, has signed a new development deal with existing franchisee Whole Factor Inc., to open 40 additional Fatburger locations across Florida over the next 10 years, including new areas such as Jacksonville. Since 2021, Whole Factor Inc. has been steadily growing the Fatburger brand across the state with a 14-unit development deal to grow in the Orlando and Tampa areas, with two restaurants open to date in Riverview and Celebration. “Two years ago, …

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Zaxbys Inks First Development Agreement for the Chicagoland Area

by Katie Lee

Chicago — Zaxbys™, a rapidly expanding Georgia-based QSR franchise, is making its entrance in the Chicagoland market. The brand has signed a multi-unit development agreement with a seasoned local entrepreneur to open several new restaurants across Chicago, with the first location expected to open within the next year. The operator, a Chicagoland native with nearly two decades of restaurant experience, currently owns and operates Zaxbys locations in Kansas City, Mo. The new agreement solidifies Zaxbys commitment to strategic growth in high-potential markets. “We’ve been looking to bring Zaxbys to Chicago …

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Cousins Maine Lobster Marks Milestone: Over $1  Billion in Systemwide Sales

by Katie Lee

Portland, Me. — Cousins Maine Lobster, the national food truck and fast‑casual dining concept beloved for its authentic Maine lobster rolls, has surpassed $1 billion in systemwide sales since its founding in 2012. Co‑founders and real-life cousins Sabin Lomac and Jim Tselikis celebrated the milestone. “This is an incredible moment, growing from a single food truck in Los Angeles to more than 85 units across the nation, we’ve brought the taste and spirit of Maine to diners nationwide — and built a franchise family along the way,” they said. Notable achievements: …

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Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café Makes North Carolina Debut

by Katie Lee

Cary, N.C. — Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café is making its North Carolina debut. The first location in the Tar Heel State will open in Cary next year, marking a major milestone in the brand’s continued southern expansion. The new location will open in first quarter 2026 at 1 Fenton Main St. The Cary store will mark the second opening under a landmark 15-unit development agreement between Sweet Paris and Virentes Hospitality, an investment arm of the multifamily office Virentes Partners Group. Comprised of three families of seasoned operators, Virentes …

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Stretch Zone Celebrates 400th Location

by Katie Lee

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. — Stretch Zone, the nation’s leader in practitioner-assisted stretching, announced today the opening of three new locations across the country, reaching 400 studio locations — marking a major milestone in the brand’s rapid national expansion. Stretch Zone has achieved this growth without a single location failure, a rare feat in the franchise world, and a testament to the brand’s proven model, operational excellence and robust franchise support. The multi-location debut underscores Stretch Zone’s momentum and growing national footprint, with three new studios set to open in Rogers, Ark.; …

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