Top Fast Casual News

CB Rest Holdings of Boca Raton, Florida, was named Franchise Partner of the Year, while Buon Hospitality of Pleasanton, California, was named Franchise Developer of the Year as Corner Bakery Cafe recognized its top performing franchise partners during the company’s 2013 Franchise Leadership Conference. More than 100 franchisees, operators, and vendors converged for the three-day […]

Veggie Grill, the West Coast fast-casual concept, announced it will open its first restaurant in Ventura County on Wednesday, October 30. In celebration of Veggie Grill’s arrival to Westlake Village, the restaurant will reward the first 50 guests in line between 10 and 11 a.m. on opening day with a $20 Veggie Grill gift card. […]

Freebirds World Burrito, the fast-casual burrito concept owned by Tavistock Restaurants, announced the addition of industry veteran Bobby Shaw as senior vice president of operations. In this role, Shaw will oversee more than 90 Freebirds World Burrito locations across seven states and support the growth of the brand through strategic planning initiatives and profit management […]

Zaxby’s Franchising Inc. announced its expansion into another new state with a multi-unit restaurant agreement. Veteran ZFI multi-unit franchisees Ben Williams Sr. and Bill McGeary, joined by Ben Williams Jr., have signed a deal that gives them exclusive rights to northeast Oklahoma, including the DMA of Tulsa. This deal is the second new-state multi-unit deal […]

Long John Silver’s, the largest quick service seafood company, has named Brian Scantland its vice president of planning and performance improvement. Scantland will report to chief executive officer, Mike Kern.  Scantland brings 13 years of experience in restaurant and retail industries to Long John Silver’s, previously serving as the senior director of innovation for Yum! […]

Chicago-based chef Rick Bayless announced he will open a Tortas Frontera location at the University of Pennsylvania as the chain's first establishment on a college campus. The quick-service Mexican restaurant is now under construction and projected to open in early January, 2014. Since opening Frontera Grill in Chicago 25 years ago, Bayless has expanded his […]

Noodles & Company announced the launch of three new menu items, including a dish that highlights flavors from Latin America, a new global influence to the Noodles & Company menu. The new menu items include the Thai Hot Pot, Spaghetti Alfredo MontAmore, and Pork Adobo Flatbread, which will be available at all restaurants nationwide until […]

Fazoli's announced it recently signed another development agreement. Dan Markwell of Employer Consulting LLC will open restaurants in Morehead, Mt. Sterling, and Maysville, Kentucky. So far this year, Fazoli's has secured commitments from new and existing franchisees calling for at least nine new locations. Including Markwell's Kentucky development and previously announced locations near Indianapolis; Dubuque, […]

Every autumn, Pie Five Pizza’s chef Andy Wittman says he ventures into a nearby pumpkin patch to await the arrival of the Great Pumpkin from the Peanuts comic strip. This year, Andy’s quest provided inspiration for Pie Five’s Pumpkin Patch Pie. The blend of pumpkin, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove will be available at […]

As the fast-paced, national growth of the fast-casual Asian segment continues to sizzle, Mama Fu’s Asian House announced its expansion into North Dallas beginning with a location in Frisco, Texas. This will be the first of fourteen Mama Fu's locations slated to open in Dallas and Collin counties over the coming years. Mama Fu’s Frisco […]

More details on Fazoli’s new fast-casual concept were revealed at an event for The Shops at Canton Crossing in Baltimore earlier this week. The Italian quick serve announced that the new brand will be called Venti-Tre, and Fazoli’s CEO Carl Howard hopes the first unit will open its doors in March of next year at […]

Asian Box—the lifestyle brand from executive chef Grace Nguyen, culinary director Chad Newton, and fast-casual innovator and CEO, Frank Klein—opened this week in San Francisco.  Located at 170 O’Farrell St. within Macy’s Marketplace at Union Square, Asian Box offers a customizable and health-conscious menu. This is the third location for the expanding lifestyle brand, which […]

Mama Fu’s Asian House welcomed John Hester to the corporate team as the chief financial officer. With over fifteen years of experience in all aspects of the foodservice industry, Hester adds dynamic leadership skills, a deep understanding of the industry, and proven track record implementing operational and sales strategies. “I’m looking forward to joining the […]

Meatheads, a Chicago-based fast-casual family restaurant, will open its first company-designed freestanding restaurant at 11 a.m. on October 9 at 6734 North Lincoln Avenue in Lincolnwood, Illinois. This is the company’s 13th location. All profits from pre-opening meals will support parent teacher associations at three local elementary schools, as well as Friends of the Lincolnwood […]

Persona Neapolitan Pizzeria is a forward-thinking fast casual concept operating out of Santa Barbara, California, and specializing in build-your-own wood fired Neapolitan pizza. Persona was founded by Joseph Baumel (CEO) a graduate of the Greystone CIA academy in Napa County, California, and co-founder Glenn Cybulski (COO, Pizziaolo executive chef). The concept was opened in February […]

Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza announced the opening of its newest restaurant in Pasadena, California. Located at the La Cañada Town Center at 990 Town Center Drive, the restaurant is near Sport Chalet, Chipotle, Panera Bread, and the Habit Burger Grill. To celebrate, the company will offer its fast-fire’d artisan pizzas free to Blaze Pizza’s Facebook fans […]

Famous Dave's of America announced the signing of development deals by four franchise partners for a total of 12 locations throughout New York, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, and Puerto Rico during the next three to five years. The four franchise partners behind the deals include two existing owners who are expanding their collection of restaurants and […]

  Chipotle Mexican Grill announced the return of its long-standing tradition and popular Halloween fundraiser known as Boorito. This Halloween, Chipotle will treat customers dressed in costume to a burrito, bowl, salad, or order of tacos for only $3 from 4 p.m. to closing. Proceeds from the fundraiser of up to $1 million will benefit […]

  Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill, a fast casual restaurant concept serving Mediterranean food, opens on Concourse D at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Owned and operated by Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services, an airport food service and retail company, the Atlanta airport restaurant is the nation’s first airport-based Garbanzo. As part of its preferred partnership agreement […]

SlowBones Modern BBQ, a new fast-casual barbecue concept from the founder of Boston Market (originally Boston Chicken), will be opening in Burlington, Massachusetts, this fall. The restaurant will raise the bar on barbecue by serving high-quality authentic barbecue favorites in a quick, affordable, customizable, and easy format, with more modern options like gluten-free options, naan, […]

Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint announced a franchise development agreement with successful entrepreneur and Golden Corral restaurant owner, John Verderame, to open three locations in South Florida. Verderame is part of explosive growth for the fast-casual pizza brand, which has opened 18 locations in less than three years and has an additional 150 units in development. […]

Moe's Southwest Grill, the growing Mexican fast casual, signed a master franchise agreement to develop several locations in Guatemala and El Salvador. Under the agreement, 10 Moe's restaurants will be developed in the neighboring Central American countries over eight years, the first of which is slated to open in 2014 in Guatemala City. This deal […]

BurgerFi celebrated its newest fast-casual restaurant in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on October 1. The restaurant, located at 1235 S. University Avenue, is right in the heart of the University of Michigan area and the first BurgerFi to open in the state. There are more restaurants in development for Michigan in the near future.  BurgerFi restaurants […]