— By David Shove-Brown — As brands prepare for national expansion, they should partner with architects and interior designers to facilitate a more seamless, successful approach. Growing a brand into a nationally-franchised chain begins from the bottom up. Everyone has to start somewhere, and for many of the top fast-casual restaurant concepts in America, that means starting small. Every move a restaurateur makes when developing a concept has to be intentional and aligned with their goals for scaling the business. While branding is a foundational element of successful business practice, …
restaurants
Cincinnati — Penn Station Sandwiches, formerly Penn Station East Coast Subs, is celebrating a strong first half of 2026 driven by a strategic brand refresh, expanded menu offerings and accelerated franchise growth. The company’s new identity reflects its commitment to innovation while staying rooted in the high-quality subs and sandwiches, fresh-cut fries and hand-squeezed lemonade that have defined the brand for more than 40 years. The transition to Penn Station Sandwiches marks an evolution for the company as it broadens its appeal to new audiences. The rebrand is designed to …
Newport Beach, Calif. — Chipotle Mexican Grill is opening the first Chipotle restaurant in Mexico on July 16 in San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo León, part of the Monterrey metropolitan area, in partnership with Alsea, a leading restaurant operator in Latin America and Europe. The opening marks a significant milestone in Chipotle’s international growth strategy. Building on this market entry, Chipotle and Alsea plan to open additional restaurants in Nuevo León later this year and expand into Mexico City in 2027. “We are entering Mexico with deep respect for the …
Atlanta — Atlanta-based chicken chain Zaxbys® is opening its first two locations in New York this summer, representing a significant step in its national expansion strategy and bringing its operations across 24 states. Zaxbys is opening new restaurants in the Bronx and Manhattan. “New York is one of the most influential food cities in the world, and we’re incredibly proud to introduce Zaxbys to this market,” says Bernard Acoca, chief executive officer of Zaxbys. “Opening our first two restaurants in New York this summer marks an exciting milestone in our …
Honolulu — SpotOn, a leading restaurant technology and financial services company, has opened its new Hawaiʻi showroom. Located at KEAWE Retail in Our Kakaʻako, SpotOn’s dedicated showroom is designed for restaurant and hospitality operators to experience restaurant technology firsthand in a live and interactive environment, marking a major commitment to the state’s restaurant and hospitality community. Inspired by modern hospitality and technology experiences, the showroom was designed as a hands-on space where restaurant and bar owners, operators and managers can explore SpotOn’s technology in real world scenarios alongside SpotOn’s local …
Centerville, Utah — TruGolf Links will open a flagship location at the newly renovated Romeo Town Center in Romeoville, Ill., a southwest suburb of Chicago. The 5,000-square-foot facility will include TruGolf’s premium simulator bays and an upscale restaurant and full bar with plans to open this fall. As retail destinations diversify and work to create more compelling reasons to visit, adding this type of concept is a way to draw more customers on a regular basis to benefit the entire community. “We invest a lot of time and energy into …
Guthrie’s Enters Colorado with First Restaurant Led by Third-Generation Guthrie Family Members
Colorado Springs, Colo. — Guthrie’s, the original chicken-finger restaurant, will open its newest restaurant on July 14 in Colorado Springs, Colo. — marking the brand’s first-ever location in Colorado. The restaurant is also owned and operated by Guthrie family members Joe Kelly Guthrie, Tanner Guthrie and Garrison Guthrie. “Growing up, Guthrie’s has always been part of our family’s story, and it’s incredibly special to be opening a restaurant with my brother and dad,” says Tanner Guthrie. “As we looked at where to open our first restaurant, Colorado Springs stood out …
The Hidden Cost of Comfort
— By Julia Burman Tziolis — Resolving a restaurant’s HVAC breakdown through partnership. Operational performance and energy efficiency are closely connected in commercial real estate. Each supports the other, and both are critical to tenant satisfaction and long term business success. My firm, a net-lease real estate company named Essential Properties Realty Trust (EPRT), recently demonstrated how aligning the right expertise with strategic partnerships can resolve persistent facility issues and deliver measurable results. When one of its restaurant tenants, a Zaxbys location in Florida, struggled with longstanding HVAC problems that …
Minneapolis — International Dairy Queen, Inc. (IDQ) has hired Phil Crawford to join the company as executive vice president and chief technology officer, reporting to the president and CEO. He leads IT and retail technology for the company and its more than 7,800 DQ® restaurants worldwide. “Technology plays an increasingly critical role in empowering our business for our employees, franchisees and fans,” says Troy Bader, president and CEO at International Dairy Queen. “Phil’s proven success as a restaurant business and technology leader positions us for continued growth as we live …
San Diego — QDOBA Mexican Eats has signed two new development agreements to open 50 new restaurants in Atlanta and Nashville. A recent acquisition and expanded development commitment from B Wild Investments, LLC is further accelerating franchise-led growth. “We’re thrilled to partner with proven franchise operators who share our people-first culture, exceptional standards for guest service and commitment to disciplined growth,” says Jeremy Vitaro, chief development officer, QDOBA. QDOBA and its franchise partners currently operate over 865 restaurants, with plans to double the brand’s footprint to approximately 2,000 restaurants within …