Top Fast Casual News

Crumbl is red-y for Valentine’s Day like never before with the all-new Red Box. This bold new color will be available during the Valentine’s Day season for the 6-Pack and Mini 12-Pack while supplies last, offering customers an aesthetic and delicious gift option for Valentine’s Day. Custom gifting options, including limited-time Valentine’s Day stickers and […]

Following their immediate success opening and operating a small smoothie café in a fitness center in Auburn, Maine, friends BJ Grondin and Jeremy and Maygan Callahan started thinking bigger and are now leveraging their experience with aggressive growth plans for the future. The group signed a lease with Continental Realty Corporation for 1,100 square feet […]

Reality Based Group (RBG), a leading tech-enabled mystery shopping and customer experience improvement firm, has announced an exciting new partnership with the fast-growing restaurant chain, Dave’s Hot Chicken. This collaboration aims to elevate the guest experience across all Dave’s Hot Chicken locations by leveraging RBG’s cutting-edge video mystery shopping solution. Through this strategic alliance, Dave’s Hot Chicken will […]

Quickway Japanese Hibachi, known for hibachi prepared fresh on an open grill, is entering New York Metro with signed leases for three New York City locations. Katz & Associates’ Michael Peguero and Sean Philipps are working with master brokers Lauren Brunner and Yi-Ting Chung from The Retail Strategy to represent Quickway. The first three NYC […]

Piada Italian Street Food, a leading fast-casual Italian restaurant concept, announced a partnership with Barilla, where guests can celebrate Valentine’s Day with an exclusive bundle designed for sharing with someone you care about. Available for one day only, Friday, February 14, 2025, the Valentine’s Day Bundle includes two entrees with protein, two drinks and a serving of Piada’s signature […]

Slim Chickens, a leading better-chicken fast casual franchise, has named Greg Vojnovic as its new Chief Development Officer (CDO). With over three decades of experience in restaurant development, franchise growth, and strategic real estate planning, Vojnovic will play an essential role in driving Slim Chickens’ growth.  Vojnovic previously served as CDO for Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen […]

Towson is welcoming a new, fresh destination for delicious, all-natural smoothies and juices with the grand opening of Vara Juice on Saturday, February 15, 2025. Located next to the Subway at 402 ½ York Rd, Towson, MD 21204-5123, Vara Juice invites everyone to join in the celebration with free smoothies and exclusive giveaways from 2:00 […]

Potbelly isn’t waiting for Valentine’s Day to share a little love with its loyal fans. Instead, the neighborhood sandwich shop is sharing the caring spirit of mid-February early with the introduction of a limited-time Toffee Butter Brickle Cookie.  Packed with buttery richness, crunchy toffee bits and sweet brown sugar, this new cookie will capture the […]

WaBa Grill, an LA-original rice bowl chain known for its Asian-inspired menu, proudly reports an impressive 2024, driven by new restaurants in critical markets, robust development activities, encouraging sales data and menu innovations that delighted guests. The brand’s top 25% of locations surpassed an AUV of $1.27 million, with the top 50% exceeding $1.1 million. […]

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and Smoothie King has the perfect way for couples who share a passion for health and fitness to celebrate together. Research even suggests that couples who are healthy together stay together—exercising with your partner can improve mood and increase relationship satisfaction. Whether you’re fueling up before a workout or winding down after one, […]

Happy Joe’s, the rapidly growing Iowa-born pizza and ice cream brand, is closing its 52nd year with record-breaking franchise growth. Fueled by meaningful partnerships, industry recognition and key market expansions, the brand continues to advance its mission of bringing families and communities together over great food and dining experiences. The year kicked off with the […]

“SHIT YEAH!” That motto is the driving force behind Zunzi’s + Zunzibar. It’s what the staff at all locations of the popular fast casual restaurant and beach-themed sports bar brands strive to make their guests say after every visit. And now it’s the title of the company’s podcast, The SHIT YEAH! Show. “The restaurant business […]

Captain D’s, the nation’s leading fast-casual seafood restaurant, is expanding on both sides of the Mississippi. It is pushing into the Northeast by adding the state of Maryland to its system and increasing its presence in Texas. The Maryland development group has signed on to develop five restaurants in Prince George County in the Baltimore metro over the next seven years. Expanding Captain […]

bb.q Chicken, the internationally renowned Korean fried chicken brand, has officially made its debut in Oregon with the grand opening of its first location in Beaverton on January 22, 2025. Fueled by strong demands from fans, the new location has already seen an enthusiastic response from customers eager to get a taste of authentic Korean […]

Back by popular demand, Moe’s Southwest Grill’s limited-time protein offering Shredded Beef Birria is returning to the stage. Moe’s most popular LTO ever, is an instant hit featuring juicy shredded beef cooked in chiles and garlic, Birria is a rich, savory protein perfect for the winter season.  To celebrate the return of Moe’s Southwest Grill Birria, we are also releasing the […]

Bubbakoo’s Burritos, the award-winning Mexican-fusion concept, has announced a new location opening in Indianapolis on February 11. Located at 3826 E 82nd St, this grand opening marks the first Bubbakoo’s in the state, a significant milestone in the brand’s continued growth and commitment to bringing its fresh, customizable meals to new communities. The restaurant will […]

Pokeworks, the quickest-growing fast-casual poke brand in the world, celebrated its record-breaking 2024 performance while preparing for an ambitious 2025. The brand exceeded 2024 industry benchmark reports in growth, nearly doubling the year-over-year same-store sales trend and achieving significant gains in same-store traffic and are seeing results so far in 2025. As Pokeworks looks ahead, it is focused […]

Torchy’s Tacos, the beloved brand behind “Damn Good Tacos,” has chosen PAR Punchh, a leading loyalty and engagement platform by PAR Technology Corporation, to elevate its guest experience and create deeper connections with its fans. Together, they’ve launched Torchy’s Tacos Rewards, a dynamic loyalty program that combines personalization, surprise-and-delight campaigns, and seamless functionality to transform […]

Russo’s New York Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen signs a multi unit development agreement to open 10 outlets in Mexico city starting the new year 2025 with to open 10 outlets in Mexico City by 2027 proudly welcomes its newest franchisee, Javier Aguilar. The addition of this pizza franchise marks an exciting milestone for the company […]

Bikky, a customer data platform built exclusively for multi-unit restaurants, announced a partnership with City BBQ, an award-winning fast-casual brand that’s smoking and serving up tastes of the nation.  Founded in 1999 in Columbus OH, City BBQ has found steady success showcasing the breadth and depth of BBQ found across the country. The brand has […]