restaurants

Atlanta — Tropical Smoothie Cafe signed 48 franchise agreements and opened 35 new cafes in the third quarter of 2022. As a result, the company drove its year-to-date totals (through Q3) to 186 signed franchise agreements and 119 openings, expanding its footprint in prime markets while setting the stage for additional growth in the final quarter of 2022. The number of locations opened this year represents an increase of 25% compared to the number of cafes opened during the same timeframe a year ago. Through the first three quarters of …

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Costa Mesa, Calif. — California Pizza Kitchen (CPK), the creator of California-style pizza, has opened a new franchise location at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The opening marks the brand’s second location within the airport as CPK continues to expand across U.S. markets. Located within Terminal 6 at LAX, the new restaurant is owned and operated by Greg Plummer, CEO and managing partner of Concord Collective, a minority-owned airport concession operator. “We are thrilled to partner with Concord Collective to provide a fresh, healthy, alternative dining option for the most …

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Los Angeles — FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc. has opened its first co-branded Johnny Rockets and Hurricane Wings. Located in the heart of Washington, D.C., at the Holiday Inn Washington-Central/White House, the restaurant combines Johnny Rockets’ classic menu with the all-new co-branded model of sister wing brand Hurricane Grill & Wings, Hurricane Wings. “Burgers and wings pair perfectly together, which we have witnessed firsthand at FAT Brands with the co-branding of Fatburger and Buffalo’s Express,” says Jake Berchtold, COO of FAT Brands’ fast-casual division. “The demand for that co-branded …

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— By Paige Ward —   Women who lead from executive-level positions are bringing much needed diversity, strength and stability to a rebounding restaurant industry during uncertain times.     With the quick-service restaurant industry drastically shifting as a result of post-pandemic consumer trends, many brands are searching for innovative ideas that will keep up with the rapid change of pace. Four brands — Mongolian Concepts, Wetzel’s Pretzels, On the Border and Salata — are altering the very way their corporate suites think by diversifying their teams to place more …

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Cincinnati — Wings and Rings, an 85-unit sports restaurant and bar franchise, continues to open new stores around the country; is implementing a new remodel program, the first of which was in Crestview Hills, Ky.; and is leveraging technology to streamline operational and back-of-house needs. The brand has also extended its development incentive program, with no franchise fee and no royalties for the first 6 months of operation. Recently the brand opened a new-generation unit in Campbellsville, Ky. Additional openings are in the works in Ohio, Georgia, Texas, Kentucky and …

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Charlotte, N.C. — Krispy Kreme, Inc. has formed a joint venture between Krispy Kreme and Columbus Café through its holding company, Wagram Finances, Inc. to bring one of the world’s most loved sweet treats to France in the summer of 2023. Opening in Paris, Krispy Kreme will bring fresh doughnuts and an array of beverages, leveraging Krispy Kreme’s legendary doughnuts and Wagram’s market expertise. Over the next 5 years, the company expects to create 500 fresh points of access in France, with a long term goal of more than 2,000. …

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Irvine, Calif. — Wienerschnitzel, the world’s largest hot dog franchise, has promoted longtime company executive Rusty Bills to chief operating officer, effective immediately. Bills brings 15 years of experience with Galardi Group Inc. to the COO position, which was last held by now-President and CEO J.R. Galardi, who was elevated to his current role in February. Bills’ previous roles have included his start with the company as franchise business consultant, director of operations and vice president of operations. As COO, Bills will spearhead cost savings, store-level technology advancements and streamline …

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New York City — The Howard Hughes Corp. and chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten have opened the Tin Building by Jean-Georges, a 53,000-square-foot food hall at Pier 17 at the Seaport in Lower Manhattan. The new culinary destination is an adaptive reuse of the Tin Building, a historic waterfront property that once served as the site of the Fulton Fish Market. The new food hall features six new full-service restaurant concepts and six fast-casual counters, as well as three specialty retailers and bars serving wine, craft cocktails and craft beers. The eateries …

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Addison, Ill. — Parts Town LLC, the technology innovator and market-leading distributor of OEM foodservice equipment parts, has been named Equipment Vendor of the Year by International Dairy Queen Inc. (IDQ), the parent company of American Dairy Queen Corporation (ADQ), franchisor of the DQ® restaurant system. The award was presented at DQ Supply Chain Summit 2022 on September 22 by Jim Holl, director, equipment innovation and operations at ADQ. “Parts Town consistently exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding vendor, delivering personalized customer service that our franchisees can count …

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San Francisco — Award-winning architecture, design and strategy firm MBH Architects recently completed an upscale steakhouse in San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood called Miller & Lux. Named after two butchers, Henry Miller and Charles Lux, the 7,000-square-foot waterfront restaurant provides guests with the ceremonial experience of visiting a steakhouse: selecting the cut from a tray brought out by servers, watching food carts move about on the dining floor  and selecting a dessert off a cart to round out the meal. MBH Architects served as executive architect with the task of …

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