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 …
restaurants
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 …
Alpharetta, Ga. — Neal Freeman, visionary of LakePoint Sports in Emerson, Ga., will begin construction in May on Fairway Social, a golf and entertainment concept that Freeman is bringing to Alpharetta, Ga. The 11,000-square-foot entertainment destination, Fairway Social, will be located in The Maxwell, a joint development between Mayfair Street Partners, LLC and The Providence Group of Georgia, LLC. A total of 44,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and office at The Maxwell will be complemented with 138 residential units. “We have been actively seeking this unique blend of food, …
Baton Rouge, La. — While the majority of its 500 restaurants are open and serving customers through its drive-thrus, Raising Cane’s dine-in only restaurant has shifted operations to make masks instead of its signature chicken fingers. Raising Cane’s crew members have begun sewing 3-ply cloth masks to ease the shortage at local hospitals, donating more than 600 masks after the first week of production. As crew members get more proficient, the numbers are expected to grow significantly in coming weeks. “I can’t tell you how proud I am of our …
New York City — Shake Shack will return a $10 million coronavirus stimulus loan it received through the federal government’s Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The New York City-based burger chain said it will return the funds after garnering capital through its investors. Shake Shack received the $10 million loan April 10. Shake Shack operates 189 restaurants and employs about 8,000 workers. SOURCE: ShoppingCenterBusiness.com
Seattle — MOD Super-Fast Pizza Holdings, LLC (MOD Pizza) has welcomed Josh Guenser as its new chief financial officer. He will oversee financial operations, fiscal responsibility, reporting and accounting for all 480+ MOD locations across North America. Guenser joins MOD after spending the last 10+ years at Starbucks, most recently serving as senior vice president, finance, Americas. In this position, Guenser was responsible for managing the finance and accounting team overseeing the results of 18,000+ owned and licensed Starbucks stores in the United States, Canada and Latin America. During his …
San Diego — Jack in the Box Inc. has appointed Darin Harris as chief executive officer. He will also join the board of directors, both effective on the start of his employment no later than June 15, 2020. The board has elected David Goebel to serve as non-executive chairman of the board. Harris has more than 25 years of experience leading franchised and corporate multi-unit retail and service businesses. Most recently, Harris has served as CEO of North America for IWG PLC (IWG), the holding group for several leading providers …