Katie Lee

Unlimited Access

by Katie Lee March 22, 2023

— By Hayden Spiess — Wild Birds Unlimited offers backyard bird feeding retail for an increasingly diverse customer base, with a growing flock of franchised locations. Jim Carpenter’s aspirations were not always avian in nature. The founder and CEO of Wild Birds Unlimited originally had his sights set on medical school. However, in 1981 he pivoted, opening the first Wild Birds Unlimited store in Indianapolis, driven by a passion for nature and birding. This same passion unites Wild Bird Unlimited store owners, managers and customers across the …

March 22, 2023

construction and design Cover Story From The Magazine remodels restaurants software/technology

Variety Show

by Katie Lee February 23, 2023

— Interview with Eduardo Luz — Panera puts on a show with several new design formats catering to the needs of an increasingly digital and off-premise guest. If variety is the spice of life, the many evolving iterations of Panera these days is keeping its real estate and construction game pretty hot. Currently boasting more than 2,100 bakery-cafes (in 48 states and Ontario, Canada), Panera operates under the Panera Bread® or Saint Louis Bread Co.® names; roughly half of these cafes are company-owned. Never a brand to sit …

February 23, 2023

Cover Story From The Magazine retailers

Customer First

by Katie Lee January 12, 2023

— By Katie Lee — David’s Bridal exists for magical moments — and puts customers front and center its new store format. In November 2022, David’s Bridal announced plans to debut a new store format systemwide, following a hugely successful soft launch of this concept earlier in the year in select locations, including Torrance, California; West Chester Township, Ohio; Lexington, Kentucky; and Cool Springs, Tennessee. The Conshohocken, Pennsylvania-based bridal retailer reopened 25 stores in 2022 and anticipates an estimated 30 new format stores will open in 2023 …

January 12, 2023

Cover Story From The Magazine retailers

Keeping Up With Kohl’s

by Katie Lee August 30, 2022

— By Katie Lee — Kohl’s expands with smaller-format stores, including Sephora in-store shops; launches new digital conveniences; and reduces its environmental impact. Kohl’s is going big …by strategically going small. While some traditional discount department stores might bring to mind giant power centers with huge parking fields, Kohl’s is betting on the trend that a smaller footprint can better meet the demands of today’s savvy shopper. Just because the physical space is smaller doesn’t mean big things aren’t happening. With more than 1,100 stores across the …

August 30, 2022

construction and design Cover Story franchise development From The Magazine restaurants

Quality Over Quantity

by Katie Lee March 4, 2022

The Hummus & Pita Co., which marks its 10th anniversary this year, keeps its location count low and its bar for quality high. — By Katie Lee — With two years of pandemic-related upheaval in the rearview mirror, The Hummus & Pita Co. views 2022, the year of its 10th anniversary, as a chance to reset and refocus: a fresh slate to reenergize its Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food roots and not to stray from its core philosophy: “real food that’s real good.” And that goes for each …

March 4, 2022

construction and design Cover Story From The Magazine remodels restaurants

Speaking to the Next Generation

by Katie Lee January 4, 2022

— By Katie Lee — KFC eyes 2022 with a new, urban-oriented evolution of its prototype design, focused on customer convenience and digital efficiency. When Retail & Restaurant Facility Business last featured KFC on its cover, the year was 2018 and a new design called ‘American Showman’ was rolling out, marking a new era of expansion for KFC following 10 years of downsizing. At the time, the company’s U.S. development goal was to become a 5,000-unit franchise once more. Now, 3 years and a global pandemic later, …

January 4, 2022

Cover Story From The Magazine retailers

Power Play

by Katie Lee November 29, 2021

— By Katie Lee — Powering through the pandemic, Batteries Plus continues to see a boost in business through multi-unit franchising. It goes without saying just how challenging the past 18 months have been for retailers, but Batteries Plus continues to power through. The Hartland, Wisconsin-based franchisor of 700+ stores stayed open, remained fully stocked, and offered stability and support infrastructure for its franchisees throughout the pandemic. Now with a renewed focus on signing multi-unit operators, Batteries Plus plans to open 30 new stores this year and …

November 29, 2021

construction and design Cover Story From The Magazine restaurants

Change In The Air

by Katie Lee November 4, 2021

— Interview with Tana Davila — Upgrades to P.F. Chang’s ambiance, design and decor drive traffic and sales — even during the pandemic. This month [September 2021], P.F. Chang’s opened a new flagship in Hawaii, following a 6-month renovation to upgrade its design, decor and ambiance to flagship level. The new look is part of P.F. Chang’s overall brand refresh currently underway. The company is on track to refresh all U.S. restaurants by the end of next year. Editor Katie Lee recently interviewed P.F. Chang’s marketing chief, Tana Davila, …

November 4, 2021

Cover Story franchise development From The Magazine retailers

Dog Days

by Katie Lee October 4, 2021

— Interview with Neil Gill — As the leader in dog daycare, Dogtopia is on track to open 50 new locations this year through robust retail franchising and a business model that focuses on overall wellness — for the dogs and their humans. As the saying goes, “Pets are people too.” And lucky are the dogs who get to experience day care at Phoenix-based Dogtopia, which currently operates 166 locations across 35 U.S. states and five Canadian provinces. During the height of the pandemic in 2020, when …

October 4, 2021

Cover Story From The Magazine restaurants

Convenience Through COVID

by Katie Lee August 19, 2021

— By Katie Lee — Farmer Boys marks its 40th anniversary with a new post-pandemic appreciation for quality and convenience. As Farmer Boys celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, the Riverside, California-based fast-casual concept recalls a memorable, milestone 2020 in which it opened four new restaurants, entered a new state (Arizona) and saw its total systemwide sales increase by $17 million — all during a global pandemic. Also in summer 2020, Farmer Boys’ senior vice president of operations transitioned to president and chief operating officer — during perhaps the …

August 19, 2021

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