Top Emerging Concepts News

Co-founders of BJ Restaurants, Paul Motenko and Jerry Hennessy, announced plans for a new restaurant concept called STACKED: food well built. Motenko and Hennessy say the concept will essentially create an entirely new industry category – fast casual plus. At STACKED, the new operating model will allow guests to have the unprecedented ability to design their own meals […]

Catalyst, a nonprofit organization supporting expanded opportunities for women in the workplace, announced that McDonald's Corporation received a 2011 Catalyst Award for its global women's initiative. Kaiser Permanente and Time Warner Inc. were also honored with the award.  “This year’s dynamic winning initiatives reflect the power and reach of Catalyst’s mission: ‘Expanding opportunities for women and business,’” says Ilene Lang, […]

Egg & I Restaurants opened its 42nd location earlier this month at 9778 Katy Freeway in Houston, Texas, marking the first The Egg & I Restaurant opening in Houston by the well-known Houston businessman, Mac Haik. The “Bunker Hill”  Egg & I Restaurant donate 100 percent of all proceeds from its private, pre-opening training day […]

There will be no hiding for anyone with a sweet tooth in Kuwait, UAE, or Jordan. Nestle Toll House Café by Chip signed a franchise agreement with Royal Food Services Company to develop cafes throughout the three countries, with 48 locations set to open over the next decade. "The demand over there is unbelievable for […]

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit opened in 1941. Its menu fluctuated for eleven years, bending to the whims of its customers and the flavor forays of its chefs, but since 1952, Dickey’s menu has not changed. Until now. If all goes as planned, Dickey’s will roll out the spicy cheddar sausage system-wide Feb. 1, marking the first […]

On Dec. 11, Genghis Grill will mark the beginning of the first ever social media-driven music tour, Genghis Live. Local city bands that want to perform must upload their music video onto GenghisGrillTV.com and from there, fans will vote for their favorite bands. The top four will be chosen to play based on the most […]

Elevation Burger, known for its organic, grass-fed burgers and recognized as one of the most innovative burger chains in the country, recently debuted the Coca-Cola Freestyle machine in its Falls Church, Virginia, location. The machine displays the latest technology from Coca-Cola, dispensing 106 sparkling and still beverage brands from a single freestanding unit.  In addition […]

Zpizza is starting a pure pizza flavor revolution with tastes from around the world in each bite of its Zpizza rusticas. Rusticas are personal-sized free form crust pizzas, made with 100 percent certified organic wheat dough prepared fresh every day, hand-thrown, and fire-baked until uniquely crisp. With options like curry chicken and yam and pear and […]

It may have Denny's name hanging on its sign, but the menuboards on the wall and the lack of hosts and servers insinuate a slightly different adventure. Denny’s ventured into the fast-casual market on Nov. 12 with the opening of the first Denny’s Café in Orange, California. The café is the brainchild of Steve Dunn, […]

Visitors to Downtown Disney Marketplace can now experience the food of Pollo Campero, an international Latin chicken quick-service restaurant, and the first-of-its-kind Fresh A-Peel, featuring made-to-order fresh selections. At Pollo Campero, Walt Disney World guests can order combinations of freshly prepared Latin chicken, side dishes such as yuca fries and sweet plantains, and Latin drinks […]

A small team from Chipotle Mexican Grill led by founder, chairman, and co-CEO Steve Ells is working on an Asian restaurant concept that follows the Chipotle model. The company plans to open one Asian-inspired restaurant in 2011.

Casual-dining chain, which has experienced 26 consecutive quarters of positive, double-digit same-store sales, rolls out quick-service “On-the-Go” concept.

The app allows users to put money on their friends’ Starbucks cards, making for a pleasant surprise.

More than 400 locations will feature the gourmet, single-cup brewing system.

A rebuilt location in California becomes the fourth McDonald’s in the nation to promote energy efficiency.