Westlake, Ohio — TravelCenters of America Inc. (TA) has appointed Peter J. Crage as executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer, effective immediately. Crage succeeds William E. Myers, who has resigned from the company. “Peter joins TA with experience directing large and complex financial organizations in the hospitality, entertainment and foodservice industries,” says Jonathan M. Pertchik, managing director and CEO of TA. “He has a strong record leading transformational change, achieving operational excellence and driving profitability in dynamic environments. In addition, Peter brings a ‘can-do,’ high-energy attitude, which is …
restaurants
Nashville, Tenn. — CraftWorks Holdings, LLC, which operates restaurants and breweries under leading names such as Logan’s Roadhouse, Old Chicago, Rock Bottom and Gordon Biersch, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This follows the company’s decision, in recent weeks, to close 37 underperforming locations. CraftWorks has 261 locations in 39 states and the District of Columbia; its 77 franchise locations continue to operate as usual. The company has partnered with affiliates of Fortress Credit Co LLC, senior lenders to the company, to provide at least $138 million. The transaction is …
Chicago — Englewood Construction, one of the country’s leading commercial construction firms, has a number of new restaurant projects underway this spring, including two new Outback Steakhouse locations in Columbus, Ga., and Hialeah, Fla.; a new Carrabba’s Italian Grill in Lutz, Fla.; a ground-up Chick-fil-A in Novi, Mich.; and the interior remodel of a Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in Seattle. “In recent years our Restaurant Group has continued to be a strong and steady part of our business as we partner with long term clients on not only ground-up new-construction opportunities, …
Cheyenne, Wyo. — Taco John’s International Inc., a leading quick-service Mexican franchise, has appointed Brooks Speirs as vice president for franchise development. In his new role, Speirs will oversee all elements of franchise development for the legacy brand. As Taco John’s prioritizes growth this year, Speirs has developed a plan to expand the brand through franchising with qualified franchisees and development groups. In 2019, Taco John’s unveiled an updated brand and restaurant design. This year, the brand is introducing several new menu items. In addition, Taco John’s is rolling out …
Richmond, Ind. — The Golden Corral in Richmond, Ind., recently underwent a comprehensive remodel and reopened with an all-new look and feel on February 27. Located at 3625 East Main St., the restaurant now features Golden Corral’s new prototype design package: the Gateway Model. Highlights of the remodel project include an updated exterior coupled with a major interior redesign featuring a stacked stone fireplace, contemporary décor, more comfortable and varied seating options, new carpeting, new lighting and a new buffet layout. Also, instead of paying upon arrival, guests will now …
Fayetteville, Ark. — Slim Chickens, which features dine-in and drive-thru in the “better chicken” segment, plans to open more than 30 restaurants in 2020 alone. Franchise locations are slated to open in new domestic markets including Maryland, New Jersey, Florida and Washington, to name a few. Internationally, franchise restaurants will open across the United Kingdom in markets like Reading, Southampton and Kent. Slim Chickens works well in traditional and non-traditional environments alike. In fact, the brand has openings planned for several non-traditional venues this year, including restaurants at three universities, …
Midvale, Utah — Curry Up Now, the award-winning and largest and fastest growing Indian fast-casual concept that’s known for its innovative approach to Indian cuisine, is celebrating the opening of its first Utah restaurant in Midvale on February 28, 2020. This opening marks the first Curry Up Now outpost in the region and continues the brand’s nationwide expansion. With the Midvale outpost, Curry Up Now operates 11 restaurants across the country and has more than 40 additional franchised units in varying stages of development across the United States, including another …
Miami — FRONTIER Building has completed the post-fire renovation of Kentucky Fried Chicken in Kimball, Tenn., which will restore more than 20 jobs in the community. In June 2019, the fast-casual establishment was destroyed by an overnight fire and was declared a total loss. Construction on the new structure began in November 2019 when Miami-based FRONTIER was hired to build a new ground-up structure and upgrade the parking lot of the fire-damaged establishment. The new restaurant’s interior is far more modern than the previous 2017 remodel the building presented. FRONTIER’s …
Newport Beach, Calif. — Mountain Mike’s Pizza, a leading Southern California-based family-style pizza chain, will open two new restaurants featuring the brand’s updated prototype and refreshed guest experience this spring in Costa Mesa and Fountain Valley, Calif. The decision to plant deeper roots in Orange County was spearheaded by Chris Britt and Ed St. Geme, co-CEOs and principal owners of Mountain Mike’s Pizza, who acquired the brand in 2017. The opening of these new Orange County locations will bring the brand to nearly 220 units and mark the county’s second …
— Interview by Katie Lee — As A&W approaches the second year of its second century of operation, it looks to a promising future while also honoring its iconic past. With almost 1,000 locations open in the U.S. and Asia, A&W Restaurants — which first introduced its famous root beer in 1919 — knows a thing or two about growth and longevity. In its first 100 years, A&W weathered every up and down that a restaurant could face. Early in 2020, Retail & Restaurant Facility Business interviewed Paul …