Ponko Chicken opening sixth unit

January 7, 2020

Ponko Chicken, based in Atlanta, is adding its sixth franchise to the Georgia food scene inside the Lenox Square Dining Pavilion at 3393 Peachtree Road NE…

SAJJ Mediterranean opens 12th location

January 7, 2020

SAJJ Mediterranean is opening its newest restaurant Jan. 24 in San Bruno, California, and will provide free entrees to the first 50 people in line by 11 a.m.

Press Waffle making Waco debut

January 7, 2020

After its successful pitch to expand its family owned business on ABC's Shark Tank, Press Waffle Co is set to open its doors to the Waco, Texas, community on…

Newk's opens units in 2 college towns

January 6, 2020

Newk's Eatery is opening in two SEC college towns: Athens, Georgia and Gainesville, Florida. The locations, opening near the University of Georgia and the…

YUM Brands acquiring The Habit Burger

January 6, 2020

Yum Brands, the parent company of Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and KFC, announced that it will acquire The Habit Burger Grill for $375 million, or $14 a share in cash…

Caviar & Bananas closes Nashville and Greenville, South Carolina locations

January 6, 2020

Caviar & Bananas, an upscale fast casual eatery and market, has closed its Nashville site and one of its three South Carolina locations, according to The…

Dickey's offers franchise discount to first-time owners

January 3, 2020

Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants is encouraging new beginnings for restaurant-curious entrepreneurs looking to expand their business opportunities in the new…

Chicken Salad expanding Houston footprint

January 3, 2020

Chicken Salad Chick is expanding in the Houston area with its newest restaurant in Kingwood. The chain closed out 2019 with 40 openings, including three in the…

Largest Pieology franchisee takes on 21 corporate locations

January 2, 2020

Pieology Pizzeria has refranchised 21 corporate-owned restaurants to one of its largest franchisees, Akash Management, Llc. CEO Amir Siddiqi, who already is a…

Applebee's testing fast casual concept

Applebee's is on top of the casual dining sector, and its success may be due to the fact that it has leaned into the fast casual mindset.

Click this: Top 10 fast casual stories of 2019

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

It's almost bottle-popping time, but first let's take a look back at FastCasual's most popular articles of 2019.

Main Squeeze Juice headed to Fort Worth

December 30, 2019

Main Squeeze Juice Co., a newcomer to the more than $5 billion juice market, is continuing its expansion throughout Texas with an opening at 4560 Heritage…

Huey Magoo's plans 10 openings in 2020

December 30, 2019

Huey Magoo's has opened a location in Ocoee, Florida, featuring the chain's first drive-thru. The 2,000-square-foot restaurant, which includes indoor and…

Blaze Pizza opens 10th North Carolina location

December 30, 2019

Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza is making its Jacksonville, North Carolina, debut Thursday at 3040 Western Blvd., and will celebrate Friday by giving customers who…

Kura Sushi opening in Texas

December 27, 2019

Kura Sushi USA, which offers a dining experience built on authentic Japanese cuisine and a technology-enabled revolving sushi service model, has opened…

Kansas City fine-dining experts open fast casual concept

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Chef Michael Corvino and his wife and business partner, Christina, are experts when it comes to fine dining. The owners of Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room…

Jollibee opens doors to first Saskatchewan store

December 23, 2019

This week Jollibee opened the doors to its first store in Saskatchewan, which marks its 48th location in North America.

How to avoid unnecessarily costly construction

by Brie Carlson — AIA, Associate Partner, starrdesign

Brie Carlson, associate partner at Starr Design, discusses why investing in an architect during the construction process could save you thousands.

Fazoli's fuels Florida growth with Tampa deal

December 20, 2019

Fazoli's is continuing to expand its Florida footprint via an agreement with Franchisee Carlos L. Saenz to bring five restaurants in 2021 to the Tampa area, in…

Chipotle violated US labor laws, says NLRB

December 20, 2019

Chipotle Mexican Grill is facing allegations that it fired a New York employee in retaliation for complaining about workplace problems and trying to organize…