Daytime-only breakfast, brunch and lunch concept, First Watch Restaurants Inc. (941/907-9800 www.firstwatch.com) has relocated its decade-old restaurant in Bonita Springs on S. Tamiami Trail to a 3400 square foot build-to-suit location at 22923 Lyden Dr. in Estero, about three miles north. The larger unit features the company’s new ‘urban farm’ interior design that creates an atmosphere that combines the high energy of city life with comfortable farm elements that highlight the fresh approach to food. The First Watch in Estero will also serve options from its new Fresh Juice Bar. Currently there are more than 120 First Watch restaurants in 17 states. The company also operates 19 restaurants under The Good Egg banner in Arizona and one Bread & Company restaurant in Nashville…..
Boston Magazine named it the Best Delicatessen in Boston in 2014. Moody’s Delicatessen & Provisions (781/216-8732 www.moodyswaltham.com) is a gourmet shop on Moody St. in Boston’s Waltham neighborhood. In addition to its large deli-style sandwiches, the shop offers hand-crafted, aged meats and specialty items. Earlier in April, Owner Joshua Smith added The Back Room, a 42-seat casual restaurant and 16-seat bar adjacent to the deli. Access to The Back Room is through the deli. The menu features a wide selection of specialties like bourbon-bathed pork belly, meatballs, rye risotto, a large charcuterie board, whole roasted fish, cowboy steaks, tomahawk pork chops, etc. And the bar area is serving cocktails, tequilas, mescals, bourbon and wines……
Earlier in the Year, Friendly’s Ice Cream LLC (800/966-9970 www.friendlys.com) announced an agreement with Boston Food Concepts LLC (617/567-0992) in which a Friendly’s unit would open at Boston’s Logan International Airport. The unit open in early April at Gate 19 at Terminal A, accessible only to ticketed passengers. The unit will serve its signature Big Beef Burgers, Fishamajig Sandwiches and Super Melts along with the Friendly’s ice cream. Presently there are over 265 Friendly’s restaurants operating and Boston Food Concepts operates over 50 full service and quick service restaurants in transit locations across the United States, including Penn Station in New York City and seven airports across the country…..
In mid-April, the Houston, Texas-based Russo’s Restaurants (713/821-1322 www.nypizzeria.com) announced that Steve Hubbard has been named its new Director of Operations. In this new role, he will focus his efforts toward planning operational excellence within Russo’s. He will manage and increase the efficiency of processes within the company and will enhance the communication between the brand’s corporate and franchise sectors. He has a significant role in making decisions within Russo’s financial management, organizational effectiveness, organizational leadership and risk management. A seasoned restaurant operator, Hubbard has more than 20 years of experience working with Applebee’s and Apple Investors Group. Operating as Russo’s New York Pizzeria as well as Russo’s Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen, there are over 40 restaurants operating in the United States and the United Arab Emirates. Dozens more are expected to open in the next three to five years…...
Late in the Summer Adrian Wong anticipates opening the first Beta Burger (626/607-6029 www.betaburger.co) in a street front location at 1437 Tremont St in the Mission Hill area of Boston. Beta Burger is a new fast food concept that incorporates controlled vapor technology that will result in a moist burger. At this time, the menu will include the special cooked burgers and sides…...
The Kentucky-based Millennial Restaurant Group (865/219-1221) has started construction on a 3200 square foot Blaze Pizza (626/584-5880 www.blazepizza.com) in Orlando, Florida that is expected to open in May. The quick casual restaurant at 4100 N. Alafaya Trail will include an outdoor patio area. It is located across from the main University of Central Florida campus. Millennial Restaurant Group is a partnership between James Patterson Sr., Jim Patterson II, Ulysses ‘Junior’ Bridgeman, Wayne Albritton and Collins Cogan. The group is developing Blaze Pizza restaurants in Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky and Georgia…….
Charlotte, North Carolina-based Chanticleer Holdings (704/366-5122 www.chanticleerholdings.com) announced that it has entered a Letter Of Intent for the acquisition of an eight unit ‘better burger’ concept in the Pacific Northwest. The acquisition would considerably expand Chanticleer's presence in the Pacific Northwest region and further expand the company's presence in the better burger sector. Chanticleer Holdings is a franchisee owner of Hooters restaurants in several international markets including Australia, South Africa and Europe as well as two Hooters restaurants in the United States. The company also owns and operates American Burger Co., BGR: The Burger Joint and owns a majority interest in Just Fresh restaurants in the U.S….
Quick-service seafood chain Long John Silver’s (502/815-6100 www.ljsilvers.com) has named Brian Unger as Chief Operating Officer. He joins the organization with more than 30 years of experience in the food service industry where he was Senior Vice President of McDonald’s USA, Vice President of McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada and most recently COO at Einstein Noah Restaurant Group Inc. where he worked alongside James O’Reilly, recently appointed CEO at Long John Silver’s……
In late April, Tampa-based quick casual better burger concept Burger 21 (813/881-0055 www.burger21.com) opened its second restaurant in South Florida in the new Federal Marketplace on N. Federal Hwy just south of Oakland Park Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. The unit is 2700 square feet with a 200 square foot patio. There is seating for 94 customers with 30 seats on the patio. The franchisee is Adam Booken who, with his family, also own and operate the Burger 21 location at 2451 S. University Dr. in Davie, Florida that opened last year. Presently there are nine Burger 21 units in Florida and one each in Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, New Jersay, New York and Virginia with several more under development…….
Hardee’s (877/799-7827 www.hardees.com) kicked off its return to the Northeast with an opening in Lake Katrine, just north of Kingston in Northern New York State. The freestanding 3000 square foot unit is at the entrance to the Ulster Commons on Ulster Ave/Route 9W at Grant Ave and is operated by franchisee Hungry Guys LLC who is planning to open additional restaurants in New York. Late last year, Hardee’s reported that it expected to open about 200 of the quick casual restaurants in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts over the next five years. Prior to being acquired by CKE Restaurants (www.ckerestaurants.com) in 1997, the company has operated and closed several Hardee’s locations in the Northeast region. The menu selections including its signature 100 percent Black Angus beef Thickburgers, hand-breaded chicken tenders, hand-scooped ice cream shakes and its made-from-scratch biscuits, baked fresh on-site daily……