Greenbelt, Md. — The board of directors of ZIPS Dry Cleaners® has appointed Bob Barry as president/CEO of the network of dry-cleaning stores, effective immediately. He succeeds Drew Ritger, who held the role for the past 3.5 years and has accepted a position with a Midwestern chain of gourmet coffee restaurants. Barry has been a member of the ZIPS board of directors for the past 8 years and he will retain that position. He spent 12 years as president/CEO of The Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grille, growing that chain …
restaurants
Wichita, Kan. — Leading fast-casual restaurant concept Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers has broken ground on a new site set to host the brand’s newest restaurant prototype. Located in Salina, Kan., this prototype marks a new chapter for the brand’s design evolution as this option is its first model without a dining room, hosting a double drive-thru and a walk-up ordering station. With more than a dozen restaurants set to open in the first half of 2021, Freddy’s is poised to continue making significant development growth in the coming months …
Broomfield, Colo. — TCBY, the world’s original frozen yogurt brand, is celebrating its 40th anniversary with the brand continuing to expand rapidly and thrive as communities reopen amid the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. TCBY opened 12 new U.S. locations in the past year and six additional locations are set to open in the coming months. This summer, TCBY will open a new drive-thru in St. Augustine, Fla.; a new self-serve store in Bayonne, N.J., focused on catering with a late-night walk-up window; and a counter-service store in Navarre, Fla., …
Chicago — First Watch, the award-winning brunch restaurant that made its Chicagoland debut in Oak Brook in March, continues to expand into the region with the opening of a new restaurant in the suburb of Kildeer on June 7. The new 5,605-square-foot standalone restaurant is located in the Shops at Kildeer. The brunch spot offers a unique indoor/outdoor dining space and cocktail bar, where it will serve fresh breakfast, brunch and lunch 7 days a week. “Since opening our doors in Oak Brook a few short months ago, the Chicagoland …
Louisville, Ky., and Perth, Australia — Yum! Brands, Inc. and Dragontail Systems Limited, an innovative provider of technology solutions for the food industry, have entered into a binding agreement under which Yum! Brands would acquire Dragontail for A$93.5 million in cash. The proposed acquisition is expected to close by the end of third quarter 2021. If successfully implemented, the addition of Dragontail to Yum! Brands’ growing technology portfolio is intended to give Yum! Brands the ability to scale Dragontail’s artificial intelligence (AI) kitchen order management and delivery technology globally. Australia-based …
Jericho, N.Y. — Nathan’s Famous, the American tradition serving New York favorites for more than 100 years, has added Arthur Treacher’s to the brand’s portfolio, now available as a ghost kitchen concept. Arthur Treacher’s, which was founded in 1969, offers hand-dipped fish, chicken and French fries. The menu, which has been revamped by Nathan’s Famous, will highlight the brand’s traditional menu items while also featuring upgraded proteins, more contemporary builds and includes a focus on shrimp. “We are thrilled to provide operators across the country with the opportunity to add …
Los Angeles — sweetgreen, the mission-driven restaurant brand serving healthy food at scale, introduces a new brand identity to reimagine fast food and speak to future generations about the importance of what they eat. The goal was to create a flexible, sustainable design system that both reflects the culture of local communities and works at scale. With this rebrand, sweetgreen aims to be a positive force on the food system by focusing on the following areas: Food: sweetgreen wants to show that fast food can be synonymous with real food. …
— Interview by Katie Lee — Burger King unveils a new visual design for a bold, modern future. When Burger King, one of the founding titans of the fast food hamburger industry since 1954, creates a completely new visual design, it definitely makes waves. The more modern look is the company’s first total rebrand in over 20 years. As part of the new look, BK® is rolling out a new logo (the current logo was launched in 1999), menu boards, crew uniforms, signage and décor, as well as social …
Chicago — Potbelly Corporation has appointed Larry Strain as its chief development officer (CDO) effective immediately. Potbelly is contracting with Restaurant Development Experts (RDE), LLC in connection with Strain’s engagement for this role and Bob Wright, president and CEO of Potbelly, will have oversight responsibility for him. Strain will oversee four key areas of shop development including Corporate Development Services, Franchise Sales & Development, Brokerage Services & Tenant Representation, and Strategic & Trade Area Level Market Planning. “The addition of Larry and his wealth of experience in real estate and …
Las Vegas — Celano Design Studio has two new restaurants opening this summer. Tapped by Resorts World Las Vegas, the city’s highly anticipated resort opening on June 24, Celano is the creative lead behind the design of two of the hotel’s exciting new concepts: ¡Viva!, a new Mexican restaurant from Chef Ray Garcia, as well as Here Kitty Kitty Vice Den, a hidden speakeasy located within Zouk Group’s Asian hawker-inspired food hall Famous Foods Street Eats. Together with local architect Marnell Companies, Celano has designed two unique spaces with lively …