Swig to enter Pacific Northwest with 11-unit deal

October 2, 2026

Swig will enter the Pacific Northwest with an 11-unit franchise agreement with Sean Collins, Jared Collins and Ramey Mills. The franchisees plan to open their…

How Sankranti built its own fast-casual Indian food playbook

Srinivasa “Nimms” Nimmagadda and his team spent years developing a fast-casual Indian food concept playbook through Sankranti Indian Kitchen. Now the company…

Why Chain’s ‘pop cuisine’ concept is testing food hall format

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

The American pop-cuisine food brand is launching its newest dining format to determine the viability of different, experiential locations.

Shark Club takes a deliberate bite out of the US sports restaurant market

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

Shark Club's recent North Texas opening sets the stage to bridge the gap between traditional sports bars and upscale casual dining.

Dillas Quesadillas to open 1st nontraditional location

August 26, 2026

Dillas Quesadillas will launch its first nontraditional location inside Brookshire Grocery Arena in Bossier City, Louisiana.

Healthy fast casual goes convenient: Konala, Clean Eatz redefining drive-thru, grab-and-go

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

Two brands, two models — one goal: making nutritious food as fast and effortless as fast food.

How Tony Roma's is using fast-casual strategies to reinvent itself

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

CEO Mina Haque explains how the 54-year-old brand is adapting to changing consumer habits without abandoning its casual-dining roots.

Buffalo’s Express opens 1st standalone restaurant, expands beyond Fatburger co-brand model

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

FAT Brands' Jake Berchtold explains how the former co-located Buffalo's Express opened its first stand-alone restaurant in Washington State.

The Melt's airport debut takes flight at SFO

July 10, 2026

The Melt has opened its first airport restaurant at San Francisco International Airport's Harvey Milk Terminal 1.

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…

Einstein Bros bakes up growth with 300-plus U.S. locations planned by 2030

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

Leslie Haver, senior director, design, said the prototype will be slightly larger in most locations to support in-store dining and offer a better customer…

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.

Gong cha debuts in Maine with South Portland location

June 24, 2026

Boston-based Gong cha will soon launch its first Maine location next week in South Portland, bringing the bubble tea brand to 200 Running Hill Road. The unit…

Swig signs 10-unit franchise deal for Colorado expansion

May 6, 2026

Swig has signed a 10-unit franchise agreement with father-and-son operators Alex and Alan Knox to bring the dirty soda concept to Colorado, continuing the…

Smoothie King CEO launches dual-lane chicken concept in Dallas

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

Smoothie King's CEO is offering crispy and light chicken options through his fast-casual Flock & Fresh brand in Dallas.

Huey Magoo’s serves up its smaller, lower-cost drive-thru prototype

May 5, 2026

Huey Magoo's is rolling out a smaller, free-standing drive-thru prototype with the goal of reducing franchisee development costs by up to 40%. The model…

Smoothie King to shift menu, store design

April 21, 2026

Smoothie King has announced a brand evolution plan to support and accelerate long-term growth. The Dallas-based fast-casual chain, which has over 1,10…

From Pilot to National Presence in 5 Years with CloudKitchens

Hawaiian Bros has grown from a single pilot to a national brand—thanks to a strategic partnership with CloudKitchens. Known for its fresh, craveable Plate…

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Best Practices When Seeking New Restaurant Locations

Although there are no guarantees that a new location will be a success, choosing the right location can increase the chances dramatically. Download this white…

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