restaurants

Knoxville, Tenn. — Smalls Sliders, a leading cheeseburger slider brand growing nationwide, has signed its first-ever development agreement in Tennessee. The multi-unit deal will bring four locations to the Knoxville metro region with Tennessee-based entrepreneur Blake McDavid, a multi-unit franchise owner and commercial real estate investor. This agreement officially marks Smalls Sliders’ entry into the Tennessee market. McDavid is actively identifying real estate throughout the Knoxville area and plans to open the first of his four locations by fall 2026. “Blake represents exactly the kind of forward-thinking operator we look …

Atlanta — GoTo Foods LLC has announced the international debut of Moe’s Casa Mexicana, a reimagined concept born from Moe’s Southwest Grill, alongside a 45-unit master franchise agreement in India with Unify Foodworks. This milestone marks the first international concept purpose-built for the Moe’s Southwest Grill brand. GoTo Foods now has 60% of its development pipeline focused outside the U.S. Moe’s Casa Mexicana is the global evolution of the beloved Moe’s Southwest Grill brand, created to meet the rising demand for fast-casual Mexican cuisine in international markets. Built from the …

New York City — What began as a pandemic side hustle has emerged as one of the most ambitious and in-demand new franchise brands in America. PopUp Bagels®, the Not Famous but Known® bagel company, has officially signed 300 new franchise locations, marking a major milestone for the brand. PopUp Bagels is unique in the industry because it has no sandwiches and no toasters; all bagels are served hot from the oven, unsliced. “When we started baking bagels in my backyard [in Westport, Conn.], I never imagined we’d turn it …

Fort Mill, S.C. — The Halal Guys, the pioneers of American Halal food, is opening the brand’s first location in South Carolina, located in Fort Mill, on July 26. “Opening in Fort Mill marks an exciting step in our continued growth in the South Atlantic region,” says Margaret Carrera, chief operating officer of The Halal Guys. “With our first location in South Carolina, we’re thrilled to bring our signature flavors and street food roots to this welcoming community, and we’re committed to delivering the high-quality American Halal food and hospitality …