restaurants

Knoxville, Tenn. — Pilot Company and its One9 Fuel Network have opened a new restaurant concept, Trucker Burger, located in the new Xpress Fuel travel center in Eloy, Ariz. Inspired by those who drive America and in collaboration with celebrity chef and restaurant owner Tim Love, Trucker Burger is a culinary roadside destination that offers a gourmet menu of diner classics. “We’re thrilled to open a new Xpress Fuel and our first Trucker Burger restaurant in Eloy, Arizona,” says Jason Nordin, chief operator of Pilot Company. “We welcome our neighbors, …

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Coral Gables, Fla. — Fogo de Chão, the internationally-renowned steakhouse, has signed a lease agreement to open an all-new restaurant experience in Coral Gables, Fla. Slated to open by the end of 2021, the restaurant will be situated within The Plaza Coral Gables, South Florida’s highly anticipated mixed-use shopping, dining, office, hospitality and entertainment destination. In addition to a Fogo restaurant, the flagship location will feature The Butchery and Next Level Lounge, two destinations new to Fogo in the U.S. “Fogo de Chão is steeped in 40 years of rich …

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Menomonee Falls, Wis. — Alto-Shaam, a global leader and innovator in the foodservice equipment solutions industry, has entered into a new partnership agreement with Chrane Foodservice Solutions as its new manufacturer representative in Texas and Oklahoma. Chrane will promote Alto-Shaam’s full portfolio of commercial kitchen equipment, including its Vector® Multi-Cook ovens, Cook & Hold ovens, Combitherm® ovens, rotisserie ovens, heated holding solutions, QuickChiller™ blast chillers and more. The manufacturer representative will also host in-person and virtual ‘A Taste of Alto-Shaam’ events and demonstrations at its kitchens in Dallas-Fort Worth and …

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Salt Lake City — Swig, the highly popular and fast-growing specialty drink shop, has appointed Chase Wardrop as president. In this position, Wardrop will oversee all company operations and the management team of Swig. He will be responsible for expanding the brand’s footprint into new geographies, which includes plans to open 18 new units in 2021. Wardrop has been instrumental in Swig’s rapid growth, and the expanding specialty soda culture as a whole. Today, under his leadership and teamwork with partners Dylan Roeder (vice president, marketing and innovation) and Nicole …

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Auburn, Ala. — Chicken Salad Chick, a Southern-inspired, fast-casual chicken salad restaurant concept, will be expanding in Florida with its newest restaurant in Coral Springs. The Coral Springs restaurant marks the first Florida opening this year with additional locations in St. Petersburg, Ocala, Gainesville and Wellington slated to open over the next several months. The restaurant will make its South Florida debut on January 27. Chicken Salad Chick is closely following Florida’s state and local guidelines for COVID-19 procedures and will open the Coral Springs restaurant with social distancing measures …

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Dallas — Golden Chick is kicking off 2021 with innovation in restaurant design and development by introducing the franchise’s very first modular constructed building. The first restaurant is scheduled to be installed in Saginaw, Texas, this month with an expected opening in March, with two more installations in the pipeline for the first half of the year in Snyder and Refugio, Texas. “This new model will allow our franchisees to go-to-market quicker than ever before, while reducing the overall development and operational costs,” says Jim Stevens, president of Golden Chick. …

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Miami — Francisca Restaurant, one of the most successful Latin American gastronomic concepts in Miami, plans to open 12 new locations in Florida as part of its expansion plan for 2021. The announcement was unveiled with a giant billboard in Times Square on Jan. 7. “The growth of Francisca Restaurant, a brand with a Venezuelan stamp, is due to the immense support we have received since our opening. After hundreds of requests, we decided to open more locations in other cities in Florida,” says Jesús Pita, CEO of Francisca Restaurant. …

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Orlando, Fla. — Tijuana Flats has launched a newly designed prototype, which will soon be the norm in many of the brand’s locations. The new look includes a fresh, bright design and high-tech enhancements that will improve the guest experience. Tijuana Flats’ restaurant in Noblesville, Ind., became the first location to showcase the new design when it opened in November. “I love the new look,” says John Rowe, owner of Tijuana Flats in Noblesville. “It’s so open and bright. Our restaurants have always been colorful, but this update gives it …

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Savannah, Ga. — Slim Chickens, a leading fast-casual franchise which features dine-in and drive-thru in the “better chicken” segment, has signed a multi-unit agreement with Southeast Slims Hospitality LLC to develop 12 restaurants across the eastern section of Georgia, including Savannah and Augusta, and the western section of South Carolina. The first location is slated to open in first quarter 2021. “Our team was completely taken aback by the Slim Chickens brand when we were first introduced. It seemed like a no-brainer to join such a dynamic concept,” says Casey …

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Seattle — Starbucks Corporation has announced that, after a more than 35-year career in finance, Patrick Grismer has decided to retire from his position as executive vice president and chief financial officer (CFO), effective February 1, 2021. Rachel Ruggeri, senior vice president of finance, Americas, and a 16-year Starbucks partner, will succeed Grismer as executive vice president and CFO, effective February 1, 2021. Ruggeri will report to Kevin Johnson, Starbucks’ president and chief executive officer. Grismer will remain with the company as an advisor to Johnson through May 2, 2021, …

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