- Slim Chickens Inks Agreements for 150 Units, Achieving a Major Growth Milestone
(franchising.com - 12/29/2020) Notably, Slim Chickens signed multi-unit agreements that will bring the brand into new markets across the country. Some of the more notable deals include agreements for 12 units in Georgia, 23 units in Tampa, 10 units in New Mexico and 22 units in North Carolina. (full story)
- LunchboxWax Smoothly Heads into 2021
(franchising.com - 12/28/2020) Heading into 2021, the LunchboxWax development team has adopted a mantra of “2122” referring to their goal to sign 21 multi-unit agreements and accomplish 22 salon openings. (full story)
- Save A Lot sells 51 stores to Fresh Encounter
(chainstoreage.com - 12/28/2020) The discount grocery chain announced the sale of its 51 company-operated stores in the Tampa, Florida market to Ohio-based Fresh Encounter, a current Save A Lot retail partner licensee. (full story)
- Marijuana-themed restaurant chain Cheba Hut plans its first Milwaukee restaurant
(jsonline.com - 12/28/2020) Franchisee Robert "RC" Huhn plans to open two more around Milwaukee eventually. The first is opening near the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee because Cheba Huts, found in 14 states from California to Florida, have done well when located near colleges, Huhn said. (full story)
- Salad-loving Crisp & Green restaurant chain debuts in Dallas in big expansion
(dallas.culturemap.com - 12/28/2020) Crisp & Green launched in 2016 and have since opened seven locations in the Twin Cities area with another 21 in development in South Dakota, Iowa, North Dakota, and Texas. The company plans to open more locations in 2021. (full story)
- Huey Magoo’s Now Open In McComb, Mississippi
(restaurantnews.com - 12/28/2020) This is the first of 20 Huey Magoo’s restaurants franchisees Buddy Powell, Stacy Powell and Kristi Orr will open in Mississippi, including major markets Jackson, Meridian, Gulfport and Southaven and numerous other cities throughout the state. (full story)
- Capriotti's Sandwich Shop Strikes Impressive Development Deal to Bring 12 Shops to Southeast Florida
(prnewswire.com - 12/28/2020) Site selection is already underway for the first two locations in the Miami and Broward areas. The expansion will be spearheaded by experienced hotel developers, and father-son duo, Marco and M.J. Roca of Reveille Hospitality, a Miami-based firm specializing in hospitality development and consulting. (full story)
- Love’s Opens Its Largest Travel Stop Plus Three Others
(cstoredecisions.com - 12/25/2020) Love’s Travel Stops announced the opening of four new locations this past week, including its largest ever travel stop. New location in Bliss, Idaho, reigns as chain’s largest, joins two more openings in Illinois and another in Ohio in adding to Love’s service for professional and auto travelers. (full story)
- RCI Announces First Bombshells Franchise Agreement
(restaurantnewsresource.com - 12/25/2020) Bombshells recently announced plans for 10 more company-owned locations, initially targeting additional units in Houston and Dallas and sites in South Florida. Nick Mehdi, the member of the investor group who will manage the San Antonio franchise, said: "We believe Bombshells is a significant entry into the market for modern sports bar restaurants. (full story)
- Hooters is Ready to Disrupt the Fast-Casual Segment
(qsrmagazine.com - 12/25/2020) The young brand performed so well that it opened three units during the pandemic. The growth isn’t done either. Hoots Wings recently announced its first franchise opportunity, with plans to open 17 stores in 2021, 35 in 2022, and 50 in 2023. The emerging chain is targeting markets in the Southeast, Midwest, and Northeast. (full story)
- Penn Station East Coast Subs Plans to Open 15–20 Restaurants in 2021
(qsrmagazine.com - 12/25/2020) Penn Station plans to open 15 to 20 restaurants in 2021, many of which will be in Nashville and Omaha as the brand fills out those markets. Other target markets include Kansas City, Omaha, Charlotte, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Richmond and Raleigh. (full story)
- Nouria Acquires MEGA-X Convenience Stores
(csnews.com - 12/25/2020) Based in New Hampshire, MEGA-X operates four convenience stores. The deal brings the total number of locations Nouria operates in the Granite State to 31 and boosts the company's overall retail network to 144 sites, spanning from Hartford, Conn., to Waterville, Maine. (full story)
- Tire Pros Added 20 Stores in 2020
(moderntiredealer.com - 12/25/2020) The expansion includes stores in Alabama, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah. (full story)
- CPR Cell Phone Repair Announces 2-Store Expansion in California
(franchising.com - 12/25/2020) The CPR Cell Phone Repair Network is pleased to announce two new franchise locations opening up in Southern California. Sally and Juan Ibarra join the expanding mobile repair network with the opening of CPR Escondido and CPR Vista. (full story)
- Sportsman's Warehouse purchased by Bass Pro owners
(newschannel9.com - 12/22/2020) The agreement was unanimously approved by Sportsman’s Warehouse’s Board of Directors. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2021 and is not subject to any financing condition. The companies will continue to operate independently until the transaction closes. (full story)
- What Setback? Teriyaki Madness Closes Out 2020 With 31 New Locations
(franchising.com - 12/22/2020) Despite all the challenges facing the restaurant industry this year, the teriyaki franchise expanded its footprint, grew its corporate team and recorded blowout sales increases across the system. (full story)
- Former Pet Valu Stores in Seven States to Re-Open as Pet Supplies Plus
(franchising.com - 12/22/2020) In fact, he said, the company is expected to open an estimated 100 new stores in 2021, which includes the previously operated Pet Valu stores obtained. This more than doubles the number of stores opened in 2020. (full story)
- Nike to Open 30 Stores in 2021, Continue Investing in Customer Outreach and Supply Chain
(retailtouchpoints.com - 12/22/2020) Nike plans to open 30 stores in the second half of 2021 as the retailer positions itself for long-term growth... (full story)
- Punch Bowl Social Declares Bankruptcy
(restaurantbusinessonline.com - 12/22/2020) The Denver-based chain said it closed its three remaining locations just before filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization late on Monday. (full story)
- Legal Sea Foods Is Sold To Smith & Wollensky's Parent
(restaurantbusinessonline.com - 12/22/2020) Legal Sea Foods, the New England-based string of polished-casual seafood restaurants, has been sold to PPX Hospitality, the parent company of the upscale Smith & Wollensky and Strega fine-dining groups. (full story)
- Bubbakoo’s Burritos Signs 10-Store Deal with O-Burritos
(qsrmagazine.com - 12/21/2020) Led by seasoned restaurant franchise operator Brian Armstrong, O-Burritos presents a unique opportunity to expand the brand’s presence out west, as all 10 locations will open in Arizona market. (full story)
- Former Real Estate Investor Mark Dempsey Signs with Sylvan Learning
(franchising.com - 12/21/2020) This new signing brings the leading technology and education franchise statewide count to 59, with an opportunity to add locations in 66 more territories. (full story)
- My Eyelab Opens New Stores in Houston Area
(franchising.com - 12/21/2020) December 21, 2020 - My Eyelab, a leading retail eye health provider offering accessible and affordable eye care and eyewear, recently opened its newest locations in Houston, Humble and Cypress, TX on December 14 and 21. (full story)
- Knoebel Construction Building 3 New Drake’s Restaurants
(retailrestaurantfb.com - 12/18/2020) Construction began on the Clarksville, Tenn., location earlier in December and Knoebel will break ground on Drake’s third restaurant in Louisville, Ky., in January. (full story)
- MOD Pizza Inks Deal with DBMC Restaurants to Develop 30 Stores
(qsrmagazine.com - 12/18/2020) Their area of development will span across central Alabama, southern Louisiana, southern and central Mississippi, and in the greater Nashville, Tennessee area. DBMC will bring MOD into three new states: Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee, with their anticipated first opening in 2021 in their home state of Louisiana. (full story)
- At Home CEO says retailer can increase its store count almost threefold
(cnbc.com - 12/18/2020) Currently operating about 220 stores in 40 U.S. states, the chief executive sees headroom for a roster of 600 locations, almost three times its current footprint. California, the New York Tri-State Area and Midwest regions are targeted for expansion. (full story)
- Unusual Start to Holidays Evident in New Data
(retailleader.com - 12/18/2020) NRF has forecast that holiday sales will increase between 3.6% and 5.2% compared to 2019 to a total between $755.3 billion and $766.7 billion. (full story)
- Growing hot dog, barbecue restaurant chain to open Lafayette location
(theadvocate.com - 12/18/2020) Crave, which also operates food trucks, is located in 12 states and has plans to have over 100 locations in the next three years, including a Baton Rouge location at 630 Arlington Creek Center. It also plans operate more than 20 trucks. (full story)
- Big Blue Swim School Inks Its Largest Franchise Deal
(franchisetimes.com - 12/18/2020) Signing the largest franchise agreement since Big Blue began franchising in September 2018, Woody Alpern and business partner Gerry Benjamin plan to open 37 locations in several southeastern territories.
(full story)
- Rue21 continues growth plan, refinances with Bank of America
(us.fashionnetwork.com - 12/17/2020) The refinancing comes as Rue21 continues to implement multiple strategies to grow its business since emerging from bankruptcy in September of 2017. To date, Rue21 operates nearly 700 stores in 45 states, and plans to open 15 new stores next year. (full story)
- Planet Fitness Southeast Franchise Group Hits Major Growth Milestone, Announces 100th Club Opening
(franchising.com - 12/17/2020) Sunshine Fitness has been one of the fastest growing Planet Fitness franchisees in the U.S. and has opened multiple locations since the start of 2020 with strong plans to open 13 additional clubs in communities across the Southeast in 2021. (full story)
- Pollo Campero Plans To Open 10 Digital Kitchens In 2021
(restaurantnewsresource.com - 12/16/2020) Pollo Campero opened its first two digital kitchens in San Francisco and Chicago in 2020 and looks to open at least 10 additional locations in 2021, beginning with one in Anaheim, California, in January. The openings will complement the company's aggressive traditional restaurant expansion plan. (full story)
- Marco’s Pizza Expands Texas Footprint with 20-Store Franchise Development Agreement
(restaurantnews.com - 12/16/2020) The new Marco’s locations will be owned and operated by Travis Davis and Solis Management which currently has nine stores open or in various stages of development throughout Texas. (full story)
- Gyro Shack Announces Plans to Expand into Twin Falls
(franchising.com - 12/16/2020) Serial entrepreneurs Mark Urness and Matt Jeffries, now owners of the franchise, have positioned the brand for large-scale growth targeting Twin Falls and other key regions throughout the western half of the United States. (full story)
- Metal Supermarkets “Forges” 2021 U.S. Franchise Expansion Plan
(franchising.com - 12/16/2020) Already, eight openings are slated for 2021 in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Reston, Virginia, Houston and Lewisville, Texas; New Orleans, Louisiana; The Bronx and Queens, New York; and San Jose, California. (full story)
- Golden Chick Celebrates Grand Opening of 200th Location in 2020
(franchising.com - 12/15/2020) Golden Chick, the popular southern chicken franchise has reached a major milestone with the opening of its newest and first-ever location in Allen, Texas. “We are humbled to have opened 16 locations this year leading us to this achievement,” said Jim Stevens, president of Golden Chick. (full story)
- Goldfish Swim School Opens Newest Location in Boise, ID
(franchising.com - 12/15/2020) Specifically, company executives see substantial growth opportunities in the English-Speaking provinces of Canada as well as California, Texas, and Florida where there is strong demand for the brand’s services. (full story)
- Murphy USA Marks Growth Milestone With 1,500th Store
(csnews.com - 12/15/2020) Located at 1101 U.S. 80 Frontage Road in Mesquite, Texas, the 2,800-square-foot Murphy Express marks the company’s 47th store opening in 2020, including new-to-industry and raze-and-rebuild locations. (full story)
- Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers Opens Milestone 400th Location
(prnewswire.com - 12/15/2020) Freddy's landmark 400th opening comes on the heels of a significant period of success for the rapidly growing franchise concept. In addition to opening 31 new restaurants year-to-date in 2020 and growing its footprint in key markets nationwide. (full story)
- JD Sports acquires US footwear retailer Shoe Palace for $325m
(retailgazette.co.uk - 12/15/2020) The UK sportswear retailer this morning confirmed that its existing wholly-owned intermediate holding company in the US, Genesis Holdings, acquired 100 per cent of both the issued shares in the Shoe Palace Corporation and the members’ interests in Nice Kicks. (full story)
- Murphy USA to Acquire QuickChek in All-Cash Transaction for $645 Million
(cstoredecisions.com - 12/14/2020) The acquisition, which is expected to close during the first quarter of 2021, is consistent with Murphy USA’s updated capital allocation strategy as announced in October. (full story)
- Bed Bath & Beyond in deal to sell Cost Plus World Market
(chainstoreage.com - 12/14/2020) The agreement includes 243 stores, the Cost Plus digital business, two distribution facilities and a corporate office located in Alameda, Calif. It is expected that Cost Plus will continue to operate as a stand-alone retail brand. (full story)
- Arc'teryx opening three new Icon concept stores in NYC
(us.fashionnetwork.com - 12/14/2020) The first of the three new stores opened on Bleecker Street, in the West Village, at the end of November, with two more set to open their doors in December, one in the Flatiron District, the other in the Upper West Side. These locations join an Arc’teryx Factory Outlet in Woodbury and an Arc’teryx store in Soho. (full story)
- Buff City Soap Rapidly Expands Throughout Tennessee
(franchising.com - 12/14/2020) All locations are owned by Jamie Mason, Brittany Vick, Jessica Pace, Vince Sartori, and Michelle Stokes. The ownership group is slated to open more than 95 Buff City Soap locations throughout Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina over the course of the next several years. (full story)
- GFG – Greek From Greece Will Expand Rapidly in 2021
(restaurantnews.com - 12/14/2020) Greek From Greece will expand rapidly in 2021 with five new locations opening in the next six months. With 44 corporate stores open and in development, GFG has proven the system in the New York Metropolitan area, the toughest market in the country. Now the business will continue to grow nationwide. (full story)
- Global Partners to Acquire Wheels C-Stores
(cspdailynews.com - 12/14/2020) Global Partners LP has signed an agreement to purchase the retail fuel and convenience-store assets of Consumers Petroleum of Connecticut Inc. The acquisition includes 27 company-operated gas stations with Wheels-branded c-stores in Connecticut. (full story)
- lululemon Q3 Earnings & Sales Beat, Soft View Hurts
(nasdaq.com - 12/11/2020) During the fiscal third quarter, the company opened nine net new stores, including 11 store openings and two closures... (full story)
- Emerging Chains See Opportunity Amid The Pandemic
(restaurantbusinessonline.com - 12/11/2020) Similarly, Guzzetta said some of BurgerFi’s new stores got pushed back to early 2021. By the end of this year, though, the chain plans to have 10 new locations, plus 10 new ghost kitchens. In 2021, BurgerFi is on track to open 30 new restaurants, he said. (full story)
- Curry Up Now Inks Second Franchise Deal in Texas Within the Past Month
(restaurantnews.com - 12/11/2020) Local franchisee KCP Concepts is headed up by partners Kevin Lefere, Carlisle Braun, and Pravin Kurishingal, who boast extensive collective experience in the restaurant industry and restaurant franchise management. Their first franchised restaurant is slated to open by Summer 2021. (full story)
- Piola Announces U.S. Restaurant Expansion, Adding New Locations in South Florida
(finance.yahoo.com - 12/11/2020) Piola announced the opening of its newest location in Hollywood, FL., with a second new restaurant planned for Miami Beach in April 2021, bringing its total number of locations in South Florida to eight and 10 in the United States. (full story)
- Stewart's Shops Wraps Up $45M in Investments in 2020
(csnews.com - 12/11/2020) In 2021, Stewart's Shops will kick off the next round of store builds, with 16 locations on the agenda. The stores will be built to fit the demands for the retailer's expanding take-out business. (full story)
- Ohio-Based Pizza Franchise Hits Development Landmark in a Major Market
(franchising.com - 12/11/2020) Romeo’s Pizza is recognized by Entrepreneur as a Top Food Franchise and by Pizza Today as one of the Top 100 Pizza Companies in the United States. The company plans to launch 60 franchise locations by the end of 2021, with the goal of reaching 250 total locations in the next five years. (full story)
- Huddle House Launches Fresh Incentive Program and Prototype for 2021 Growth
(fsrmagazine.com - 12/11/2020) Looking ahead to 2021, the development team will be focusing their growth efforts in several of their targeted emerging markets with the goal of signing 20 franchise agreements, expanding the full-service diner’s reach nationally. (full story)
- Ahold Delhaize Banner Food Lion Invests $212.5 Million in 112 Mid-Atlantic Stores
(delimarketnews.com - 12/11/2020) Food Lion has now remodeled more than 90 percent of its current network of more than 1,000 stores across its 10-state operating area. (full story)
- Comparable Sales for Ulta Beauty Drop 8.9 Percent in Third Quarter
(shoppingcenterbusiness.com - 12/9/2020) This quarter, Ulta opened 17 new stores, compared with 31 new stores in third-quarter 2019... (full story)
- Potbelly Opens Latest Store in Henderson, Nevada
(qsrmagazine.com - 12/9/2020) The Potbelly Henderson location is the first shop in a franchise development agreement that will bring 10 locations to the Las Vegas market. Local restaurant operations expert and Vice President of Veritasfaythe, Gregg Kocenko, has been integral in the development of the Henderson location. (full story)
- My Eyelab Signs Agreement to Open Eight New Stores in Texas with Multi-Unit Franchise Group
(businesswire.com - 12/9/2020) Growth in the coming months will be driven by a trio of local partnering entrepreneurs – Victor Mankarious, Sameh Bekhit and Arash Ghanbari. (full story)
- Jeremiah’s Italian Ice Continues Expansion in Volusia County
(franchising.com - 12/9/2020) Family-friendly staple Jeremiah’s Italian Ice is bringing its iconic frozen treats to two new communities in its home state of Florida in December as the franchise continues to expand rapidly across the United States. (full story)
- Big Whiskey’s Set To Open Third Northwest Arkansas Location
(franchising.com - 12/9/2020) Shane Miller, franchise owner and operator, found initial success in Bentonville before signing a three-store expansion agreement with Big Whiskey’s in late 2019. Miller recently opened his second location, the first of the expansion deal, in Siloam Springs to incredible enthusiasm and sales to match, consistently beating sales projections. (full story)
- Starbucks plans to open about 22,000 stores in the next ten years
(cnn.com - 12/9/2020) Starbucks said at an investor event Wednesday that it plans to increase its store count to about 55,000 by 2030, up from roughly 33,000 today. The company is betting that by flooding the market with new types of stores, including smaller locations and ones with drive-thru and curbside pickup, it will be able to steal more customers from the competition. (full story)
|
