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Ascent Hospitality Management Appoints Chief Technology Officer

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Ascent Hospitality Management, franchisor to family dining brands Huddle House and Perkins American Food Co., has named Brian Wallunas as chief technology officer. In this role, Wallunas will lead the company’s digital strategy, with a focus on implementing customer-centric technology solutions that drive operational efficiency, elevate the guest experience and fuel brand growth. Most recently, Wallunas served as chief technology officer at Smokey Bones. Under his leadership, online sales tripled, and the brand’s guest engagement capabilities were significantly enhanced. “Brian is a forward-thinking technology leader with a deep …

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construction and designNewsretailers

T&T Supermarkets Plans Largest California Store in Chino Hills

by Katie Lee

Chino Hills, Calif. — T&T Supermarket Inc., Canada’s largest Asian grocery retailer, plans to open its second store in Southern California at the Crossroads Marketplace Chino Hills, set to open in fall 2026. Following the announcement of its upcoming store in the Great Park community of Irvine, this will mark T&T’s sixth planned location in the United States. The new T&T location will be the latest Asian grocer to join the suburban community that is considered one of the best places to live in California. The 61,000-square-feet store will join …

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facilities managementNewsplumbingvendors

Chicago Faucets to Host Public Health Webinar

by Katie Lee

Des Plaines, Ill. — As water safety regulations continue to evolve across the U.S., Chicago Faucets is hosting a new, expert-led webinar on June 19 at 11am CST designed to help facility managers stay ahead of compliance challenges. The webinar will be presented by Spenser Johnson, director of water safety and management at Barclay Water Management, Inc. This educational topic will be presented Thursday, June 19, 2025, 11:00 am CST. Click here to register. While not all facilities are directly regulated by organizations like American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Shipley Do-Nuts Opens First Location in Virginia

by Katie Lee

Houston — Shipley Do-Nuts, a fast-growing donut and kolache brand with more than 375 shops, has opened its first Virginia location in Lynchburg. The new shop marks Shipley’s expansion into its 14th state. Founded in 1936 in Texas and expanding rapidly into new states such as Virginia, Shipley offers more than 60 varieties of fresh donuts, handmade daily. These include its signature hot glazed, cut in the iconic Shipley hexagon shape, plus filled, iced and cake donuts, bear claws, coffee and more. Owned by Lexington, Va.-based businessman and Texas native …

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Google Store Opens First Texas Location

by Katie Lee

Austin, Texas — On May 30, Google Store celebrated the grand opening of its first store in Texas with its new location at Domain NORTHSIDE in Austin. The new store has approximately 2,257 square feet of selling space. For the first time ever, shoppers in the Austin area can have hands-on experiences in a dedicated retail space with products made by Google, such as Pixel phones, watches and tablets, Nest cameras, Fitbit trackers and branded merchandise. The Google Store has experts on hand to help visitors get the most out …

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Newspeoplerestaurants

Texas Roadhouse Chief Financial Officer Departs; Interim CFO Named

by Katie Lee

Louisville, Ky. — The chief financial officer of Texas Roadhouse, Inc., Chris Monroe, is no longer with the company. He was hired on June 28, 2023. The board of directors has appointed Keith Humpich, vice president of finance, as interim CFO until a permanent successor has been identified. Humpich, who served as interim CFO from January 2023 to June 2023, has more than 30 years of accounting, audit and finance experience. He joined Texas Roadhouse in February 2005 as the director and then senior director of internal audit. In 2021, …

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NewsProduct Spotlightretailerssoftware/technologyvendors

Simbe and NY Grocer DeCicco & Sons Team Up at New Flagship Location

by Katie Lee

Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. — Simbe, a market leader in retail shelf digitization, has formed a strategic partnership with DeCicco & Sons, a family-owned New York grocery chain. The partnership brings Simbe’s Store Intelligence™ platform to DeCicco’s flagship Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., location, which opened in March 2025, as well as additional stores in Eastchester and Larchmont. Simbe’s platform delivers real-time, storewide visibility into pricing accuracy, product availability and inventory placement — supporting greater operational precision and in-store execution. “At DeCicco & Sons, we’ve always prided ourselves on providing the finest selection …

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franchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurants

MOOYAH Names Industry Veteran as Next President

by Katie Lee

Plano, Texas — MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes has appointed Michael Meche as president. A seasoned restaurant executive with significant leadership experience, Meche will lead MOOYAH into its next stage of growth, focusing on franchisee success, operational excellence and people-oriented leadership. Most recently, Meche served as chief restaurant officer for sister brands Capriotti’s and Wing Zone, where he helped to elevate guest experience, enhance franchisee performance and develop strong operating teams. He began his restaurant journey in high school as a team member at Papa John’s and steadily climbed the …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsretailers

Pet Supplies Plus and Wag N’ Wash Report Double Digit Mid-Year Growth

by Katie Lee

Livonia, Mich. — With the franchise industry expected to generate $936.4 billion in economic output this year, pet retail franchise leaders Pet Supplies Plus and Wag N’ Wash are capitalizing on the record-setting momentum with double-digit growth through the first half of 2025. The two brands have secured 15 new franchise agreements so far and are on track to open more than 25 stores in 2025, with a goal of selling 35 locations by year’s end. “The first half of 2025 has been incredibly successful and speaks to the strength …

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franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Fazoli’s Debuts First International Location in Canada

by Katie Lee

Los Angeles — Fazoli’s, FAT Brands’ fast and fresh Italian chain, has officially reached a new milestone, the opening of its first international location in Canada in Calgary, Alberta. This marks the first of 25 units set to open across the country over the next 9 years in partnership with Briwin Restaurants Inc. “For over 35 years, we have experienced strong growth domestically, and look forward to this new global chapter,” says Gregg Nettleton, president of Fazoli’s. “Our partner, Briwin Restaurants Inc., has also seen great success within this market …

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