Newport Beach, Calif. — Mountain Mike’s Pizza, a leading family-style pizza chain for over 40 years, is opening its fifth Oakland, Calif., location. The new Mountain Mike’s Pizza is located near the Oakland Coliseum and Oracle Arena. With the dining room currently closed due to shelter-in-place, Mountain Mike’s is offering its full menu of pizzas, wings, garlic sticks and local beers and wines via contactless delivery and carryout. “Although we’re not able to open our dining rooms just yet, we are proud to begin serving Mountain Mike’s signature pizzas to …
restaurants
Fremont, Calif. — In observance of Governor Newsom’s new directive, Pacific Commons, a regional lifestyle center in Fremont, Calif., is now offering retail-to-go services with curbside pickup options available to shoppers. While the center itself is open, individual retailers will each determine when they will begin offering sales and curbside services, and their hours will vary. Shoppers taking advantage of retail-to-go services are asked to make their purchases from each retailer or restaurant online or over the phone; payment must be made electronically. When shoppers arrive at Pacific Commons, they …
Seattle — Seattle-based Starbucks has started reopening its company-operated stores across the United States. Operating under modified operations and hours, including heightened safety protocols, the company has approximately 85% of stores open now and expects to have more than 90% of stores open by early June. The company is using its experience in China, where more than 98% of its stores are open and operating under revised protocols, as the foundation for its reopening in the United States amid the continued concerns of the global COVID-19 pandemic. “We have adapted …
Lehi, Utah — On May 7, 2020, R&R BBQ appointed industry veteran Neil Harfert as president to lead the fast-growing restaurant chain in its next chapter of growth. Founders Rod and Roger Livingston, who are brothers, will be retiring to pursue other interests. “Neil is a proven and respected leader who has delivered strong operating results through a long career in the food and beverage industry, with powerhouse brands like Qdoba, Modern Market Eatery and MOD Pizza,” says Greg Warnock, a member of the R&R BBQ board of directors and …
East Rutherford, N.J. — German Doner Kebab (GDK), a fast-casual restaurant chain, plans to open 350 restaurants in the United States over the next 7 years. The first location will be within American Dream in East Rutherford, N.J. The Glasgow, Scotland-based company specializes in doner kebab, which is a slow-cooked meat often served on a flatbread. GDK operates more than 70 locations in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Dubai, Abu-Dhabi, Oman and Bahrain. GDK also plans to open locations in Ireland and Saudi Arabia. New York City-based JAACRES is representing GDK …
Westlake, Ohio — TravelCenters of America Inc. has commenced a company-wide reorganization, which is a key step in the company’s strategic, long term plan to improve its operational efficiency and profitability. The reorganization plan includes significant leadership changes with the addition of new senior vice presidents for a newly created hospitality department — under which the areas of restaurants, gaming and convenience stores will be consolidated — as well as in information technology. TA has also appointed a new senior vice president of corporate development, a new department initially tasked …
Indianapolis — Simon Property Group has released plans for reopening several of its malls in the first half of May. The openings are based on current state and/or local stay-at-home orders put in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously scheduled to open May 1, some properties in Georgia and Indiana have been delayed to a May 4 opening. View the reopening schedule here. Indianapolis-based Simon says its protocols have been reviewed and approved by experts in epidemiology and environmental health and safety. The protocols are in effort …
San Francisco — Curry Up Now, the nation’s largest and fastest growing Indian fast-casual concept, has launched its ‘Roll it Forward’ campaign in an effort to show gratitude for healthcare workers across the country and help those whose lives and jobs have been affected by the COVID-19 crisis. The initiative, which will be offered at all 11 of Curry Up Now’s restaurants from coast-to-coast, invites guests to purchase $12 Donation Meals that Curry Up Now will match meal-for-meal. Guests can add any denomination of Donation Meals to their ‘cart’ — …
Covington, Ky. — Papi Jocho’s Street Dogs and Cantina will launch its first restaurant location on May 5, 2020. The concept will focus on Mexican-inspired street dogs and is designed to be a fast-casual restaurant with endless energy and an edgy personality. Papi Jocho’s, conceptualized by the owners of the popular Agave & Rye Tequila and Bourbon Hall, launches at a time when many restaurants are learning how to adapt to the current pandemic. Instead, the new restaurant will cater to the unique experience many Americans are facing today — …
Roark Capital Invests $200 Million in The Cheesecake Factory Amid Pandemic-Related Closures
by Katie Lee
Atlanta and Calabasas Hills, Calif. — Roark Capital Group, a private equity firm based in Atlanta, has invested $200 million in The Cheesecake Factory Inc., owner and operator of the chain of restaurants of the same name. The Calabasas Hills, Calif.-based company also owns and operates the North Italia chain, as well as a collection of restaurants within the Fox Restaurant Concepts subsidiary. The funds will be used to immediately help The Cheesecake Factory navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, in which its dine-in service has been closed. The company, which has …