— By Ulyses Camacho — Taco Cabana embarks on a new chapter of growth and innovation. At Taco Cabana, we’ve spent nearly five decades delighting guests with bold Mexican-inspired flavors, warm hospitality and vibrant dining experiences. As a beloved Texas institution, we’ve grown alongside our communities, continuously evolving to meet their needs while staying true to our roots. Now, as we look to the future, I’m excited to share how Taco Cabana is embarking on a new chapter of growth and innovation. In October 2024, we proudly launched our national …
restaurants
Mission Critical
— By Brian Smith — The critical role of rooftop grease containment system in protecting life, property and business viability. In the retail and restaurant industries, facility management extends far beyond interior upkeep. One of the most overlooked yet essential components of operational safety and compliance is rooftop grease containment. From the perspectives of life safety, property protection, environmental responsibility and overall business health, implementing the right grease containment system is not just a best practice — it’s a necessity. Why Rooftop Grease Containment Matters Grease discharge from commercial kitchen …
Atlanta — Chicken Salad Chick, the nation’s only fast-casual chicken salad restaurant concept, is opening its first New Orleans-area restaurant in Metairie, La. Located near the Lakeside Mall and adjacent to Trader Joe’s, the April 22 opening marks the introduction of the brand to the New Orleans market. Chicken Salad Chick of Metairie marks the debut location for Nibbles Hospitality Group, led by Bill and Anne DiPaola and Tiffany and Paul Spring. The partners are two husband-and-wife teams who have signed on to bring four Chicks to the New Orleans …
Lake City, Fla. — Ellianos Coffee, a Southeast-based drive-thru specialty coffee brand, has expanded into Mississippi, with a new location under development in the state’s southern region. This development marks the sixth state in the company’s footprint. Established in 2002, Ellianos currently operates 65 locations throughout Florida, Georgia and Alabama, with locations in development in Tennessee and North Carolina. The company has expanded through its franchise model, focusing on quality products, efficient service and customer experience. Ellianos utilizes a double-sided drive-thru model to provide efficient service. “We’re excited to bring …
Atlanta — Saucy chicken chain Zaxbys™ opened its first-ever Las Vegas restaurant on April 14. Located at 5290 Blue Diamond Rd., the new Zaxbys is owned and operated by Royce Chow and Jie Zhou of Zax Nevada LLC. “Las Vegas is just the beginning of Zaxbys expansion plans as we aim to open our 1,000th store in 2025,” says Mike Mettler, chief development officer at Zaxbys. “We are thrilled to continue to build relationships with new franchisee partners and bring Zaxbys to additional growing markets including Arizona, Philadelphia, New Jersey, …
Belmar, N.J. — Playa Bowls, the nation’s largest and leading superfruit shop specializing in acai bowls, smoothies, juices, cold brew and more, is celebrating a major milestone with the opening of its 300th location. Located in Atlanta’s fast-paced Buckhead neighborhood, the milestone shop opened on March 29, 2025. This milestone reflects the strength of the concept and the dedication of Playa Bowls’ franchise owners, many of whom have grown from single-unit owners to multi-unit operators, building their own legacies while bringing the brand’s fresh, feel-good flavors to new communities. As …
Atlanta — Smalls Sliders has appointed seasoned restaurant and hospitality executive Charles Watson as its new chief executive officer. In his new role, Watson will prioritize franchisee success while accelerating the brand’s impressive expansion. Watson brings nearly three decades of experience driving substantial growth, most recently as chief executive officer for Tropical Smoothie Cafe, where he expanded the brand to over 1,500 locations nationwide and tripled systemwide revenue to $1.42 billion. Prior to his CEO role, Watson led franchise growth and brand development strategies for multiple brands at Wyndham Hotels …
Los Angeles — FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc., parent company of Fatburger and 17 other restaurant concepts, has formed a new partnership with the group behind Big M CIE, to expand Fatburger across France, opening 30 units over the next 3 years with five new units set to open in 2026. “Since opening our first location nearly 3 years ago in Sarcelles, we have been looking for the right strategic opportunities to continue our expansion in France,” says Taylor Wiederhorn, chief development officer of FAT Brands. “Mehdi Bella and …
Atlanta — Church’s Texas Chicken® and Texas Chicken™, one of the largest quick-service chicken restaurant brands in the world, continues its international expansion into Europe while strengthening its presence in key global markets. The company has recently signed multiple development agreements, including one in Germany. With additional deals in other parts of Europe, this marks a significant milestone in the company’s growth strategy. Building on this momentum, the company is setting its sights on the UK, France, Italy and Spain. “We are experiencing tremendous growth both domestically and internationally, with …
Atlanta — HOA Restaurant Group, parent company of restaurant chain Hooters, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, entering into a Restructuring Support Agreement (RSA) that will facilitate the continued operation of the company’s restaurants under new ownership. A partnership between two existing Hooters franchises, Hooters Inc. and Hoot Owl Restaurants, reached an agreement with Hooters of America (HOA), to acquire more than 100 HOA-owned Hooters restaurants, which, when added with the franchisees’ existing holdings, will account for approximately 70% of Hooters’ domestic locations. Upon completion of the Chapter 11 …