NRA Show Blows into Windy City

Hotel-Motel Show offers trends, insights and more.

Extreme Pita includes nutritional info with receipts

April 1, 2007

San Diego Business Journal: Extreme Pita restaurants in San Diego and Orange counties in California have begun printing nutritional information on customer…

Extreme Pita targets northern California for expansion

March 22, 2007

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario – Canadian franchise Extreme Pita has opened its newest restaurant at Auto Mall Parkway and Hugo Street in Fremont, Calif. The opening is…

New World Restaurant Group seeks name change

March 13, 2007

Denver Post: New World Restaurant Group, parent company of  Einstein Bros. Bagels and Noah's New York Bagels, will ask shareholders to approve a name change at…

Pei Wei Asian Diner intros Thai Dynamite

February 28, 2007

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Pei Wei Asian Diner has introduced its Thai Dynamite — a limited-time dish available as a salad or an entrée.   The Thai Dynamite Salad…

Daphne's Greek Cafe moves into Colorado

February 20, 2007

SAN DIEGO — Fast-casual Greek restaurant chain Daphne's Greek Cafe plans to open two new restaurants in Colorado by this summer, the company announced.    The…

Pei Wei comps decrease for year, 4Q

February 13, 2007

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Same-store sales at Pei Wei Asian Diner decreased for the year by 2 percent. For 4Q '06, comps fell .7 percent, reported the company's…

Popeyes creates fast-casual concept, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen.

December 11, 2006

ATLANTA — Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits, a division of AFC Enterprises Inc., announced the opening of a fast-casual hybrid concept, Popeyes Louisiana…

Organic to Go expands, acquires capital

November 16, 2006

SEATTLE — Organic To Go (O To Go), the first certified organic fast-casual café, announced the purchase of Vinaigrettes Full Spectrum Catering of Los Angeles.

Rumbi Island Grill store hosts 'Animal Lovers' luau

November 15, 2006

BOULDER, Colo. — Rumbi Island Grill, a tropical fast-casual restaurant, will be hosting the second "Animal Lovers' Luau" fundraiser to benefit the Longmont…

Mr. Greek posts nutritional data on the Web

November 7, 2006

TORONTO — Mr. Greek Restaurants will post a nutritional guide on its Web site.   Mr. Greek retained the services of well-known nutritionist Rosie Maclean…

Indian Bread Co. owner earns prestigious entrepreneur award

October 24, 2006

India Post News Service: When Nandini Mukherjee opened a fast-casual Indian café in Manhattan, called Indian Bread Co. serving a variety of sandwiches and…

Rumbi Island Grill opens fifth Colorado store

October 9, 2006

BOULDER, Colo. — Rumbi Island Grill, a tropical fast-casual concept, is opening its fifth restaurant in Colorado.   Rumbi Island Grill's menu offers gourmet…

Canadian fast casual launches Web contest

October 9, 2006

CALGARY, Canada — Joey's Only, a Canada-based seafood fast casual, is launching its first national online consumer contest. The macro Web site, where…

Daphine's Greek Café creates English learning courses for employees

October 5, 2006

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Daphne's Greek Cafe, a Greek fast-casual concept, has announced the company-wide launch of Sed de Sabre ("Thirst for Knowledge") program…

Mintel Report pegs fast casual as hot dining segment

August 7, 2006

CHICAGO — A recent Mintel report estimates that total sales at leading fast-casual chains in the United States doubled in the last five years.   "An increased…

Canadian fast casual moving into the U.S.

August 2, 2006

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Canadian-born Mr. Greek chain is ramping up its franchise sales and crossing the border.   "Greek cuisine is right behind Italian…

2006 restaurant show wraps up

The 2006 National Restaurant Hotel & Motel Show offered big-time speakers and trendsetting technologies. Even if you attended, you probably didn't see…

Fast-casual concepts attract the Washington lunch crowd

April 9, 2006

Washington Post: The Washington D.C. lunch crowd is patronizing fast-casual concepts more frequently than other concepts. They're eating at Cosi, Potbelly…

New report tracks menu trends

April 6, 2006

CHICAGO —The latest Trend Tracker report, a companion to the online, searchable Menu Monitor service offered by Technomic Information Services, offers a new…