News

MarineMax Expands in Texas with Acquisition of Towboat Retailer

by Katie Lee November 3, 2021

Clearwater, Fla. — MarineMax, Inc., the world’s largest recreational boat and yacht retailer, has acquired the assets of Texas MasterCraft. Texas MasterCraft is a full-service Dallas-area towboat dealer that operates primarily from two locations. The Dallas-area market is the largest towboat market in the United States. Texas MasterCraft is recognized annually as the largest MasterCraft dealer in the world. Jimmy Harvell launched Texas MasterCraft in 2001, after several years teaching as a waterski pro and working with various other Dallas-area dealerships. The dealership benefits from a private lake it owns, …

November 3, 2021

Aloha Poke Co. Enters Georgia Market

by Katie Lee November 3, 2021

Chicago — Aloha Poke Co., the nation’s premier fast-casual poke restaurant concept, has expanded into the Atlanta market. This venture marks the first Aloha Poke fast-casual eatery in the state of Georgia, with potential to add more throughout 2022. Aloha Poke’s Atlanta expansion signals a surge in growth for the brand and follows major growth in Texas and other states. “Aloha Poke Co. is thrilled to come to Georgia,” says Chris Birkinshaw, CEO, Aloha Poke Co. “We are happy that the people of Atlanta and surrounding communities will have access …

November 3, 2021

News retailers

Johnson Fitness and Wellness Acquires Gym Source Retail Stores

by Katie Lee November 3, 2021

Cottage Grove, Wis. — Johnson Fitness and Wellness, the world’s largest specialty fitness retailer and the retail division of Johnson Health Tech, will acquire all Gym Source retail locations across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia and Connecticut. The acquisition of Gym Source locations — which will be folded under the Johnson Fitness and Wellness brand — increases the number of Johnson Fitness and Wellness retail stores to 100 in the U.S. and 365 stores globally. Gym Source will continue to operate as a …

November 3, 2021

franchise development News restaurants

FAT Brands Inc. to Acquire Fazoli’s Restaurant Chain for $130 Million

by Katie Lee November 2, 2021

Los Angeles — FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc. has agreed to acquire Fazoli’s for $130 million from funds under management by Sentinel Capital Partners. This acquisition brings to FAT Brands the largest premium QSR Italian chain in the U.S., and will be funded with cash from the issuance of new notes from the company’s securitization facilities. The transaction is expected to close by mid-December 2021. The planned acquisition of Fazoli’s further speaks to FAT Brands’ recent diversification of its restaurant portfolio, making a foray into the Italian quick-service dining …

November 2, 2021

construction and design News people vendors

IMPACT Strategies Adds Market Development Manager

by Katie Lee November 1, 2021

Fairview Heights, Ill. — Cole Loftus joins the team at IMPACT Strategies in the newly created position of market development manager. In his new role, Loftus will continue in IMPACT’s core purpose of developing industry relationships by identifying, qualifying and developing project pursuit opportunities across the firm’s multiple markets which include Missouri, Illinois and Ohio/Northern Kentucky. “The addition of Cole to our team will help us continue to grow as a company, while still providing excellence in construction to our clients,” says Nick Walker, vice president, project development and strategy …

November 1, 2021

franchise development News restaurants

Muscle Maker Signs 40-Unit International Franchise Deal

by Katie Lee November 1, 2021

League City, Texas — Muscle Maker Inc., the parent company of Muscle Maker Grill, Pokemoto and SuperFit Foods, has inked a Master Franchise Agreement for 40 units in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, solidifying the company’s second multi-unit international deal. The newly signed 40-unit agreement will grow the company’s international footprint by 400%. Muscle Maker Grill previously signed a 10-unit deal in Kuwait. Muscle Makers’ current Kuwaiti international franchise partners Abrar Kadhem Almatrouk, Abdullah Kadhem Almatrouk, Yousef Kadhem Almatrouk and Essa Kadhem Almatrouk will expand the brand across Saudi Arabia …

November 1, 2021

construction and design franchise development News restaurants

Shipley Do-Nuts Breaks Ground on New Headquarters

by Katie Lee October 29, 2021

Houston — Shipley Do-Nuts, the iconic Houston-born do-nut shop brand, celebrated its 85th anniversary with a groundbreaking on Oct. 28 for its new 60,000-square-foot corporate headquarters at Cullen and Gulf Freeway in Houston. The site is well-known to Houstonians as the location of the old Finger Furniture flagship showroom and, before that, Buff Stadium, home to minor league baseball’s Houston Buffalos from 1928-1961. The state-of-the-art facility, slated to open in the last quarter of 2022, will feature a full working flagship Shipley Do-Nut shop with an interior drive-thru going right …

October 29, 2021

News people retailers

Boot Barn Appoints New Chief Financial Officer

by Katie Lee October 28, 2021

Irvine, Calif. — Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. has appointed a new chief financial officer, Jim Watkins, effective November 1, 2021. Watkins has worked at Boot Barn in a variety of roles since October 2014, most recently as the company’s senior vice president, finance and investor relations. Prior to joining Boot Barn, Watkins was the vice president, corporate controller and principal accounting officer of Mindspeed Technologies, a publicly traded semiconductor company. Greg Hackman will continue as Boot Barn’s executive vice president and chief operating officer. Hackman joined Boot Barn in 2015 …

October 28, 2021

construction and design News restaurants

Grinders Coffee Bar Teams Up with Harrison to Rebrand and Reopen as New Concept: Wild

by Katie Lee October 28, 2021

Houston — Grinders Coffee Bar and CBD Apothecary is preparing to become the go-to upscale destination for exploring natural cannabis derivatives and Hemp-infused coffee, mocktails/cocktails, pastries and more in a “lounge” type environment when it reopens to the Houston community as Wild. With the help of Dallas-based architecture and design firm Harrison, Wild will open as a boutique dispensary, coffee shop and bar in a lounge environment. Harrison’s work for Wild spans from identity exploration and concept development to extensive branding such as logo, packaging, merchandising and building design. The …

October 28, 2021

News people retailers

Levi Strauss & Co. Makes Management Changes

by Katie Lee October 27, 2021

San Francisco — Levi Strauss & Co. has made a change of leadership in its commercial organization. Sanjeev Mohanty, senior vice president and managing director of South Asia-Middle East and Africa for Levi Strauss & Co. (LS&Co.), will become the senior vice president and managing director for U.S. and Canada — the company’s largest and most complex commercial operations cluster, spanning all brands and channels. Mohanty is a veteran retailer and apparel executive who has held roles with a number of global brands over the span of his career, including …

October 27, 2021

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