franchise development

Dallas and New York City — Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc., parent company of the Pollo Tropical® restaurant brand, and Authentic Restaurant Brands (ARB), a portfolio company of Garnett Station Partners, LLC, a New York-based principal investment firm, have entered into a definitive agreement under which a wholly owned subsidiary of ARB will acquire Fiesta in an all-cash transaction. ARB’s current brands include Primanti Bros Restaurant & Bar, P.J. Whelihan’s Pub & Restaurant and Mambo Seafood. ARB is led by industry veterans including Chairman Alex Macedo and CEO Felipe Athayde. Upon …

Los Angeles — Great American Cookies has opened its 400th location. Since its inception in 1977, the iconic chain, known for its original chocolate chip cookie recipe, has spread to 31 states and five countries around the world. In the last 2 years, the brand has opened 73 new locations and entered new states such as Alaska, Arizona, Illinois and New Mexico. The steady expansion of the brand can be attributed, in part, to its successful co-branding model with sister brand Marble Slab Creamery. Launching in 2009, there are now …

Dallas and Minneapolis — Dunn Brothers Coffee, a growing specialty coffee franchise, has named Scott Harvey as its new president. The appointment comes at the forefront of strategic brand growth, with Harvey spearheading both franchising and consumer packaged goods (CPG) initiatives. Tapping into his significant leadership experience and accomplished past in the coffee and restaurant categories, Harvey joins Dunn Brothers Coffee fresh off serving as president and CEO of Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery, a fast-casual concept serving Caribbean cuisine and baked goods, with more than 100 restaurants. Previously, he was …

Pasadena, Calif. — Through mid-year, Wetzel’s Pretzels has driven a 9.1% increase in same-store sales and a 6.3% uptick in foot traffic. The brand opened 20 new bakeries through second quarter, well on its way to opening its milestone 400th location. “Fueled by innovative marketing, digital enhancements and a variety of flexible store formats, Wetzel’s continues to set new high-water marks for AUV and store growth,” says Vincent Montanelli, chief operating officer of Wetzel’s Pretzels. “After finishing 2022 with a 35% increase in same-store sales versus 2019, we’re excited to …

Charlotte, N.C. — Bojangles, a beloved franchise famous for its chicken, biscuits and tea, has signed a multi-unit development agreement to bring 20 new restaurants to Las Vegas, as well as the development of restaurants within 10 TravelCenters of America franchise locations across Western markets. The expansion will be led by TravelCenters of America franchisee, LVP Restaurant Group, LLC, an entity of LV Petroleum, and its investment partner, Kingsbarn Realty Capital, as the developer. “This expansion represents an incredible opportunity to share Bojangles with the Las Vegas community. The city’s …

Los Angeles — Great American Cookies, the Original Cookie Cake franchise, is opening its first locations in Philadelphia. Both situated at the Franklin Mills Mall, the new stores represent the cookie chain’s commitment to domestic expansion on the East Coast. “At Great American Cookies, every new store opening is an opportunity to bring joy to a local community,” says Allison Lauenstein, president of Great American Cookies. “Making our debut in Philadelphia is a tremendous opportunity for Great American Cookies from a brand visibility standpoint and we look forward to treating …

Austin, Texas — Clean Juice®, the first and only USDA-certified organic juice and food bar franchise, is opening its first Austin, Texas, store with father-and-son duo franchisees Jeff and Ty Mobley. The new Clean Juice will open on July 29 in the William Cannon area across from Arbor Trails Plaza. “We were impressed from the first moment we walked through the doors,” says Ty Mobley, who is also a former award-winning collegiate soccer player. “The cleanliness of the restaurant and the freshness of the food presentation was on point. We …

Wichita, Kan. — Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers® has signed a franchise development agreement led by new franchisee, Ellis Choi, to debut eight new restaurants in LA County, Calif., a key target market in the U.S. for the brand. This announcement comes on the heels of two quarters of growth, ending the first half of the year with more than 480 locations across 36 states. Freddy’s has set its sights on reaching 500 units later this year. “As we build upon a momentous first half of the year, we are …