How best friends are building their pizza and brew empire

Joey Freis and Mitchell Millar bought a pizzeria at 21. Now they lead nine restaurants and are getting ready to scale Best Pizza & Brew towards its next…

Navigating the tightest restaurant real estate market in 20 years

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Ebere Anokute, head of retail research for CBRE, during the ICSC real estate conference in Las Vegas, reveals the shifting dynamics of restaurant real estate…

Mike’s Red Tacos inks 18-unit Southern California franchise deal

June 2, 2026

Mike's Red Tacos of San Diego has signed an 18-unit franchise agreement with JM Foods to expand across Los Angeles and Orange County.

Hawaiian Bros continues expansion with Oklahoma opening

June 1, 2026

Hawaiian Bros continued its U.S. expansion last week with the opening of a restaurant in Norman, Oklahoma.

Paris Baguette opens 300th US location at Philadelphia International Airport

June 1, 2026

Paris Baguette reached two milestones with the opening of its newest café at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL): its 300th U.S. location and its first…

PopUp Bagels spurs Texas growth with 2nd Dallas opening

May 29, 2026

PopUp Bagels continues its Texas expansion with the launch of its second Dallas location.

Atomic Wings moves toward 100% unit growth in 2026

May 29, 2026

Atomic Wings is entering its next phase of growth with plans to open more than 20 locations by the end of 2026.

How PLNT Burger, Konala are out-conveniencing fast food

In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, host Paul Barron sits down with Chris Treloar, CEO of PLNT Burger, and Trace Miller, founder of Konala Protein Bowls, to…

Huey Magoo’s signs 10-unit Kansas City-area development deal

May 27, 2026

Orlando, Florida-based Huey Magoo's signed a 10-unit development agreement with Wichita, Kansas-based Midwest Restaurant Group to expand its brand throughout…

Chicken Salad Chick, Paris Baguette continue expansion with upcoming openings

May 26, 2026

Paris Baguette and Chicken Salad Chick have announced restaurant openings scheduled within the next 10 days as both brands continue their U.S. expansion…

Beharry Group brings Great Greek Mediterranean Grill to Caribbean

May 22, 2026

International conglomerate Beharry Group of Georgetown, Guyana, has signed a master franchise agreement with The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill to develop and…

Inside Pokeworks’ real estate strategy: From hoodless kitchens to suburban expansion

In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler sit down with Peter Yang, co-founder and head of Development at Pokeworks, to…

Smashburger builds executive bench with CMO hire

May 21, 2026

Smashburger has hired Kate Savelli as chief marketing officer. The move comes as the company continues to build nationwide momentum.

The success formula that took Everbowl from 1 to 400 locations

I sat down with Jeff Fenster, who built five eight- to nine-figure companies, exited three, and grew Everbowl to more than 100 open locations with almost 40…

Habit Burger debuts in Humboldt County with Eureka opening

May 20, 2026

Habit Burger & Grill, part of Yum! Brands' portfolio, has expanded into Humboldt County, California, with the opening of a Eureka restaurant.

Penn Station rebrands, updates menu as franchise expansion accelerates

May 20, 2026

Fast-casual sandwich chain Penn Station East Coast Subs has rebranded as Penn Station Sandwiches as part of a broader growth strategy focused on franchise…

Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks enters Washington DC with multi-unit franchise deal

May 19, 2026

Big Dave's Cheesesteaks, a fast-casual concept known for its authentic West Philly flavors, has signed its first franchise agreement in Washington, D.C. The…

Chicken Salad Chick signs 25-unit development deal in New York

May 18, 2026

Atlanta-based Chicken Salad Chick has signed a 25-unit franchise agreement for Upstate New York — Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and the Upper Hudson…

2026 Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers

Welcome to the 2026 edition of the Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers. Each year, this report serves as a pulse check for the industry, celebrating the…

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Love & Honey enters Florida with 20-unit development deal

May 14, 2026

Philadelphia-based fast-casual chicken chain Love & Honey is expanding into Florida through a 20-unit development agreement. The restaurants mark the…