Chipotle opens 1st Mexico restaurant, plans further expansion

July 13, 2026

Chipotle Mexican Grill opened its first restaurant in Mexico on Thursday, marking a new chapter in the chain's international growth strategy. The restaurant…

Pokeworks seeking Texas real estate for expansion

July 7, 2026

Pokeworks is ramping up its Texas expansion, having sold out franchise availability across nearly every major market in the state.

Tiki Taco adding KC location

July 6, 2026

Tiki Taco, a Kansas City-based independent restaurant brand, is expanding north of the Missouri River with the opening of its sixth location on July 7.

Birdcall’s Midwest expansion strategy backed by tech, real estate

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

Fast-casual chicken chain said that proprietary technology, real estate optoins and a multichannel business model will help with its Midwest expansion.

Earl of Sandwich opens permanent Downtown Disney location

June 30, 2026

Earl of Sandwich has opened a permanent restaurant in the Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort after operating from temporary locations for…

Playa Bowls makes Canada debut

June 26, 2026

Playa Bowls has officially made its international debut, opening its first Canadian location at The Well in downtown Toronto. The 1,700-square-foot flagship…

Birdcall targets 100 Midwest locations in 5-year franchise expansion

June 26, 2026

Birdcall plans to expand into the Midwest with a goal of opening 100 franchised restaurants across six states over the next five years.

Wonder, Dave’s Hot Chicken Real Estate VPs reveal growth strategies

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Real estate strategy is central to growth for restaurant brands, and Wonder and Dave's Hot Chicken are taking different approaches to scale. In a podcast…

Buffalo Wild Wings launches 'Go' unit in Ohio

June 15, 2026

Buffalo Wild Wings is expanding its footprint in central Ohio this weekend with the opening of its first Columbus-area "Go" location, a takeout- and…

Handel's Homemade Ice Cream makes 1st Illinois push with Chicago multi-unit deal

June 10, 2026

Handel's Homemade Ice Cream has signed its first-ever multi-unit franchise agreement in Illinois, marking the brand's debut in the state with three locations…

De-risking the map: Why traditional site selection is failing modern restaurants

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Whether you're looking to scale your footprint, optimize existing markets or get a clearer picture of where your target customers are spending their time…

Kalibrate offers best in location selection services, software

Charles Wetzel, CEO of Kalibrate, a location analytics and site selection platform, talks about his company in this video from ICSC 2026 in Las Vegas.

Presented by Kalibrate

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…

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.

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…

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…

The 'dirt' on dirt: 4 restaurant real estate trends revealed at ICSC

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Interviews at the International Council of Shopping Centers conference revealed top trends in real estate. Success in the restaurant industry isn't just about…

Rōti Modern Mediterranean launches London ghost kitchens, expands Atlanta footprint

May 18, 2026

Rōti Modern Mediterranean has opened four ghost kitchens in the United Kingdom and suburban Atlanta as part of its continued expansion strategy. The brand…