Mobile franchise specializing in Hawaiian shaved ice and ice cream Tikiz Shaved Ice & Ice Cream has introduced an express financing program with First Financial Bank, called SBA Express. Through this new program, First Financial Bank has committed to finance a minimum of 75 Tikiz franchises. Available to new and existing franchisees, SBA Express streamlines the opening process by reducing lender transaction costs and increasing access to working capital for franchisees. Tikiz’s Vice President Business Development Scott Mortier explained, “This program will make it easier, quicker and faster for franchisees to get Tikiz trucks on the road and will be instrumental in our company’s continued growth across the nation.” Based in Boca Raton, Florida, the three year old Tikiz Shaved Ice & Ice Cream has more than 20 trucks on the road and another 20-plus in development. (Tikiz Shaved Ice & Ice Cream – 773/255-4095 www.tikiz.com)......
TALDE Miami Beach, an Asian-American neighborhood restaurant and bar, has opened in the oceanfront Thompson Miami Beach Hotel on Collins Ave. between 40th and 41st streets. The full service restaurant’s menu of salads, dim sum, noodles, entrées and sides, features a variety of market-driven ingredients and local Floridian products. New York-based designers Workshop/APD have brought the vibe to life with the use of natural materials such as weathered brick, oiled steel, and worn concrete, creating a unique 160-seat dining room joined by a large shipping container set in the middle of the space adorned with hand-painted graffiti and media-inspired designs by Brooklyn-based artist, Ewok One. This is the third Talde restaurant by chef Dale Talde and partners David Massoni and John Bush of the Brooklyn-based Three Kings Restaurant Group. Peter Abbruscato is the General Manager of the TALDE Miami Beach (786/605-1094 www.taldemiamibeach.com)......
Morristown, New Jersey-based Villa Enterprises has changed its name to Villa Restaurant Group, effective immediately. Villa Restaurant Group is a multi-brand restaurant operator and franchisor with a global portfolio of nearly 400 restaurants in 41 states and Puerto Rico, as well as eight other countries. “The new Villa Restaurant Group name conveys our company’s 51 year focus on high-quality food service and management, and enables us to better represent who we are and introduce new brands under its umbrella,” says CEO Anthony Scotto. The company is made up of three groups. Core Franchised Brands includes Villa Italian Kitchen, Green Leaf’s – Beyond Great Salads, Bananas Smoothies & Frozen Yogurt and the newly remodeled and renamed South Philly Cheesesteaks & Fries. The second group, Emerging Brands, consists of those innovative and creative restaurants created in an effort to grow into new locations. Currently these are Mo’ Burger, Far East Asian Fire, Sukotto Japanese Grill, Tinta Mexicana, Croissanterie and The Market. Finally the third group 40North Group is the company’s full service division of casual and fine dining restaurants including Piattino, Black Horse Tavern/Pub, Office Beer Bar & Grill, George & Martha’s, Steelworks and the latest, the Office Tavern Grill in Morristown. (Villa Restaurant Group – 973/285-4800 www.villarestaurantgroup.com)........
In early November, Spanish restaurant concept 100 Montaditos reported that it has emerged from bankruptcy eight months after the Florida operator of the company filed voluntary petitions for Chapter 11 reorganization. The company was able to successfully establish a new operational structure and consolidate its U.S. positioning without paralyzing business activity and plans to now resume expansions across the U.S. As part of the company’s restructuring efforts, a new management team was appointed, led by Garcia Nieto, who previously served as the Franchise Development Director for 100 Montaditos in the U.S. and Latin America. As managing director, Garcia Nieto has overseen the operations of the company as well as supported the restaurants operated by 100 Montaditos franchisees. (100 Montaditos - 305/415-6283 www.100montaditos.com).....