restaurants

Dallas — In June, Smoothie King achieved a major milestone with the biggest sales weekend in the brand’s 52-year history. Kicking off the weekend on Friday, June 20th, the brand reached its highest single-day systemwide sales ever; and the momentum continued through National Smoothie Day on June 21st, which marked the brand’s busiest Saturday ever. The historic run was capped off by the highest-traffic Sunday of the year. On the development front, Smoothie King added 25 new store commitments across 12 states in the second quarter of 2025, with especially …

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— By Nathan Willard — Regular conveyor oven cleanings help extend their lifespan and significantly reduce fire risk. Commercial conveyor ovens (also known as pizza ovens or pizza conveyor ovens) play an essential role in busy commercial kitchens as pieces of equipment that are used yearly to cook over 3 billion pizzas in the U.S. alone. However, while there are few things better than a cheesy slice of pizza, conveyor ovens — as well as your entire kitchen operations — have the ability to go up in flames when they …

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Atlanta — Perkins American Food Co., is growing its presence in New Jersey with the latest Perkins concept, Griddle & Go. The company recently signed multi-unit franchise deals in Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties, selling out in all four markets. Perkins Griddle & Go is a new state-of-the-art café concept, and the Garden State boasts the most significant number of upcoming units for the brand. The first location is slated to open by October 2025 at the highly anticipated Netflix Studios campus in Fort Monmouth. “Franchisees across the country …

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Atlanta — Edible Brands®, the parent company of Edible Arrangements®, Roti Modern Mediterranean® and Edibles.com, has appointed seasoned restaurant and franchising leader Matthew Walls as president and chief stores officer. A seasoned executive with extensive experience across operations, development, technology and general management, Walls will play a critical role in driving innovation, empowering franchisees and elevating all three of the brand’s core businesses. Walls’ background spans a variety of disciplines, from logistics and business intelligence to domestic and international growth, equipping him with a broad, strategic lens for scaling complex …

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Charlotte, N.C. — Bojangles, a beloved Southern restaurant chain known for its famous breakfast and chicken, biscuits and tea, is taking a bold step toward sustainability and customer convenience. In a new partnership with Smart Big Box, Alyath EV and Energy and Environmental Design Services, Bojangles is set to install turnkey electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at a wide range of locations, making it a first-of-its-kind initiative in the QSR industry. The rollout of EV charging stations at Bojangles will begin in fourth quarter 2025, and customers can expect to …

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Sunrise, Fla. — Pure Green, a functional wellness brand on a mission to build healthier communities through clean, nutrient-dense smoothies, açaí bowls, cold-pressed juices and wellness shots, is rapidly expanding its footprint and closing in on a major milestone: 100 open locations by early 2026. In just 6 months, the juice bar has grown from 43 to 70 open units — a 63% increase — and is on track to open three to five new stores each month through the end of the year. Founded in New York City in …

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Baton Rouge, La. — R&R Brands has officially launched as a parent company and embedded operating partner powering a portfolio of nearly 50 restaurant and entertainment locations across seven states. Built by operators, for operators, R&R exists to scale brands with real alignment and zero spin. The R&R Brands portfolio currently includes Party Fowl, Cody’s Original Roadhouse, Santa Fe Cattle Co., multiple franchise locations of Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux and Celebrity Theatres. Uniquely structured as both franchisor and franchisee — while also owning and operating brands directly — R&R brings a …

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— By David Conklin — Retail-to-restaurant conversions have proven to be a profitable real estate strategy for Golden Corral. The rising costs of new development present an opportunity for retail and restaurant brands to rethink their expansion strategies. One of the most effective ways to fuel growth while mitigating high development costs is by repurposing second-generation spaces — previously occupied retail locations — into thriving restaurant concepts. Golden Corral is leading the charge, targeting these spaces as prime opportunities for conversion and rapid expansion. Why Second-Generation Retail Spaces Work for …

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Atlanta — Paradies Lagardère, a leading North American airport restaurateur and retailer, has finalized new food and beverage and retail contracts at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). “We are truly humbled by the trust that our airport partners have placed in us, and we are honored to continue growing these relationships,” says Gregg Paradies, president and CEO. “These new opportunities allow us to do what we’re most passionate about, which is partnering with local artisans and entrepreneurs to create a genuine sense of …

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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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