Denver — Punch Bowl Social has filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The Denver-based “eatertainment” concept has closed all but three of its locations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The venues in Austin, Texas; Arlington, Virginia; and Atlanta remain open. In summer 2019, Cracker Barrel invested $140 million in Punch Bowl Social. According to multiple media reports, the restaurant chain chose during the pandemic to not invest any further in Punch Bowl Social, instead focusing on its own business. …
restaurants
Atlanta — Schlotzsky’s has unveiled two new prototypes that will put its drive-thru front and center and enhance speed of service for delivery, to-go and catering. While driving off-premise sales has been underway for Schlotzsky’s for some time, it’s now become an even bigger priority. During the pandemic, 35% of Schlotzsky’s sales were driven by off-premise and were a major part of the brand’s rapid recovery. Now, Schlotzsky’s has designed two new options referred to as “Design 1800” and “Design 1000” that will lean heavily on off-premise and reduce seating. …
San Diego — Jack in the Box Inc. has named Timothy Mullany as its new executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective January 18, 2021. Mullany is a well-rounded finance leader with more than 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry, as well as hyper-growth concepts, both public and private. Most recently, Mullany served as chief financial officer at VASA Fitness. “We are excited for the addition of Tim to the Jack in the Box team. He has demonstrated strong financial leadership while supporting growing businesses in the …
— Interview with Tim Welsh, Chief Development Officer — QDOBA was already making key changes prior to the pandemic. With a variety of smaller floor plans and a revamped digital suite already in the works pre-COVID, QDOBA Mexican Eats was on the right track — little did it know — to have the best possible chance to weather a global pandemic. Today, the Mexican fast-casual franchise continues with plans to open 30 new restaurants before year end and to have 1,000 open restaurants within the next 5 years. With …
Houston — New York-based Van Leeuwen Ice Cream is making its Texas debut at Rice Village in Houston. Van Leeuwen started as a New York City food truck in 2008 and has since grown to a crowd favorite, rapidly expanding to multiple brick-and-mortar stores along the East and West coasts. The cult favorite ice cream brand will open in 923 square feet of space in Rice Village in spring 2021. “Rice Village is thrilled to welcome Van Leeuwen to its growing list of diverse eateries and shops,” says Morgan Lera, …
St. Louis — The new Drake’s restaurant and entertainment venue in Evansville, Ind., is complete, with Knoebel Construction serving as the general contractor. This is the second location that St. Louis-based Knoebel has built for the restaurant chain. Knoebel has been selected as the general contractor for all of Drake’s currently planned locations. Construction began on the Clarksville, Tenn., location earlier in December and Knoebel will break ground on Drake’s third restaurant in Louisville, Ky., in January. The 5,996-square-foot Drake’s in Evansville features one large central bar, approximately 30 televisions …
Los Angeles — California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) has appointed Judd Tirnauer as executive vice president and chief financial officer. With over 25 years of experience mainly in the restaurant and retail business, including over 10 years in the CFO role, Tirnauer will lead CPK’s financial restructuring strategy, focus on growth opportunities and oversee the accounting and finance teams. “CPK is proud to welcome Judd to the team,” says Jim Hyatt, CEO of CPK. “With his proven track record in finance with both public and private equity brands, we are confident …
Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas — Curry Up Now, the nation’s largest and fastest growing Indian fast-casual concept, signed a deal with a franchise group in the Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston areas to bring five new Curry Up Now restaurants, some with Mortar & Pestle craft cocktail bars, to Texas. This deal comes on the heels of a six-unit franchise deal signed for Dallas, Fort Worth and Austin just a few weeks earlier. Curry Up Now operates 11 restaurants and three craft cocktail bars across the country, with nearly 50 restaurants …
Miami — Balfour Beatty has completed construction on River Landing Shops and Residences, a 2.5 million-square-foot, mixed-use development along the Miami River. On behalf of real estate investment trust H&R REIT and South Florida developer Urban-X Group, with Matthews Southwest providing owner representative services, the $298 million mega-project will be a premier dining and shopping destination in the heart of the second largest health district in the U.S. River Landing Shops and Residences is built on 8.1 acres of riverfront land and is one of the few projects in the …
— By Jeff Rabbitt and Ruba Younan — A case study in restaurant design authenticity. The past couple of years have been marked by a shift in restaurant design towards authentic environments that reflect their surrounding context, people and culture. Rather than just great food and service, customers are increasingly drawn to places that offer experiences, connection and history. Yet not all locations are conducive to authenticity and sites boasting a rich history are indisputably advantaged. Such is the case with the renovation of 118 W. Chapman, a century-old …