Atlanta — McAlister’s Deli® is rolling out a new prototype restaurant in Atlanta this September that will be accompanied by a deeper, more community-centric brand positioning that guests can experience across the system, starting with a new kids and family program.
News
Batavia, Ill. — With more than 1,800 stores across the country, ALDI is in the midst of an accelerated growth plan, investing more than $5 billion to remodel and expand its store count to 2,500 by the end of 2022. Currently, the company is more than halfway through its remodel investment.
Cincinnati — Cincinnati-based Buffalo Wings & Rings has hired industry veteran Joe Dominiak as the brand’s new chief operations officer. Most recently executive vice president and managing partner at Skyline Chili, Dominiak brings a proven track record and expertise for growing the national footprints of restaurant companies to the role as Buffalo Wings & Rings continues its mission to strategically expand across the country.
Los Angeles — The Pie Hole, a fast growing gourmet pie and coffee shop, has solidified a multi-unit franchise agreement to bring its signature specialty pies to Saudi Arabia. The deal gives exclusive rights to the territory to local franchisee Abdulrhman Alrajhi, who will begin with a 10-unit development plan. Alrajhi has sights set on opening the first location of The Pie Hole in Saudi Arabia’s capital city, Riyadh, but is looking for additional sites in territories throughout the entire country.
Hollywood, Fla. — Hard Rock International (HRI) is starting to eliminate plastic straws at properties worldwide, effective September 1, 2018, in addition to existing green initiatives already in place at Hard Rock Cafe and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino locations globally.
Merrimack, N.H. — Brookstone Co. Inc. has filed for bankruptcy and will close its remaining 101 mall locations. The Merrimack, N.H.-based retailer filed for Chapter 11 protection on August 2, 2018, the second time it has done so in the last 5 years. The company first filed for bankruptcy in 2014 and was sold to a Chinese investment group for more than $173 million. The retailer cited the “extremely challenging” retail environment at malls as a factor in its struggles.
Brookfield, Conn. — The Hummus & Pita Co., one of the country’s leading and fastest growing Mediterranean fast-casuals, will mark the official start of national expansion with the opening of its first franchised store in Brookfield, Conn., on August 11, 2018. The brand’s newest outpost is part of a franchise deal inked earlier this year. This marks the first of five grand openings in five new markets.