Thursday, June 19, 2025
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Chipotle COO is Named Next CEO

by Katie Lee

Newport Beach, Calif. — Chipotle Mexican Grill has appointed Scott Boatwright as chief executive officer and a member of the board, effective immediately. Prior to being named interim CEO in August, Boatwright served as chief operating officer, reporting directly to the company’s CEO since 2017. Responsible for more than 125,000 employees and over 3,600 restaurants, Boatwright has been a driving force for improving the company’s overall guest experience. In addition to contributing to the strategy and growth of the business, he led the integration of new technology into restaurants, built …

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franchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurants

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue Names Director of Franchisee Communications

by Katie Lee

Honolulu — L&L Hawaiian Barbecue has appointed Kyler Kokubun as director of franchisee communications. In this role, Kokubun will focus on enhancing the relationship between the franchisor and franchisees, supporting franchisee operations and aligning marketing strategies with the brand’s vision. Kokubun brings nearly 15 years of experience in marketing, customer service and community engagement from his previous tenure at Consolidated Theatres, Hawaii’s oldest and largest movie theatre chain, where he was promoted from service associate to marketing and events manager for all locations across Hawaii. He has been instrumental in …

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Bill Schaphorst Holiday Shopping Maintenance
Content Partnerexterior services/landscapingfacilities managementFeaturesHVAC/RMaintenXpaintingparking lotsproperty managementrestaurantsretailersroofingwaste management/recycling

Holiday Prep for Retail Success: Why Maintenance Matters Before the Holidays

by Sarah Daniels

The holiday season can present an existential challenge for retailers, testing the skills and endurance of marketing and sales teams in a six-week race to reach revenue targets by the end of the year. It is not a time to inconvenience customers and staff with building maintenance or repairs. “There’s a reason they call it Black Friday,” says Bill Schaphorst, vice president of business development at MaintenX, a commercial facility maintenance and repair company. “Because of the surge in traffic and sales on the fourth Friday in November, that typically …

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kitchen equipmentNewsProduct Spotlightrestaurantssoftware/technologyvendors

Checkmate Raises $10 Million to Scale Restaurant Voice AI and Kiosk Solutions

by Katie Lee

New York City — Checkmate, a leader in AI-powered ordering solutions for enterprise restaurants, has secured $10 million in Series B funding led by Tiger Global. The round will enable Checkmate to accelerate the adoption of its voice AI and kiosk technologies across the industry. Checkmate has already developed expertise in integrating digital orders into restaurant point-of-sale (POS) systems. This foundation serves as a critical advantage in entering these new business segments. Checkmate offers best-in-class phone ordering and drive-thru AI solutions to some of the country’s largest brands, all seamlessly …

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construction and designCover StoryFrom The Magazinemanagementproperty managementremodelsrestaurantsretailers

The Placemaker

by Katie Lee

— By Katie Lee — PREIT is redefining the role of malls by transforming them into vibrant community hubs. As a premier developer and operator of retail and entertainment destinations all over the country, in some of the most sought-after, high barrier-to-entry MSAs, PREIT has long understood the importance of creating a “sense of place.” But with more than 6 decades of experience and a foresight to see beyond the traditional malls or power centers of its early years, today PREIT and its 17 premier properties offer so much more …

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franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Cousins Maine Lobster Opens 75th Unit

by Katie Lee

South Portland, Me. — Cousins Maine Lobster opened its 75th unit in early November, located in Jacksonville, Fla. The brand, which launched in April 2012 by real-life cousins Jim Tselikis and Sabin Lomac, now has 4 restaurants and 71 food trucks with reach across more than 30 states. In addition to celebrating 75 units, the brand is also welcoming new franchisees to the system, business partners Mandy Ottesen and Damon Cole. From their initial training in Maine to the opening of their first truck, they’ve been able to launch their …

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Tropical Smoothie Cafe Names New CEO

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Tropical Smoothie Cafe has named Max Wetzel as its new chief executive officer. He succeeds Charles Watson, who is stepping down after more than 16 years with Tropical Smoothie Cafe, including the past 6 years as CEO. “I am so proud of what our support center team members and franchisees have accomplished during my time at Tropical Smoothie Cafe,” says Watson. “I am confident Tropical Smoothie Cafe is well positioned to build on our many achievements to date and to advance its rapid growth, and I remain invested …

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construction and designexterior services/landscapingNewsrestaurantsretailers

RH Opens 60,000-Square-Foot RH Raleigh, The Gallery at North Hills

by Katie Lee

Corte Madera, Calif. — RH has opened RH Raleigh, The Gallery at North Hills, an immersive retail experience in Raleigh, N.C., integrating luxury home furnishings collections from RH Interiors, Contemporary, Modern and Outdoor with rare art, antiques and artifacts from across the globe. RH Raleigh also features a dramatic, glass-encased rooftop restaurant. “We believe great architecture amplifies and renders our product and brand more valuable,” says Gary Friedman, RH chairman & chief executive officer. “We either find great historical architecture and re-adapt it, or we build it. RH Raleigh is …

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Newspeoplerestaurants

Red Lobster Appoints Chief Operating Officer

by Katie Lee

Orlando, Fla. — Red Lobster® has appointed Larry Konecny as chief operating officer (COO). In this role, Konecny will lead the operational strategy for Red Lobster’s 545 restaurants across the United States and Canada. Reporting directly to CEO Damola Adamolekun, he will drive initiatives to deliver elevated food quality, customer service and operational efficiency, while fostering a culture rooted in teamwork and excellence. “Larry brings an exceptional combination of operational expertise, a passion for developing high-performing teams, and a genuine understanding of what it takes to build strong restaurant brands,” …

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franchise developmentNewsrestaurantsretailers

Mr Gatti’s Pizza Opening in 12 Walmart Stores Across Texas and Oklahoma

by Katie Lee

Fort Worth, Texas — Mr Gatti’s Pizza will begin opening its first 12 locations inside Walmart stores across Texas and Oklahoma this week, with all slated to open before Thanksgiving. Another 23 locations are already under construction and are scheduled to open in early 2025. This expansion is part of a larger plan to launch 92 Walmart in-store locations across four states over the next 18 months. The first location opened on Nov. 4, in Mexia, Texas, kicking off a series of grand openings at Walmart stores. The opening of …

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