Washington, D.C. — Jersey Mike’s Subs has been rapidly expanding throughout the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia (“DMV”) region with the help of real estate partner KLNB. In total, KLNB has closed 17 deals for Jersey Mike’s across the DMV over the past 18 months, for a total of nearly 27,000 square feet and a lease volume of $10.46 million. KLNB has a long-standing partnership with Jersey Mike’s and has represented the company’s real estate interests throughout the DMV for 8 years. KLNB principal Ryan Minnehan and retail specialist Michael …
franchise development
Philadelphia — Greek from Greece (GFG) Bakery-Café, the authentic Greek fast-casual phenomenon, has finalized a deal to open its first franchise location. Franchisee Dimitri Gouliaberis plans to open the new location this summer at a site near Drexel University in Philadelphia. GFG Bakery-Café continues to build momentum, launching recent expansions in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida and Pennsylvania that will more than quadruple the brand’s footprint in the next year. “I spent my adolescence in Greece, but my adulthood in America,” says Gouliberis. “I wanted to combine the fast-paced …
Hilton Head Island, S.C. — Slapfish, a fast-growing, fast-casual seafood restaurant, continues expansion in the Southeast with its first stand-alone location in Hilton Head Island, S.C. The restaurant is a conversion of a former convenience store site. Building on the Pooler, Ga., grand opening late last year, Hilton Head marks the second Slapfish location owned and operated by the Lomasney family franchise group. The Lomasneys converted a former convenience store into the modern restaurant space, including a walk-up ordering window to take advantage of Hilton Head’s expansive biking and walking …
Fayetteville, Ark. — Slim Chickens, which features dine-in and drive-thru in the “better chicken” segment, plans to open more than 30 restaurants in 2020 alone. Franchise locations are slated to open in new domestic markets including Maryland, New Jersey, Florida and Washington, to name a few. Internationally, franchise restaurants will open across the United Kingdom in markets like Reading, Southampton and Kent. Slim Chickens works well in traditional and non-traditional environments alike. In fact, the brand has openings planned for several non-traditional venues this year, including restaurants at three universities, …
Midvale, Utah — Curry Up Now, the award-winning and largest and fastest growing Indian fast-casual concept that’s known for its innovative approach to Indian cuisine, is celebrating the opening of its first Utah restaurant in Midvale on February 28, 2020. This opening marks the first Curry Up Now outpost in the region and continues the brand’s nationwide expansion. With the Midvale outpost, Curry Up Now operates 11 restaurants across the country and has more than 40 additional franchised units in varying stages of development across the United States, including another …
Newport Beach, Calif. — Mountain Mike’s Pizza, a leading Southern California-based family-style pizza chain, will open two new restaurants featuring the brand’s updated prototype and refreshed guest experience this spring in Costa Mesa and Fountain Valley, Calif. The decision to plant deeper roots in Orange County was spearheaded by Chris Britt and Ed St. Geme, co-CEOs and principal owners of Mountain Mike’s Pizza, who acquired the brand in 2017. The opening of these new Orange County locations will bring the brand to nearly 220 units and mark the county’s second …
— Interview by Katie Lee — As A&W approaches the second year of its second century of operation, it looks to a promising future while also honoring its iconic past. With almost 1,000 locations open in the U.S. and Asia, A&W Restaurants — which first introduced its famous root beer in 1919 — knows a thing or two about growth and longevity. In its first 100 years, A&W weathered every up and down that a restaurant could face. Early in 2020, Retail & Restaurant Facility Business interviewed Paul …
Dallas — MOOYAH Burgers Fries & Shakes, a “better burger” fast-casual franchise, plans continued expansion into new markets and a revamped restaurant model. In 2020, MOOYAH will be opening 14 new locations, all of which will feature the new prototype design. The design includes dining room seating zones created to accommodate community dining, dedicated third-party delivery and pickup shelving, closed kitchens, digital menu boards and an overall more modern vibe. The redesign, which includes a refreshed logo, was created in collaboration with Madrid-based design company Livit — a team of …
Panama City, Fla. — Slim Chickens, a leading fast-casual franchise which features dine-in and drive-through in the “better chicken” segment, plans to open its first location in Florida in the spring. The forthcoming restaurant, which will be in Panama City, comes out of the brand’s recent 10-unit franchise agreement covering the Florida Panhandle. There will also be a location coming to the Callaway area. Chris and Amy McMillan, along with business partners Richard Maddox, Adam Cantrell and Becky Retherford, are bringing Slim Chickens to the region and are all local …
Montclair, N.J. — Jersey Mike’s Subs recently opened on the campus of Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J. The sub shop is run by the school’s foodservice partner, Montclair State Dining through Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services. This is Jersey Mike’s first partnership with Chartwells. “We couldn’t be prouder to work with this team [Chartwells] that shares our commitment to quality products and a high-energy customer experience,” says Phil Capozzi, vice president, non-traditional, Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems, Inc. Jersey Mike’s at the Plaza at Blanton Hall joins other dining options …