restaurants

construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

TGI Fridays Signs First U.S. Development Agreement in 10 Years

by Katie Lee

Dallas — TGI Fridays® has signed a development agreement with Bliss Bites LLC to open five new Fridays restaurants across New York State. The agreement marks the company’s first domestic development agreement in more than a decade, reenergizing its growth plans in the U.S. The agreement advances the momentum of Fridays’ “1-2-3 Strategic Vision,” its growth plan charting a path to more than 1,000 units and $2 billion in annual revenue by 2030. Fridays opened its first restaurant on Manhattan’s Upper East Side in 1965, and the state remains a …

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Industry VoicesProduct Spotlightrestaurantssoftware/technologyvendors

Get in the Game

by Katie Lee

— By Bryan Icenhower — How reliable access to live sports fosters habitual loyalty. In today’s dining landscape, reliability may be the most underrated driver of customer loyalty. For sports fans, choosing where to watch isn’t casual, it’s intentional. Whether it’s an NFL Sunday, a cross-state college football rivalry, an MLS playoff or a Formula 1 Grand Prix, fans pick restaurants and bars where they can reliably watch the game. For restaurants, customer loyalty isn’t limited to a one-time visit. It’s about encouraging customers to return time and again. When …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

CAVA Marks 500th Restaurant & First in Minnesota

by Katie Lee

Washington, D.C. — CAVA, a Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant brand, has achieved a significant milestone as it marks the opening of its 500th restaurant. The new restaurant is located in Minneapolis, its first in the state of Minnesota. CAVA is ahead of schedule and poised to surpass its goal of 1,000 restaurants by 2032. The milestone Minneapolis restaurant opened on Sept. 23. With the new Minnesota location, CAVA now has locations in 30 states and Washington, D.C. “Reaching 500 restaurants is a defining moment for CAVA and a reflection of how …

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construction and designNewsrestaurants

Chipotle Opens its 1,500th Chipotlane

by Katie Lee

Newport Beach, Calif. — On Sept. 29, Chipotle Mexican Grill opened its 1,500th Chipotlane, located in Bradenton, Fla., advancing the company’s North American growth strategy. Chipotle has added 500 Chipotlanes in less than 2 years as the format remains central to its development goals. The milestone comes amid continued growth across Florida, where Chipotle expects to grow its restaurant footprint by approximately 17% in 2026 and create approximately 1,500 restaurant jobs. Since introducing the Chipotlane in 2018, the format has consistently delivered higher volumes and returns than traditional Chipotle restaurants, …

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franchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurants

Rock N Roll Sushi Names Next CEO

by Katie Lee

Destin, Fla. — Rock N Roll Sushi has appointed restaurant and franchise executive Rick Gestring as its next chief executive officer. Gestring will lead the 80-unit concept into its next phase of growth, with a focus on strengthening the brand, supporting franchisee success and positioning Rock N Roll Sushi for continued expansion. Most recently, Gestring served as brand officer for Tasty Restaurant Group, where he led the KFC and Taco Bell restaurant portfolio. Previously, he was senior vice president of franchise operations for Honey Baked Ham and chief restaurant officer …

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facilities managementkitchen equipmentNewsrestaurantsvendors

Study: Rising Costs Force U.S. Restaurants to Raise Menu Prices, Delay Equipment Upgrades

by Katie Lee

SilverChef’s 2026 Hospitality Operator Report found that while many operators have a positive outlook for the next 12 months, one in four still can’t afford equipment upgrades due to costs Dallas — Rising costs and supply chain disruptions are forcing U.S. hospitality operators to reshape everything, from what they charge diners to the equipment they invest in, according to a new study from SilverChef USA, which provides flexible equipment financing for the hospitality industry. Over two-thirds (68%) of U.S. operators raised menu prices in the past 12 months, and nearly …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

85°C Bakery Cafe Reaches 100 U.S. Locations, Plans to Have 150 By 2030

by Katie Lee

Brea, Calif. — 85°C Bakery Cafe, a Taiwanese bakery-café brand, opened its 100th U.S. location this month at Parker Commons in Aurora, Colo. The opening also introduces the brand to Colorado for the first time. 85°C entered the U.S. market in 2008 and has grown through a differentiated bakery-café model spanning four core categories: breads and pastries, cakes, handcrafted coffee, and tea beverages. As 85°C reaches triple-digit locations and enters Colorado, the brand begins a new stage of growth and works toward 150 U.S. locations by 2030. Cheng-Hsueh Wu founded …

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green newsIndustry Voiceskitchen exhaust/grease controlrestaurantsroofingvendors

Reducing Rooftop Risk

by Katie Lee

— By Jim Selle — Why rooftop grease containment is a smart business practice. For restaurant operators and commercial property owners, rooftop grease containment is often viewed as a maintenance item. In reality, it is a critical business practice that protects roofing assets, reduces liability exposure, supports regulatory compliance and helps prevent avoidable capital expenses. Facilities that operate commercial kitchens generate grease-laden vapors that travel through exhaust systems and discharge at rooftop fan locations. Without proper containment, grease can spread across roofing membranes, mechanical equipment, drains and walking surfaces, creating …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Starbird Chicken to Expand into Washington with 17 New Restaurants

by Katie Lee

San Francisco — Starbird Chicken is expanding its footprint into Washington through a new franchise partnership with Mehta Investment Group. The agreement includes plans to develop 17 locations across Washington state. The expansion marks a significant step in Starbird’s continued growth throughout the Pacific Northwest. The new franchise venture will be led by Vin Mehta and his son Rohit through Mehta Investment Group, a family-owned enterprise with experience across multiple industries and a strong track record of building successful operations. Vin Mehta, president of Mehta Investment Group, will guide the …

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franchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurants

Smokey Mo’s Names VP of Franchise Development to Lead New Texas Growth

by Katie Lee

Cedar Park, Texas — Smokey Mo’s BBQ has named Von Dawson as its vice president of franchise development as the company continues building its footprint across Texas. He joins Smokey Mo’s from Dine Brands Global. In his new role, Dawson will focus on building the brand’s pipeline of qualified franchise partners and expanding its presence in new and existing markets across the state. His appointment comes as Smokey Mo’s continues strengthening the operational foundation behind its franchise growth, with an emphasis on restaurant-level performance, franchisee support and a model built …

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