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Subway Names New Chief Executive Officer

by Katie Lee

Miami — Subway®, one of the world’s largest restaurant brands, has named Jonathan Fitzpatrick as chief executive officer (CEO), effective July 28, 2025, following a comprehensive search.  With more than two decades of franchising and quick-service restaurant experience, Fitzpatrick has a proven track record of elevating sales and operational performance across global networks. Most recently, he served as president and CEO of Driven Brands where he led a best-in-class team to 17 consecutive quarters of same-store sales growth. Previously, Fitzpatrick served in a range of senior leadership positions at Burger …

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CAVA Opens First Michigan Restaurant, Expanding to 28th State

by Katie Lee

Washington, D.C. — CAVA, a category-defining Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant brand, has opened its first restaurant in Michigan, located in Canton. The company is quickly growing its national footprint, with plans to open additional restaurants in Michigan later this year, and targets 1,000 restaurants by 2032. CAVA opened 58 net new restaurants in the 2024 fiscal year and expects at least 17% growth in 2025. With its entrance into Michigan, CAVA’s total national footprint reaches 28 states and the District of Columbia. CAVA Canton is a 3,850-square-foot location with a dining …

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The Big Biscuit Remodels Original Flagship Location; Marks 25th Anniversary

by Katie Lee

Independence, Mo. — The Big Biscuit, a modern All-American breakfast and lunch franchise concept known for its classic comfort food served with genuine hometown hospitality, has officially reopened its original location in Independence, Mo. On June 27, the restaurant completed a major renovation following an 11-day closure and a $250,000 remodel. The refreshed restaurant reflects the brand’s continued investment in elevating the guest experience, starting with the very location where it all began. The remodel included new flooring, updated walls and lighting, kitchen upgrades, improved restrooms, landscaping and fencing, and …

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Smoothie King Marks Biggest Sales Weekend in Brand History

by Katie Lee

Dallas — In June, Smoothie King achieved a major milestone with the biggest sales weekend in the brand’s 52-year history. Kicking off the weekend on Friday, June 20th, the brand reached its highest single-day systemwide sales ever; and the momentum continued through National Smoothie Day on June 21st, which marked the brand’s busiest Saturday ever. The historic run was capped off by the highest-traffic Sunday of the year. On the development front, Smoothie King added 25 new store commitments across 12 states in the second quarter of 2025, with especially …

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Perkins’ New Concept, Griddle & Go, Sells 46 Units in New Jersey

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Perkins American Food Co., is growing its presence in New Jersey with the latest Perkins concept, Griddle & Go. The company recently signed multi-unit franchise deals in Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties, selling out in all four markets. Perkins Griddle & Go is a new state-of-the-art café concept, and the Garden State boasts the most significant number of upcoming units for the brand. The first location is slated to open by October 2025 at the highly anticipated Netflix Studios campus in Fort Monmouth. “Franchisees across the country …

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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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