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Fresh Kitchen Unveils Plans for Largest-Ever Location in South Tampa

by Katie Lee

Tampa Bay, Fla. — Fresh Kitchen plans to open a brand-new flagship location in early 2026. The new restaurant is taking over the former Ducky’s Sports Lounge space at 1719 W. Kennedy Blvd. in South Tampa, Fla., and will be the largest Fresh Kitchen yet — doubling the size of a typical location and paving the way for future innovation and growth. Fresh Kitchen lost its original South Howard location to an early morning fire in July 2024, just 1 month shy of celebrating its 10th anniversary. In the months …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

PJ’s Coffee Opens First Location in Virginia

by Katie Lee

Alexandria, Va. — New Orleans-based PJ’s Coffee opened its first Virginia location, in Alexandria, on July 8. Located on the ground floor of the 400-unit South Alex apartment complex, the standalone café brings a taste of the French Quarter to Virginia with its signature beignets, small-batch roasted coffee and seasonal sips. Alexandria’s PJ’s Coffee marks the brand’s 15th state and seventh location in Maryland. The Alexandria location is locally owned and operated by the husband-and-wife entrepreneurs Ronald and Sofiya Ali Parker, both longtime residents of the Alexandria-Burgundy Village area. Phyllis …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Fatburger Accelerates Florida Growth with 40-Unit Development Deal

by Katie Lee

Los Angeles — FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc., parent company of Fatburger and 17 other restaurant concepts, has signed a new development deal with existing franchisee Whole Factor Inc., to open 40 additional Fatburger locations across Florida over the next 10 years, including new areas such as Jacksonville. Since 2021, Whole Factor Inc. has been steadily growing the Fatburger brand across the state with a 14-unit development deal to grow in the Orlando and Tampa areas, with two restaurants open to date in Riverview and Celebration. “Two years ago, …

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Chuck E. Cheese Launches New Concept: Chuck’s Arcade™

by Katie Lee

Dallas — Chuck E. Cheese, America’s favorite arcade and family entertainment center, is launching a new arcade concept, Chuck’s Arcade™. The new concept combines classic games and the hottest new games alongside iconic Chuck E. Cheese animatronic characters. The arcade was created for adults and lifelong fans who grew up surrounded by the electric glow of arcade screens, the symphony of digital soundtracks and the thrill of chasing high scores with friends long into the night. Chuck’s Arcade™ is a modern-day love letter to the games and people who made …

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franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Zaxbys Inks First Development Agreement for the Chicagoland Area

by Katie Lee

Chicago — Zaxbys™, a rapidly expanding Georgia-based QSR franchise, is making its entrance in the Chicagoland market. The brand has signed a multi-unit development agreement with a seasoned local entrepreneur to open several new restaurants across Chicago, with the first location expected to open within the next year. The operator, a Chicagoland native with nearly two decades of restaurant experience, currently owns and operates Zaxbys locations in Kansas City, Mo. The new agreement solidifies Zaxbys commitment to strategic growth in high-potential markets. “We’ve been looking to bring Zaxbys to Chicago …

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Cousins Maine Lobster Marks Milestone: Over $1  Billion in Systemwide Sales

by Katie Lee

Portland, Me. — Cousins Maine Lobster, the national food truck and fast‑casual dining concept beloved for its authentic Maine lobster rolls, has surpassed $1 billion in systemwide sales since its founding in 2012. Co‑founders and real-life cousins Sabin Lomac and Jim Tselikis celebrated the milestone. “This is an incredible moment, growing from a single food truck in Los Angeles to more than 85 units across the nation, we’ve brought the taste and spirit of Maine to diners nationwide — and built a franchise family along the way,” they said. Notable achievements: …

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Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café Makes North Carolina Debut

by Katie Lee

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 …

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Liquid Theater

by Katie Lee

— 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 …

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Panera Bread Creates Transformation & Strategy Office and Names SVP

by Katie Lee

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 …

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Jack in the Box Inc. Welcomes Back Shannon McKinney as COO

by Katie Lee

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 …

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