Lexington, Ky. — As A&W celebrates its centennial, the company is preparing for its next century with the recent opening of a new national learning center and prototype restaurant in Richmond, Ky. A&W, which was acquired by its franchisees from YUM! Brands in 2011, has welcomed more than 70 U.S. locations under the new leadership; a dozen more are in various stages of development. Located less than a half-hour from A&W’s headquarters, the Richmond restaurant is the first freestanding “Gen19” prototype that takes a holistic approach to guest engagement. The …
restaurants
Raleigh, N.C. — Golden Corral, the nation’s largest grill-buffet chain, has launched an incentive for franchisees to remodel their current restaurants to the Golden Corral brand’s new Gateway design package. The comprehensive incentive program will support franchise owners with a reinvestment credit, a local marketing credit, and a people hiring and training credit. Currently, the company plans to remodel 60 franchise restaurants in 2020. Golden Corral first introduced the new Gateway restaurant design in December 2017, featuring a contemporary appearance with oversized windows, stacked stone fireplaces, redesigned buffet service areas, …
Conshohocken, Pa. — Saladworks, a leading entrée salad franchise in the fast-casual space, has partnered with the United States Air Force to develop Saladworks restaurants on U.S. bases. “A couple of years ago, we embarked on a revamp of our military base food and beverage platform,” says Mike Baker, chief of strategy and innovation at the Air Force Services Center. “What we have attempted to do with this new model is really modernize our food and beverage options. A younger, more socially aware demographic is in service now, with millennials …
Atlanta — Hemingway’s, a Tampa, Fla.-based Cuban restaurant and winner of “Best Cuban Sandwich,” is opening a second location in Atlanta. Slated to open in spring 2020, the new outpost will be located inside Krog Street Market, a 30,000-square-foot food hall and market destination tucked in the Inman Park neighborhood, right off the Belt Line’s Eastside Trail. “I have wanted to expand Hemingway’s for some time, and I couldn’t be more excited to bring our food to Atlanta,” says Felicia (“Phe”) Lacalle, chef and owner. “As soon as you set …
Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. — Waters Edge Wineries®, an innovative urban winery system, has signed a franchise agreement to open a Waters Edge Winery & Bistro in Sarasota, Fla. This new location will join 11 others already operating throughout California, Colorado, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas. Local entrepreneurs Michael Hayja, Dr. Sean Castellucci and Christopher McKenna of Artisan Vinification, LLC, will own and manage the location in Sarasota, which is expected to open in spring 2020. “We are excited to debut our brand in the Sunshine State, and with the support of …
Chicago — Starbucks Coffee Co. has opened its Reserve Roastery in downtown Chicago. The 35,000-square-foot, five-story roastery opened to the public on November 15, 2019 and is the largest Starbucks location. The store is located on the Magnificent Mile in a space formerly occupied by Crate & Barrel. All of the coffee beans roasted at the facility are served and sold on site. There are three coffee bars at the roastery. Baristas make classic espresso beverages at the coffee bar on the main floor. An experiential bar can be found …
Dallas — MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes plans to provide its guests and franchise owners with a fresh and elevated dining experience. The “better burger” fast-casual franchise plans an interior and logo refresh that will roll out beginning in the first quarter of 2020. MOOYAH plans to open 14 new locations with the refreshed look next year; all existing locations will remodel by the end of 2024. The new prototype and design come at a critical point for the brand, as the company is actively ramping up franchising efforts in …
Atlanta — Moe’s Southwest Grill will be the first brand in the Mexican fast-casual space to open an all-digital/kiosk-only location. The first two restaurants are slated to open in Pittsburgh and Charlottesville, Va., in first quarter 2020. Each store will come equipped with four self-order kiosks and will feature Moe’s new brand design, which includes Moe’s new logo, colors, paint, furniture and more. The Pittsburgh location will be owned and operated by Moe’s multi-unit franchisee Mike Geiger, who has experienced recent success with his newest urban location, which added a …
— By Katie Lee — At Mamoun’s Falafel, it’s one big, happy (growing) family — with over 40 new franchises soon to join the fold. As one of the oldest falafel restaurants in New York City, Mamoun’s Falafel has long held the title of being the most authentic and flavorful falafel in the city. The first location opened in Greenwich Village in 1971 and has been family owned and operated for over 45 years. Founder Mamoun Chater, who had emigrated from Damascus, Syria, had little time for the …
Boston — Figs by Todd English, the casual dining concept founded by award-winning celebrity chef and restaurateur Todd English, is now franchising with the help of Fransmart, an industry-leading franchise development company, to bring its original thin crust pizza and authentic Italian cuisine across the globe. Originally launched in the historic Charlestown neighborhood in Boston, Figs already has a successful international footprint to build from, with four existing corporate locations throughout the United States and three in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. Together with Fransmart, the concept is seeking …