Do giveaways really work?

Giveaways can be a great marketing tool, but they shouldn't drive your business.

Spicy Pickle opens first Michigan location

July 20, 2008

DENVER — Spicy Pickle Franchising Inc. has announced the grand opening of its 42nd restaurant in Portage, Mich.   The new restaurant marks the 14th state for…

Quiznos inks Middle Eastern expansion deals

July 20, 2008

DENVER — Quiznos has announced plans to open new restaurants in the Middle East this year as part of a push to sell its sub sandwiches in international and…

FDA clears tomatoes, investigation ongoing

July 17, 2008

Google/Associated Press: The FDA has lifted its salmonella warning on tomatoes, but continues to ask those at risk of salmonella — including the elderly and…

Calistoga Bakery to open in Schnatter's hometown

July 17, 2008

Business First of Louisville: Papa John's founder John Schnatter's latest restaurant venture, Calistoga Bakery Cafe, is slated to debut in Schnatter's hometown…

Fazoli's to sell or sublease Central Fla. locations

July 17, 2008

Orlando Business Journal: Nine Fazoli's Restaurant locations in Central Florida are for sublease or sale, as the Lexington, Ky.-based chain plans to sell off…

Qdoba continues New York expansion

July 17, 2008

DENVER — Qdoba Mexican Grill has opened its fifth Manhattan location at 135 West 50th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues. The new restaurant opened to the…

Pat & Oscar's returns 'Kids Eat Free' Tuesdays

July 16, 2008

SAN DIEGO — Pat & Oscar's Restaurants is bringing back their popular Tuesday "Kids Eat Free" program. On Tuesdays only, diners at all of Pat & Oscar's…

Clay Dover named Raising Cane's president, CMO

July 16, 2008

BATON ROUGE, La. — Todd Graves, founder and CEO of Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, has named Clay Dover president and chief marketing officer of the 70-unit…

Penman Square Market opens in Fla.

July 16, 2008

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. — Executive chef Craig Dion has opened Penman Square Market and Cafe in Jacksonville Beach, which serves lunch and dinner along with…

Sandella's to open five Texas units

July 15, 2008

WEST REDDING, Conn. — Sandella's Flatbread has closed a multiunit franchising deal with Gourmet Ventures to bring five new restaurants to Houston. The first…

Organic To Go continues Washington, D.C., expansion

July 15, 2008

SEATTLE — Organic To Go has acquired the Marvelous Market café at 4832 Bethesda Ave. in Bethesda, Md. Terms of the purchase were not disclosed. Marvelous…

Starbucks launches Vivanno beverage line

July 15, 2008

SEATTLE — Starbucks Coffee Co. has introduced Vivanno Nourishing Blends at Starbucks stores across the U.S. and Canada. The 16-ounce Orange Mango Banana and…

Buffalo Wild Wings to host Q2 Webcast

July 14, 2008

MINNEAPOLIS — Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. will conduct a conference call to discuss its second quarter 2008 results July 29, 2008, at 4 p.m. Central Daylight…

Au Bon Pain heads into India

July 14, 2008

Boston — Au Bon Pain will add a total of 100 units over the next two years to the chain through expansion into India.

Daphne's Greek Cafe plans Wash. expansion

July 14, 2008

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Daphne's Greek Cafe has announced plans to expand the company's chain of restaurants to Washington with the opening of two locations there.

Maui Wowi to open in Turkey

July 14, 2008

DENVER — Maui Wowi Hawaiian has announced it has signed a master franchise agreement with ALOHA ALOHA Ltd. Co., an affiliate of TUNC Group, to bring Maui Wowi…

Starbucks releases first 50 locations to close

July 14, 2008

SEATTLE — Starbucks Corp. has released a list of the first 50 retail locations set to close throughout the rest of the year and into the first half of 2009…

Retailers take bite out of fast casual profits

by Christopher Hall — writer, self

Pre-prepared meals pose probable threat to fast casual operations.

N.C. restaurant focus of salmonella investigation

July 13, 2008

The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer: Health investigators have converged on a Charlotte, N.C.-area restaurant suspected of being a source of multiple salmonella…