Earlier in September, multi-concept franchising company BRIX Holdings LLC (631/615-6711) added the Souper Salad and Greenz to its roster of franchise chains. “These acquisitions are consistent with our focus on healthier menus driving a healthy business opportunity,” said Joe Vitrano, CEO of BRIX Holdings. “Both brands have the potential to expand in the fast growing segment of the food industry focused on consumers’ healthier eating choices.” As part of the acquisitions, Dan Hernandez will remain president of Souper Salad and Scott McIntosh, head of franchising and real estate for Souper Salad, will join the BRIX franchise development team for all of the BRIX brands. In addition, BRIX acquired Greenz, a Dallas-based quick casual café concept with two locations serving salads, soups and wraps made fresh daily. “Greenz is in an early stage and its unique menu provides BRIX with an excellent starting point for further concept development and eventual expansion,” said Vitrano. Along with these recent additions, the BRIX Holdings portfolio includes the Red Mango, Smoothie Factory and RedBrick Pizza chains……..
In August, Atlanta-based Tin Lizzy’s Cantina (678/681-9503) opened a restaurant with a rooftop bar/patio on 3470 George Busbee Pkwy in Kennesaw, Georgia. In November, the chain will open its eighth flexmex-menu restaurant at 6320 Sugarloaf Pkwy, near the Gwinnett Arena, in Duluth, Georgia, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post. The chain of casual restaurants describes ‘flexmex’ as a cuisine that resembles Tex Mex but is comprised of and influenced by many cultures. The menu includes gourmet soft tacos as well as dips, salads, specialty margaritas, etc. The 8000 square foot restaurant, located in the former Loafing Leprechaun site, will include two patios and live entertainment. The chain opened a Ten Lizzy’s location in Gwinnett a year ago at The Village at the Mall of Georgia. Other locations include Buckhead, Grant Park, Midtown, Perimeter and Emory Point, all in metro Atlanta. Tory Bartlett is the COO at Tin Lizzy’s Cantina…….
In early September, Sharon, Pennsylvania-based Quaker Steak & Lube (724/981-3123) franchise chain started construction on its second Louisiana restaurant at 2706 S. Cabelas Parkway in Gonazles. The restaurant is located near the Tanger Outlet Mall and is scheduled to open before Christmas 2014. The restaurant will encompass a 6500 square foot design while accommodating seating for over 250 people. The second location for Louisiana-based franchise group, I-10 Hospitality LLC (337/313-3105) coming after its first opening in Sulphur, just east of the Texas border, earlier in the Spring. “We were fortunate to find a great area to develop in and we cannot wait to be part of the Gonzales community and offer residents our crave-able food including our Award-Winning wings, burgers and salads,” says I-10 Hospitality’s President and CEO Geno Iafrate. I-10 Hospitality holds the rights to develop Quake Steak & Lube restaurants from Beaumont, Texas to Destin, Florida and also holds an option to develop three additional Louisiana markets in Shreveport, Alexandria and Monroe…….
The ACF Atlanta Chefs Association (850/556-7736) is in need of help with its Cheer for Children Ball, an event that raises money to help physically and sexually abused children recover from the devastation they have experienced. For many years, its chefs have helped to supply food stations, sweet and savory, for this event and the association needs some help. The event takes place on October 17th at the Foundry at Puritan Mill at 916 Joseph Lowery Blvd. NW in Atlanta. Food stations providing 400 to 450 servings are required. If you are able to help, contact Executive Director Cheryl Glass ...........
In mid-September, New York vegan restaurant chain Blossom du Jour (212/229-2595) opened its fourth location in New York City. The quick service 500 square foot location is on Amsterdam Ave. in Manhattan, between West 81st and 82nd streets. Along with Blossom Du Jour’s line of juices and prepared quick serve food, the restaurant includes such menu items as the Seitan Philly Cheese Steak, The Midtown Melt and the Smoky Avocado along with vegan treats including red velvet cupcakes, banana cream pie, their harvest cookie, etc. Earlier this year, the Blossom du Jour line was made available in select Whole Foods stores in Manhattan. Pamela Elizabeth is the owner of Blossom du Jour……
Earlier in September, Addison, Texas-based urban bar and eatery concept Bar Louie (214/845-4800) opened its seventh Florida location in the Plaza on University mixed use project on University Blvd. near the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Bar Louis also confirmed that it will be opening a 6000 square foot bar/restaurant at the McCain Mall in North Little Rock, Arkansas in early 2015. The 400 seat unit will be the chain’s second location in the state. The franchise chain operates almost 90 locations in about 28 states……
Baskin-Robbins (800/859-5339) is actively seeking qualified candidates interested in owning and operating existing Baskin-Robbins ice cream shops located in the Detroit metro area, including in Plymouth, Troy, Warren, Ann Arbor and Bay City. Grant Benson, Vice President, Global Franchising and Business development notes that as brand continues to develop across Michigan, the company is seeking entrepreneurs with strong financial backgrounds and a passion for their local communities to own their own ice cream shop. Currently, Baskin-Robbins has nearly 50 locations open throughout Michigan. With about 7300 retail shops in nearly 50 countries Baskin-Robbins is the world’s largest chain of ice cream specialty shops. Headquartered in Canton, Massachusetts, Baskin-Robbins is part of the publicly traded Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc…….
After over two decades in Atlanta, Ursula Render has returned to Rockingham, North Carolina to open the first Rock City Wings. According to reports in the Richmond County Daily Journal, the casual restaurant opened last week in the former House of Fish building in the Broad Street Square. The menu will feature chicken wings as well as six sauce flavors along with side items of fries, coleslaw, baked beans, potato salad and desserts…….
In mid-September, convenience store/gas station chain Wawa Inc. (800/444-9292) celebrated its 50th Florida location with its opening in Orlando and announced plans for 50 more locations in the state. The latest unit opened at 4100 East Colonial Dr. In addition to the convenience and fuel sales, the Wawa units will also include a quick service take out offering include its fresh Sizzlis breakfast sandwiches along with hoagies, sandwiches, soups, salads, coffees, etc. Another Florida location opened on West 25th St. in Sanford later in September and in October another location in Orlando, this one at 12321 East Colonial Dr., along with a unit on 22nd Ave. North in St. Petersburg, are scheduled to open. Wawa presently operates over 650 locations in six states…...
Earlier in the month, The Colony, Texas-based Pie Five Pizza Co (855/955-7435) opened its second restaurant in Florida in the Kmart Plaza on W. International Speedway Blvd. near the Daytona International Speedway. The site is also a mile from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The chain’s first Florida restaurant opened in Port Orange in January. The quick casual chain now has 23 locations Florida, Kansas, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia with more than 200 announced franchise units under contract in twelve states and Washington, DC………
Toledo, Ohio-based Marco's Pizza (419/885-7000) quick service pizza franchise reports that having opened its its 500th location in June, the chain is well on its way of reaching its next goal of 1000 locations by the end of 2016. The company notes that repeat business is key to its growth quoting a four-month consumer study by the Procter & Gamble Test Kitchen, MRSI that stated that 72 percent of people who try Marco's pizza say they'll purchase it again. Other pizza franchises tested by MRSI averaged just 36 percent for ‘will re-order’. "Our commitment to great ingredients gives our pizzas big, bold flavor that customers enjoy," says President and COO Bryon Stephens……..
In mid-September, Covelli Enterprises (330/856-3176), the largest franchisee of Panera Bread, acquired eleven more Panera Bread bakery cafes in the Dayton, Ohio area. The company now owns more than 100 Panera Bread cafes in Ohio including 48 Northeast Ohio locations. The addition of the Dayton cafes marks another year of significant activity for Covelli Enterprises. The company will open in excess of 30 stores in 2014 and has aggressive plans for growth in the Dayton market. Covelli Enterprises now operates over 250 Panera Bread Cafes in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Florida and Canada……..
Lou Moshakos, President and Owner of LM Restaurants Hospitality Management,(800/528-9945) reports that the company is investing in a new division of business. LM Restaurants will now be affiliated with Flying Olive Farms (919/600-0782), a Greek import company. Flying Olive Farms will import and distribute Greek olive oils, balsamic vinegars, mustards, wines & water. The first product line of Flying Olive Farms, called Vrisi 36, will be introduced in late September at the Mediterranean Diet and Workplace Health conference at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. The company will also be sampling Mystiqua, Greek specialty sparkling water. Flying Olive Farms is a Raleigh-based import company dedicated to inspire the connection between Greek village farmers and crafters with the recipes around the American dinner table. LM Restaurants is the hospitality management company affiliated with the Carolina Ale House and other restaurant concepts on the East Coast…….
On Sept. 30th, Hardee's restaurants operated by Boddie-Noell Enterprises (252/937-2000) across Virginia will begin the sale of $1 and $5 Stars to raise money for Special Olympics Virginia. The annual fundraiser called, ‘When You Give, We All Win’ features Nick, a regular participant in the Summer Games Fun Run for Young Athletes. The four-week fundraising campaign is slated to help more than 650 Special Olympics athletes participate in the 2015 edition of this annual community event. Last year, Hardee's owned and operated by Boddie-Noell raised more than $74,000 for Special Olympics Virginia. With over 170 Hardee’s franchise restaurants in Virginia and over 330 restaurants across three states, Boddie-Noell Enterprises is the largest Hardee's franchise operator in the United States and has been partners with the Special Olympics Virginia for 34 years…….