Three new franchisees have agreed to develop Fazoli’s restaurants in travel centers, while two existing operators also have new travel-center units under construction.

Fazoli’s reached agreements with three new franchisees for six travel center units in East Texas; Dubuque, Iowa; and Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Three are expected to open by the end of 2013. The deals put Fazoli’s on a strong growth track.

According to president and CEO Carl T. Howard, Fazoli’s has hit an important turnaround milestone.

“For the first time in a decade, our total unit count is growing,” he says. “With new and current franchisees opening restaurants, Fazoli’s has turned the corner in its growth efforts.”

Franchisee Chintu Patel, who heads CCreations of New Whiteland, Inc. with his wife Jigna, is opening his second Fazoli’s this summer in a travel center he owns in Franklin, Indiana.

He also has agreed to develop a new travel center next year near Indianapolis that will include his third Fazoli’s.

Patel is a multiunit franchisee of Subway, Dunkin’ Donuts, Orange Leaf, and several hotels. His company also owns and manages six travel centers in the Southeast and Midwest.

Long-time Fazoli’s franchisee Odus Mundy, who operates three standalone Fazoli’s near Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Oglethorpe, Georgia, is building his fourth unit in a travel center he owns in Lafollette, near Knoxville, Tennessee. He expects to open the restaurant early this summer.

“Over the years, we have had many requests from the public to open a Fazoli’s there,” Mundy says. The space previously housed a Burger King.

Like Fazoli’s two existing travel center units, the new ones will offer dine-in, carryout, and drive-thru service for lunch and dinner. The units will carry Fazoli’s full menu of freshly prepared Italian entrees, oven-baked sandwiches, and salads.