Cary, N.C. — Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café is making its North Carolina debut. The first location in the Tar Heel State will open in Cary next year, marking a major milestone in the brand’s continued southern expansion. The new location will open in first quarter 2026 at 1 Fenton Main St. The Cary store will mark the second opening under a landmark 15-unit development agreement between Sweet Paris and Virentes Hospitality, an investment arm of the multifamily office Virentes Partners Group. Comprised of three families of seasoned operators, Virentes …
restaurants
— By Rick Marencic — The rise of the ‘mocktail’ movement and how it impacts restaurant bar design and facility operations. Consumer awareness of the benefits of low alcohol consumption has increasingly permeated the market — influencing everything from product offerings to how restaurants, bars and entertainment venues are designed. Retail surveys show that sales of non-alcoholic wines, beers and spirits grew from $8 billion in 2018 to over $11 billion in 2022, according to IWSR (International Wine and Spirits Record). This paradigm shift is largely driven by evolving health …
St. Louis — Panera Bread has created a new Office of Transformation & Strategy, with Nikka Copeland heading up the new office as senior vice president. In this role, Copeland will manage the strategic execution of Panera’s 3-year growth plan, driving business model clarity that will be instrumental as the company transforms for sustained performance and growth. Copeland joined the Panera executive team on June 24, reporting to CEO Paul Carbone. Copeland brings more than 20 years of experience across multiple industries including foodservice. She is known for leading enterprise-wide …
San Diego — Jack in the Box Inc. is pleased to announce the return of Shannon McKinney as senior vice president, chief operating officer and new member of the executive leadership team. He was first with Jack in the Box from 2019 until 2021. McKinney brings more than 25 years of restaurant industry experience with a deep understanding of driving operational efficiency and a proven track record of developing high-performance teams and delivering best-in-class team member and guest experiences. He started out his quick-service and fast-casual restaurant operations career in …
Atlanta — Chicken Salad Chick, the nation’s only fast-casual chicken salad restaurant concept, will open its first restaurant in Kansas on July 1 — expanding the brand’s footprint to 22 states. The new restaurant will be located in Overland Park. Sisters Jo Anne Williams and Cindy Sulzman are the team behind this milestone opening for the brand. In addition to their Overland Park restaurant, the pair are slated to open two more Chicken Salad Chick restaurants in Johnson County in 2026. Sulzman will be heading up retail operations, catering and …
Sugar Land, Texas — Fuzzy’s Taco Shop has shaken things up in the Houston area with the grand opening of its newest location in Sugar Land, called Fuzzy’s Tacos and Margs, on June 16, 2025. The restaurant marks a new offering for the brand, debuting a fresh dining experience with full-service hospitality, digital innovations and a menu refresh. Unlike traditional Fuzzy’s locations where guests order at the counter and collect their food at a pickup window, the Sugar Land restaurant will offer tableside service. Guests will be welcomed to take …
Louisville, Ky. — The board of directors of Yum! Brands, Inc. has unanimously elected Chris Turner as chief executive officer, effective October 1, 2025. Turner currently serves as chief financial & franchise officer for Yum! Brands. He succeeds current CEO David Gibbs, who, in March 2025, informed the board of directors of his intention to retire in the next year after 37 years with the company and a successful tenure as CEO. Turner has served as Yum! Brands’ CFO since 2019 and expanded his role to include chief franchise officer …
Charlotte, N.C. — Bobby’s Burgers By Bobby Flay has appointed Patrick Cunningham as chief development officer (CDO). This move underscores the brand’s continued momentum and dedication to building a powerhouse franchise network. He joins the company from Little Caesars Pizza. With nearly three decades of experience in the QSR and franchising spaces, Cunningham brings a wealth of expertise to Bobby’s Burgers. In his new role, he will oversee all aspects of the brand’s franchise development strategy, with a focus on new market expansion and both traditional and non-traditional growth opportunities …
— By Brett Andersen — How to transform your dining experience through architectural lighting design. Lighting can transform a diner’s evening. A restaurant’s lighting should be functional while also providing the right ambiance. Hiring a professional lighting designer ensures a cohesive approach that balances aesthetics and technical considerations, including LED technology and control systems. To better understand what makes for a successful design, our firm conducted a study of the top 50 restaurants in New York City and came up with the following expert tips so you, too, can use …
Atlanta — Smalls Sliders has appointed veteran restaurant operations leader Clint Penfield as its new chief operating officer. In this role, Penfield will oversee systemwide operations and focus on building scalable infrastructure to support franchisee growth, while preserving the brand’s bold identity and relentless focus on guest experience. Penfield brings over two decades of leadership from Raising Cane’s, one of the most admired growth stories in the restaurant industry. During his tenure, he held multiple senior roles — including chief of restaurant services, senior vice president of restaurant services, and …