Dickey's entering Republic of Georgia

January 10, 2020

Dickey's Barbecue Pit is expanding to the Republic of Georgia with the location set to open soon in the country's capital, Tbilisi. Tibua Shalva, owner of the…

How Dog Haus' menu innovation, tech-centric approach is doubling growth

January 10, 2020

Dog Haus, based in Pasadena, is hoping to propel its 9.1% growth in 2019 same-store sales growth into an even stronger 2020. 

Florida's Island Fin Poke coming to Maryland

January 9, 2020

Poke was a meal not well-known outside of Hawaii until a few years ago, but today there are nearly 2,000 poke restaurants outside of Hawaii, with much of that…

Friendship Cafe opening in Florida to employ adults with special needs

January 9, 2020

The Friendship Circle Fort Lauderdale is opening The Friendship Cafe, a Mediterranean fast casual restaurant that trains and employs adults with autism, down…

Kura Sushi loss widens, but company bullish on 2020 expansion plans

January 8, 2020

Kura Sushi USA Inc., the technology-oriented Japanese restaurant concept, reported a wider $1.4 million operating loss in the fiscal first quarter, however…

Dog Haus debuting new look in Wyoming

January 8, 2020

Dog Haus is opening its first Wyoming location in Cheyenne in early 2020, and it will be the first unit to sport the chain's new look. The 3,314-square-foot…

Farmer Boys nabs Del Taco exec

January 8, 2020

Farmer Boys has hired Dave Wetzel as SVP of operations to oversee company and franchise restaurant operations, according to a company press release.

Local Foods opening in Austin

January 8, 2020

Local Foods, part of a Texas restaurant group with five locations in Houston owned by Benjy Levit and partner/culinary director Dylan Murray, has partnered…

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…