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Panera Bread Names New Chief Financial Officer

by Katie Lee

St. Louis — Panera Bread, a leader and pioneer in the fast-casual restaurant industry, has appointed Earl Ellis as chief financial officer, effective immediately. Ellis will report to CEO Paul Carbone and join the executive leadership team. “Earl is a proven finance leader who blends disciplined financial stewardship with an owner’s mindset,” says Carbone. “He has scaled complex, multi-brand organizations, led successful transformations and developed high-performing teams. His experience will help accelerate our plan to strengthen the core business, elevate the guest experience and drive long term, profitable growth. Panera …

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RaceTrac Completes Acquisition of Potbelly Corporation

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — RaceTrac, Inc., a family-owned, high-growth leader in the convenience store industry, confirms it has completed the acquisition of Potbelly Corporation, previously announced in September. As part of the transaction, RaceTrac acquires Potbelly’s iconic neighborhood sandwich shop brand, which includes more than 445 company and franchise-owned shops across the United States, and Potbelly’s franchise development platform with a long term goal of reaching 2,000 shops. “Potbelly has spent more than 40 years creating the neighborhood sandwich shop experience customers love, and we are excited to welcome this beloved brand …

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Wireless Zone, the Nation’s Largest Verizon Franchisor, Names Executive Vice President

by Katie Lee

Fishers, Ind. — Wireless Zone® has appointed an executive vice president from within its franchise system: longtime franchisee Al Pellecchia. Under his leadership, the nation’s largest Verizon franchisor is poised to continue growing its system through improved processes, prioritizing automation and providing ongoing support for the stores. Pellecchia started in the industry selling phones while he was in college. An independent mobile retailer then hired Pellecchia to run multiple locations. He went on to work for brands such as AT&T, Nextel and Sprint, serving as his own agent. Pellecchia was …

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construction and designNewsrestaurants

Topgolf Breaks Ground on First Venue in Wisconsin

by Katie Lee

Dallas — Construction is underway on a two-level Topgolf venue in Monona, Wis., located 8 miles east of Madison. The highly anticipated venue will be Topgolf’s first venue in the state of Wisconsin and is set to open in the fall of 2026. Topgolf Wisconsin will have 72 outdoor climate-controlled hitting bays spanning two levels. Each bay will have lounge-type furniture or high-top tables. The venue will be equipped with Toptracer technology, which traces each golf ball’s flight path, distance and other metrics. Topgolf offers a full-service restaurant and bar helmed …

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construction and designNewsremodelsretailersstore closings

Southeastern Grocers to Become The Winn-Dixie Company

by Katie Lee

Jacksonville, Fla. — Southeastern Grocers, LLC (SEG) will step into a new era as The Winn-Dixie Company in early 2026, uniting under one iconic brand with a renewed focus on its home state of Florida. The change honors Winn-Dixie’s century-long legacy while positioning the grocer for growth through investments designed to modernize stores, enrich the customer experience and reimagine the neighborhood grocer for the next 100 years. “For a century, Winn-Dixie has proudly called Florida home,” says Anthony Hucker, chairman and CEO of Southeastern Grocers. “Our story is built on …

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Firehouse Subs® Opens Milestone 1,400th Restaurant

by Katie Lee

Jacksonville, Fla. — Firehouse Subs has officially opened its 1,400th restaurant, marking a significant milestone in the brand’s continued expansion across the U.S. and internationally. The new Clearwater, Fla., restaurant reflects the brand’s growth trajectory as franchisees continue to expand within the Firehouse Subs family. The Clearwater restaurant is owned and operated by Colin Means, a Tampa, Fla.-area franchisee whose journey reflects the opportunities Firehouse Subs provides. Means began his career with the brand at 21 years old as a team member. Over the next several years, he worked his …

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Bambi Baby Opens First Flagship Location in New York City

by Katie Lee

New York City — In a transaction arranged by CBRE, Bambi Baby, a national retailer selling baby furniture, nursery sets, strollers, car seats, cribs, bedding and other related products, has inked a retail lease for its first New York City store at 655 Sixth Ave. The retailer will occupy 900 square feet of prime, ground-floor space and 8,500 square feet in the lower level of the property located in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. CBRE represented Bambi Baby in the negotiations. The property owner, United American Land, was represented in-house …

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Whataburger Welcomes New Chief Digital and Technology Transformation Officer

by Katie Lee

San Antonio — Whataburger has appointed Rohit Kapoor as executive vice president, chief digital and technology transformation officer. He brings more than three decades of global leadership experience across the restaurant and retail industries, where he has consistently led large-scale digital transformations that elevate both customer and team member experiences while enabling sustainable growth. Before joining Whataburger, Kapoor served as executive vice president and chief information officer at Claire’s, where he modernized the company’s end-to-end technology landscape, strengthening its digital foundations and enhancing omnichannel engagement. He previously held senior leadership …

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Five Below Makes Pacific Northwest Debut with 8 New Stores

by Katie Lee

Philadelphia — Five Below, Inc. plans to bring its one-of-a-kind shopping experience to the Pacific Northwest for the first time. This November, the extreme value retailer will open seven new stores across Washington and one in Oregon. The new store locations in the Pacific Northwest region include: • Sunrise Village in Puyallup, Wash. • Celebration Center in Federal Way, Wash. • Everett Mall in Everett, Wash. • Evergreen Crossing in Spokane Valley, Wash. • Valley Mall in Union Gap, Wash. • Vintner Square in Richland, Wash. • Alderwood Parkway in …

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Vicious Biscuit to Open First Georgia Location in Early 2026

by Katie Lee

Savannah, Ga. — Vicious Biscuit, an award-winning fast-casual breakfast concept and Southern-grown originator of bold biscuit creations, will debut its first Georgia location in early 2026 in Savannah. Franchise partners Kelly and Tim Paslawski are leading the charge. The Savannah natives are no strangers to the city’s thriving food scene, having successfully operated four Chicken Salad Chick restaurants across Savannah, Pooler, Statesboro and Bluffton, Ga., for the past decade. Their newest venture with Vicious Biscuit is positioned between Savannah’s bustling hospital corridor and vibrant midtown business district. “Savannah has been …

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