Auburn, Ala. — Chicken Salad Chick, a Southern-inspired, fast-casual chicken salad restaurant concept, has promoted five existing brand leaders amid the company’s ongoing growth and success. The brand has promoted three executives to its C-suite, including Jim Thompson as chief operating officer, Terry McKee as chief development officer and Tom Carr as chief marketing officer. Additionally, the company has appointed Mary Lou Atkins as vice president of human resources and Carrie Evans as vice president of franchise development. Chicken Salad Chick has grown exponentially in recent years, more than quadrupling …
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Newport, Ky., and Atlanta — An affiliate of Roark Capital, an Atlanta-based private equity firm, has closed on an investment in Divisions Maintenance Group. Divisions Maintenance Group is a tech-based provider of integrated facilities maintenance services for prominent retail chains, pharmacies, grocery stores, warehouses, distribution centers and REITs across more than 46,000 locations in all 50 states. Newport, Ky.-based DMG’s proprietary systems and technology connect customers with maintenance solutions to transform their facility program by managing vendors, collecting data and maximizing cost-savings. “We are delighted to partner with Roark,” says …
Los Angeles — FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc. has agreed to acquire the Johnny Rockets restaurant chain from an affiliate of private equity firm Sun Capital Partners, Inc. for approximately $25 million. The deal will be funded through cash on hand and proceeds generated from the company’s securitization facility. The purchase is expected to be completed in September 2020. With the acquisition of Johnny Rockets, FAT Brands will have more than 700 franchised and company-owned restaurants around the globe. Johnny Rockets was founded in 1986 with its first location …
East Hanover, N.J. — To celebrate 35 years of fun and flavor, the SOUR PATCH KIDS® brand is opening its first-ever SOUR PATCH KIDS store in New York City, nestled between New York University’s Washington Square campus and SoHo at Bond Street and Broadway. “We created this new experience for our fans to engage with the SOUR PATCH KIDS brand on a whole new level, but of course understand that these are uncertain times,” says Danielle Freid, brand manager of SOUR PATCH KIDS. “With this store as our new permanent …
Muscle Maker Grill Begins Construction at 4 Northern Virginia Community College Locations
by Katie Lee
Burleson, Texas — Muscle Maker, Inc., the parent company of Muscle Maker Grill, Healthy Joe’s, MMG Burger Bar & Meal Plan AF, has started construction at four campus locations at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA). The company plans to be open in late August to welcome the 2020/2021 academic year. The campus locations at Alexandria, Loudoun, Manassas and Woodbridge will offer fare from Muscle Maker Grill and Healthy Joe’s and will also provide grab-n-go options for students and faculty who are on the run. Breakfast will be available at all …
Jacksonville, Fla. — Discount retailer Stein Mart Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida. The motion is an effort to maintain operations, including “the payment of employee wages and benefits without interruption, payment of suppliers and vendors in the normal course of business and the use of cash collateral.” Jacksonville, Fla.-based Stein Mart expects to close a significant portion, if not all, of its brick-and-mortar stores. The company has launched a store closing and liquidation process but will …
Dallas — Slim Chickens, a leading fast-casual franchise which features dine-in and drive-thru in the “better chicken” segment, has signed a multi-unit deal with franchisee Ray Johnson to develop 10 restaurants across Texas’s Collin and Denton counties. The first location is slated to open in 2021. Johnson is pursuing sites in lively towns like Highland Village, Flower Mound and Bartonville, to name a few. There are seven thriving Slim Chickens restaurants open today in the Dallas-Fort Worth market. An experienced restaurant operator, Johnson formerly owned over half-a-dozen units of the …
Walton, Ky. — Dollar General has unveiled plans to open a 630,000-square-foot distribution facility in Walton, Ky., approximately 20 miles south of Cincinnati and the Ohio border. The $65 million investment is expected to bring 250 jobs to the city and support 800 stores. The Walton facility will serve as Dollar General’s 18th distribution center. Construction is scheduled to begin in September with operations to begin in January. Dollar General also plans to build three additional DG Fresh facilities to support a shift toward self-distribution of products that require cold …
Coralville, Iowa — As Pancheros continues to see increased month-over-month sales, loyalty program growth and three new restaurant openings, the brand has hired two new executives to lead its operations strategy as it ramps up for growth and expansion. Erik Ivey has been appointed as vice president of operations and Saúl Muñiz has been named director of operations. “Pancheros is focused on bringing the right group of people to the table,” says Rodney Anderson, president at Pancheros Mexican Grill. “Erik and Saúl have shown great integrity and will bring a …
Pittsburgh — Dick’s Sporting Goods plans to open 11 stores in nine states by the end of August. The Pittsburgh-based retailer will open stores in Hyannis and Brockton, Mass.; Deptford, N.J.; and Midland, Texas. It will also open a Dick’s Sporting Goods and Golf Galaxy location in Atlanta. Dick’s Sporting Goods Warehouse locations will open in Orland Park, Ill.; Englewood, Colo.; Fairfax, Va.; Amherst, N.Y.; and Brockton, Mass. A new Overtime by Dick’s Sporting Goods outlet will open in Tempe, Ariz. Following the store openings, Dick’s will have 729 Dick’s …