On Fort Lauderdale, Florida’s 17th Street, tucked in the shadow of giants Chipotle and Panera Bread, an upstart burger joint dreams of someday entering the same upper ranks of the fast-casual world that those two brands helped create. Though the restaurant carries a familiar name, its vibe is decidedly fresh. Welcome to Shula Burger. The […]

Pie Five Pizza Co will be featured at the 2013 National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show on Sunday, May 19, at McCormick Place in Chicago. Pizza Inn Holdings senior vice president and chief development officer Madison Jobe will address successful restaurant franchising during the panel, “How to Franchise My Restaurant to Others: The Process Untangled.” With more […]

As part of its continued efforts to offer guests high-quality coastal cuisine, Rubio’s Restaurants is introducing three new chef-crafted sustainable seafood items to its menu for a limited time. Today, Rubio’s fans and friends are invited to stop in and try the new Grilled Chimichurri Salmon burrito, taco, and salad. Created by Ralph Rubio and […]

Larry Leith, founder of Tokyo Joe's, is pleased to announce a partnership with Gridiron Capital LLC, and veteran restaurant executive, Greg MacDonald, to bring healthy, fast-casual modern Asian dining to more people in more locations. The addition of MacDonald's leadership and industry experience to Tokyo Joe's proven model, coupled with Gridiron's track record of building […]

Smashburger, the rapidly expanding better-burger restaurant concept, is pleased to announce the addition of three new franchise partnerships for airport locations in Dallas, Texas; Philadelphia; and San Jose, Costa Rica, accelerating the company’s growth in nontraditional locations. Smashburger has partnered with the following seasoned franchisees to introduce the brand’s smashed burgers and sizzling menu offerings […]

Tin Drum Asiacafé, the popular Atlanta-based Pan Asian restaurant concept, announces the signing of a seven-unit development agreement in Nashville, Tennessee, with CANUSA ENTERPRISES, a regional restaurant group. The agreement is the first in Tennessee. Tin Drum boasts 13 units across Georgia and Alabama, and plans to open up to eight additional units this year. […]

Burger 21, a better-burger franchise founded by the owners of The Melting Pot Restaurants, announced it plans to expand westward with Dallas targeted for future franchise development. As part of its aggressive growth strategy, the Tampa, Florida–based concept plans to develop approximately 20 or more restaurants in the market. To date, Burger 21 has six restaurants open […]

Pancheros Mexican Grill, a fast-casual Mexican restaurant known for serving a variety of savory burrito options, is set to open its second location in Lincoln, Nebraska. In honor of the grand opening, it will be offering a $1 burrito promotion on April 30 from 4 to 6 p.m. Treating fans to a memorable Mexican dining […]

Salsarita’s, the Fresh Mexican Cantina with locations across the country, has announced a development agreement that will bring three new restaurants to Lexington, Kentucky, by the end of 2016 as it expands nationally through franchising. Long-time local residents Bill and Holli Gibson will introduce Salsarita’s to Lexington. The Gibsons expect to open the first restaurant […]

MOOYAH, a fast-casual, “better burger,” fries and shakes chain, announced a three-tiered geographic objective to its next phase of 2013 expansion. The expansion will include international markets for the first time in the company’s history. Included in this strategy are Middle East territories such as Dubai of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, […]

Burger 21, a new better-burger franchise founded by the owners of The Melting Pot Restaurants, announced it is targeting additional areas in the greater Orlando market for future development in 2013. Target cities include Winter Park, Altamonte Springs, Winter Garden, Lake Mary, and Celebration. To date, Burger 21 has six restaurants open in Florida and […]

Cowboy Chicken-Wood Fire Rotisserie, the popular seven-unit Dallas-based fast casual brand, has named Kathy Davidson as their new director franchise development, to prepare for further franchise growth.  Less than a year ago, Cowboy Chicken was chosen “Hot Restaurant Chain to Buy into Now”, by "Forbes" magazine, and combined with its popularity in Texas for over […]

Veggie Grill, the popular West Coast fast casual restaurant concept, announces that its brand new Encino location will open its doors to the public. Located at 16542 Ventura Blvd. in Encino, Veggie Grill will serve its favorites seven days a week starting at 11 a.m. The Encino opening marks the 18th Veggie Grill restaurant, nine […]

Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint is scheduled to open its first Knoxville, Tennessee, location in May, with two more to follow. Due to its popularity, Uncle Maddio’s is now attracting successful multiple franchise owners, including Glen Lax, owner of seven Marble Slab Creamery locations in North and South Carolina.  “I love the Uncle Maddio’s corporate culture […]

Mooyah, a fast-casual, “better burger,” fries, and shakes chain, is calling on its guests and social media fans to show off their inner chef and create the brand’s next Featured Burger, which will be showcased at Mooyah restaurants nationwide. From March 27 to April 17, Mooyah invites fans of its Facebook fan page to go […]

Pie Five Pizza Co., a fast-casual concept, will be front and center at the 2013 Multi-Unit Franchising Conference (MUFC) on March 28 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Pizza Inn Holdings Inc. senior vice president and chief development officer Madison Jobe will take the stage to share insights into how concept Pizza Inn successfully launched […]

Dickey’s Barbecue was recently named the Fastest Growing Restaurant Chain by Technomic’s Top 500 Annual Report. Dickey’s outpaced many larger fast casual restaurant chains to seize the title. “Our brand is on fire across the nation,” says Roland Dickey, Jr., president and CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants Inc. “We have a proven concept with exceptional […]

The Bistro Group, a Cincinnati-based franchise of McAlister’s Deli announced its plan to expand in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.   The Bistro Group owns and operates five McAlister’s Deli locations in Ohio and Kentucky. After more than seven successful years with these five locations, the Bistro Group and McAlister’s Deli are looking to expand into […]

Canadians can now enjoy the taste of Qdoba Mexican Grill’s wide variety of handcrafted Mexican cuisine, as the brand announced its newest location in London, Ontario. The newest Qdoba joins the brand’s first-ever Canadian restaurant, which recently opened in Brandon, Manitoba. Both locations will help attract new customers and franchisees north of the United States […]

Burger Lounge, the eco-conscious, fast-casual concept with 100 percent grass-fed beef burgers and vegetarian options, is bringing the turf to the surf with the opening of a new restaurant in Santa Monica, California, on March 13. The restaurant will be the company’s ninth locale throughout San Diego and Los Angeles, and the third location to […]

Zoës Kitchen, a fast-casual restaurant concept offering simple Mediterranean-inspired dishes, announced the company will be opening four new stores in the greater Philadelphia area. The new store openings will roll out over a three-month period, with the first location slated to open in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. “Zoës Kitchen has experienced tremendous success and growth through the […]

Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza, a leader in the fast-casual, build-your-own-pizza category, announced that Lessing’s Hospitality Group, one of New York’s leading restaurant and catering companies, has signed an agreement to develop 10 franchise stores in the New York Metro area, Long Island, Westchester, and Rockland counties, as well as in southern Connecticut. This most recent agreement […]

Last week, Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint opened new restaurant locations in Dunwoody, Georgia, and Charlotte, North Carolina, raising the total number of open franchises to nine throughout the Southeast. By the end of fall this year, 20 more restaurants will open, including locations in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee, and there will be 100 […]

Burger 21, a new better-burger franchise founded by the owners of The Melting PotRestaurants, announced the signing of two new franchise deals for the territories of Albany, New York, and Sarasota, Florida. The deal will bring the first Burger 21 restaurant to the state of New York and expands the brand’s footprint to a total of […]

McAlister’s Deli is showcasing its Lent-friendly menu offering guests a great variety of delicious options. The Lent menu highlights the many choices available at McAlister’s, including a variety of starters, salads, sandwiches, and spuds. Also available to enhance the Lent selection is the new Cajun Shrimp menu options. “We want our guests to know that […]

Only a little more than a month into 2013, Le Duff America—the world’s second-largest restaurant company in the bakery café segment, with brands like Bruegger’s Bagels and la Madeleine Country French Café in its portfolio—can already tell it’s going to be a big year. For starters, it recently purchased casual-dining chain Mimi’s Cafe from Bob […]

Burger 21, a better-burger franchise founded by the owners of The Melting Pot Restaurants, with five locations open and 10 in development on the East Coast, is giving customers what they crave in a burger: diversity. The brand unveiled an infographic highlighting how its guests are buying into better burgers through its variety of menu options. […]