10 reasons Fast Casual's Top 100 will be 'the virtual event of the year'

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

The 2020 Fast Casual Top 100 winners will be revealed during a live, virtual gala May 15.

Lefty's Famous Cheesesteaks to double footprint by year's end

May 4, 2020

Multi-brand franchisor, Allie T. Mallad, and Detroit-based entrepreneur, Sam Berry, are joining forces to expand Lefty's Famous Cheesesteaks Hoagies &…

PizzaRev opens 1st Virginia store Friday

April 28, 2020

Los Angeles-based PizzaRev will open its first Virginia store Friday, this one located in Virginia Beach. And though the store will only offer delivery and…

Coolgreens opens third Dallas location

April 27, 2020

Coolgreens, a healthy lifestyle eatery, now has three locations in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas.

It's business (almost) as usual at I Heart Mac & Cheese

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Although sales are down 60-75% at I Heart Mac & Cheese, CEO Steve Giordanell is moving ahead with growth plans.

Franchisors on the sale hunt despite COVID-19 crisis

April 3, 2020

About two-thirds of franchisors are actively advancing franchise sales efforts despite the COVID-19 pandemic hitting across the globe.

I Heart Mac & Cheese heading to Arizona

April 3, 2020

I Heart Mac & Cheese, a concept specializing in made-to-order macaroni and cheese bowls and grilled cheese sandwiches, has signed a franchise agreement…

Rise Southern Biscuits signs multi-unit deal amid pandemic

March 31, 2020

Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken has signed a five-unit deal with franchisees, Dr. Parker Simon, and his partner, Bradley Turney, to open…

Muscle Maker Grill opens 6th military base location

March 30, 2020

Muscle Maker Grill opens Monday at MCCS Hampton Roads at Camp Elmore, a U.S. Marine Corps base in Norfolk, Virginia that is a satellite of the Naval station…

Wahlburgers replacing restaurants inside Hy-Vee stores

March 29, 2020

Hy-Vee, a grocer based in the Midwest that became Wahlburgers' largest franchisee three years ago, is adding to that lead by transforming all its Market Grille…

Dog Haus launching restaurant group to house 9 brands

March 26, 2020

The founders of Dog Haus — Hagop Giragossian, Quasim Riaz and André Vener — are taking their gourmet hot dogs, sausages and burgers to a whole new level with…

Boloco CEO: 'Survival is in question'

Boloco CEO John Pepper calls on customers to help him stay open.

Foodservice organizations partner to ensure retailers receive food deliveries

March 19, 2020

The International Foodservice Distributors Association and FMI-Food Industry Association have created a program to connect foodservice distributors that have…

Tin Drum Asian Kitchen expanding Atlanta footprint

March 18, 2020

Atlanta-based Tin Drum Asian Kitchen announced today that it has signed a two-unit deal with Setul and Trishna Patel to develop restaurants in its hometown.

Dave's Hot Chicken signs 10-unit Texas deal

March 17, 2020

Dave's Hot Chicken, based in Los Angeles, has inked a franchise agreement with David Futrell and Ernest Crawford to open 10 locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth…

Restaurants focused on delivery, to-go during Coronavirus pandemic

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Although Creator, a burger joint in San Francisco that doesn't need humans to cook its burgers, the restaurant has gone a step further to protect guests and…

Slim Chickens arrives in Colorado, launches food truck

March 12, 2020

It's been a busy month for Slim Chickens as the brand opened its first Colorado location, in Aurora, and also launched its first food truck.

I Heart Mac & Cheese signs Montana deal

March 12, 2020

I Heart Mac & Cheese has signed a franchise agreement with T.R. Gonzales Inc., led by Teresa Gonzales, who will open a Helena, Montana location this fall.

How the restaurant industry is staying the course during the pandemic

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

As coronavirus is officially dubbed a pandemic by the World Health Organization, restaurant brands are doing their best to adapt.

Jersey Mike's seeing fast growth in DMV region

March 11, 2020

Jersey Mike's Subs has been rapidly expanding throughout the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia  — the DMV region — with the help of real estate partner…