Financing strategies for today’s technology-driven “smart” kitchens.
restaurants
Sun Prairie, Wis. — Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse plans to expand in the state of Wisconsin. Johnny’s currently has a foothold in the state with two existing locations in Eau Claire and Middleton. Its newest restaurant is projected to open in Sun Prairie, Wis., in August. The growing restaurant franchise plans to bring five additional locations to the area over the next 3 years.
Lexington, Ky. — With the countdown to its 100th anniversary underway, A&W Restaurants, America’s first restaurant chain, is continuing to reappear along the roadsides that made it famous. After opening 15 franchise locations in 2017, the iconic brand expects to open another 12 this year.
Las Colinas, Texas — Pei Wei fans in and around Las Colinas, Texas, will be the first to experience the leading fresh Pan-Asian brand’s new prototype restaurant. The Las Colinas restaurant is the Pei Wei Restaurant Support Center’s flagship location. The restaurant recently closed for dine-in business during its massive interior remodel project and is now back open for business.
Paducah, Ky. — More than 3 years in the making, Dippin’ Dots and Doc Popcorn will debut in China for the first time. America’s leading flash frozen beaded ice cream company and the largest franchisor of fresh-popped popcorn plan to open six locations by this fall and a total of 10 by May 2019.
Parsippany, N.J. — Ferrero, a global confectionery company and the maker of Nutella® The Original Hazelnut Spread®, will open a Nutella Cafe at 13th Street and University Place, near Union Square, by the end of the year. Nutella Cafe New York will feature a Nutella-inspired cafe menu and specialty espresso beverages. The first Nutella Cafe opened on May 31, 2017 in Chicago.
Houston — On June 6, 2018, Pizza Inn opened its new convenient grab-and-go unit, PIE, inside a 24-hour travel center near the Hobby Airport in Houston. The non-traditional location gives customers a fast, convenient experience when picking up their favorite hot pizza.
Boston — B.GOOD, which offers great tasting, locally sourced burgers, bowls, salads and smoothies, has appointed Chris Fuqua as the company’s new chief executive officer. He assumes day-to-day leadership of the company following more than 8 years at Dunkin’ Brands, where he served in a variety of leadership roles including marketing, operations, supply chain and strategy.