Atlanta — Perkins Restaurant & Bakery is rebranding as Perkins American Food Co., where modern American hospitality is reimagined to both take you back and move you forward. The humble pancake house from 1958 in the heartland of the Midwest is now a leading family dining brand with nearly 300 locations across the United States and Canada. In addition to its new name, Perkins has a new logo, restaurant design and elevated services. “Our rebrand is way more than a new logo and descriptor,” says Toni Ronayne, president of Perkins …
remodels
— By Frank Mataipule and Megan Freckelton — Elevated, upscale dining experiences are moving to more suburban markets. In the past couple years, the restaurant sector has seen a strong movement in bringing what was once an urban, downtown experience into a more suburban market. As designers focused on restaurants and hospitality, our strategies have also shifted. Whereas we once focused primarily on urban, downtown concepts, we are now working with several restaurant groups looking to move their work into suburban locations as these sites create more revenue, have added …
Atlanta — US LBM, a leading distributor of specialty building materials in the United States, has named Russell Tiejema executive vice president and chief financial officer. Tiejema succeeds Patrick McGuiness, who retired from the company last year. Most recently, Tiejema was executive vice president and CFO with Masonite International Corporation, a leading global designer and manufacturer of interior and exterior doors for the residential and non-residential construction, repair and renovation markets. Tiejema began his career with General Motors, holding multiple financial leadership roles with the automotive manufacturer, and later served …
Dallas — TGI Fridays, the world’s first casual bar and grill, has opened a new restaurant inside the Hilton Garden Inn in Hollywood, Calif. The newest Fridays location is core to the brand’s transformation strategy — offering hotel guests a quintessential Fridays experience while creating a model that’s focused on operational value and efficiency within the hospitality industry. To develop the new Fridays location, the brand reimaged existing restaurant space within the Hilton Garden Inn Hollywood to create a profit center for the hotel and a value add for both …
— By Jim Rechtin, Jr. — Stay ahead & save big with routine preventative maintenance for building exteriors. All matter breaks down over time. The structures that surround us today are no exception to that law of physics. Some building materials are more durable than others, like stone and steel, but unfortunately the days of structures surviving thousands of years, like the Egyptian pyramids and Roman cathedrals, are over. Most structures erected today have a life expectancy of less than 100 years, with each building component designed to work for …
Davenport, Iowa — Von Maur Department Store is undergoing an extensive, multi-phased renovation of its brick-and-mortar locations over the next 5 years. The retailer will invest more than $100 million to showcase an entirely new interior aesthetic as the 152-year-old company continues to prioritize the shopping experience for its customers. “As Von Maur has grown, new stores have evolved to reflect the trends present in residential design. It is important that we reinvest in our existing locations and bring those same updates to the customers that have been the bedrock …
Miami — Burger King plans to invest $300 million to modernize 1,100 U.S. restaurants by 2028, according to parent company Restaurant Brands International Inc. Each restaurant will be renovated in a new layout, called Sizzle, that emphasizes flexibility as well as the digital, pickup and drive-thru experiences. In addition to the planned renovations, the investment will also cover cash incentives for top-performing operators. “We are committed to giving our guests the very best experience in all our restaurants and that includes a modern, exciting restaurant image and digital experience that …
Bentonville, Ark. — The Melting Pot, the 92-unit fondue franchise that has built a brand around providing a one-of-a-kind experiential dining atmosphere, has signed a franchise agreement in Bentonville, Ark., to bring the first Melting Pot location to the state of Arkansas. The new Bentonville restaurant is one part of a larger-scale effort to drive franchise expansion nationwide and for the brand to reach 125 locations by 2026. “After years of strong unit-level growth, we are focused on revitalizing the brand nationwide, bringing Melting Pot restaurants to new communities and …
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho — Pita Pit, a Mediterranean fast-casual brand specializing in made-to-order pita sandwiches, has rolled out a nationwide brand refresh. The refresh introduces new features, such as a modernized restaurant design and drive-thru business model, reimagined menu, technological upgrades and a new logo. Pita Pit’s rebrand is a key component in the company’s growth strategy. The new drive-thru model allows franchise partners more real estate options, as the smaller footprint of about 800 to 1,000 square feet can flex to fit into a variety of layouts that fit …
Bentonville, Ark. — HFA Architecture + Engineering has hired veteran financial leader Lisa Hess (CMA, CSCA) as its new chief financial officer. She joins HFA from her prior role as CFO of Mackie Wolf Zientz & Mann, P.C., a mortgage banking law firm. Based in HFA’s Fort Worth, Texas, office, Hess brings more than 18 years of finance, accounting and management experience in sectors such as engineering, construction, law and technology. “Lisa boasts extraordinary management, organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills, and she is passionate about embracing change and positioning for …