Described as a sophisticated Texas-style smokehouse, 4 Rivers Smokehouse was launched in late 2009 in Winter Park, Florida by John Rivers after a two-decade career in the pharmaceutical industry.  The first of the casual restaurants was quickly followed with the…

In late December, Atlanta-based private equity firm, Roark Capital Group reported that an affiliate company has acquired a majority stake in the privately held CKE Inc.  With its headquarters in Carpinteria, California, CKE owns and licenses the Carl’s Jr and…

Breakfast, brunch and lunch concept First Watch Restaurants reports that Joe Genovese is joining the Bradenton, Florida-based based company as Vice President, Franchise Development. With more than 40 years experience in the restaurant, foodservice and packaged goods industries, most recently…

In just two days we’ll be putting another year behind us.  And what a year it has been……a year of excesses to say the least. It would seem that no region of the country has been sheltered from unusual storms,…

Danny Diaz of brokerage CBRE Inc. in Miami, is marketing for lease, retail and restaurant space in a new mixed use project on N. Federal Hwy in Fort Lauderdale that is being developed by Miami-based Related Group. The six-level residential…

Philip Wyllie of Graham Companies is marketing for lease two former restaurant locations in the Cypress Village Shopping Center on NW 154th St/Miami Lakes Dr., just east of Palmetto Expressway, in Miami Lakes. Both are end units in the open…

In 2002, Jeni Britton Bauer opened Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams in Columbus, Ohio’s North Market. Today, the company makes every ice cream, sorbet, and frozen yogurt from the ground up with grass-grazed Ohio cream, local produce, and carefully sourced ingredients…

In early-December, private equity company Eagle Merchant Partners acquired Vasari LLC, the second largest franchisee in the Dairy Queen system and the largest franchisee in Texas. The transaction includes 74 Dairy Queen restaurants in three states, 71 of which are…

Houston-based Ignite Restaurant Group has just opened a 6040 square foot Brick House Tavern + Tap in Neptune in eastern New Jersey.  It is the sports themed chain’s second in the state and 20th in total.  The 260-seat restaurant is…

Earlier in December, Darden Restaurants announced that as part of its plan to enhance shareholder value, its Board of Directors is looking at selling or spinning-off its Red Lobster brand.  Red Lobster is the casual dining chain that with over 700…