Fort Myers, Florida-based burger and craft beer restaurant chain Ford’s Garage, reports that it has entered into a brand licensing agreement with the Ford Motor Co. in which the chain can use Ford’s blue oval logo and brand imagery including historical photographs, images of vehicles and actual Model T Fords. The first Ford’s Garage opened in 2012 in Fort Myers followed by a location at the Miromar Outlets in Estero and an 8000 square foot location on Cape Coral Pkwy East in Cape Coral opened in 2013. Co-founder Daniel Kearns noted that the agreement allows for future growth as the chain is planning to add Ford’s Garage locations in Florida’s Gulf Coast and the Midwest region………….
Addison, Texas-based Fiesta Restaurant Group Inc., parent company to the Pollo Tropical , Taco Cabana and Cabana Grill restaurant brands, reported that it will consolidate all its food distribution with Performance Food Group, the Richmond, Virginia-based foodservice distributor. The partnership with PFG, which has been serving Pollo Tropical restaurants for more than eight years, will allow the growing brands to share a national distribution system and freight consolidation, creating money-saving and quality-enhancing efficiencies. Fiesta’s Vice President, Supply Chain Management Joe Brink explained that the consolidation will positions Fiesta for long-term growth. Known for its fresh, handmade sauces, salsa, sides and entrees that are created in each restaurant daily, the consistent, quicker deliveries of high-quality, fresh produce, beans, rice and other ingredients to its over 300 restaurants in Florida, Texas, Georgia and Tennessee is a major factor as the company expands its reach into new markets and grows in existing markets………..
On August 4th, Rick Federico, CEO of Scottsdale, Arizona-based P.F. Chang’s China Bistro reported that it has determined that the security of the company’s credit and debit card processing systems was compromised. The company has reason to believe that certain information may have been stolen from credit and debit cards that were used during specified time frames at 33 P.F. Chang's China Bistro branded restaurant locations in the continental United States. The potentially stolen credit and debit card data includes the card number and in some cases also the cardholder's name and/or the card's expiration date. The company has published the list of restaurants on its website. The company also noted that the security compromise has been contained and P. F. Chang’s has been processing credit and debit card data securely at all locations since June 11th, 2014………..
Earlier in the month, Detroit-based Sashse Construction & Development Corp. obtained permits to start renovations on the freestanding Blackfinn Ameripub at The Markets at Town Center on Big Island Dr. in Jacksonville, Florida, according to reports in the Jacksonville Daily Record. Blackfinn Ameripub states on its website that the upgrade is a celebration of its four year anniversary. The renovation to the 9700 square foot building and 2400 square foot patio area is expected to be completed later in August. Blackfinn Jax LLC operates the restaurant. Blackfinn Amjeripub is a national chain of casual pub/restaurants with units in Austin in Texas, Charlotte in North Carolina, Merrifield in Virginia, Royal Oak in Michigan, Chicago and Mt. Prospect, both in Illinois. The company is also seeking staff for a new location at Park West Village in Morrisville, North Carolina that is opening shortly…….
With two locations in Naples, Florida, Larry’s Lunchbox Delicatessen is adding a third location about 40 miles north in Fort Myers. The new location is expected to be serving its specialty sandwiches, soups, salads, burgers and more in the Fall at 2200 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., between Hendry St. and Broadway. The existing restaurants are on Airport Rd. South and Neapolitan Way……...
Fast growing pizza franchise, Marco’s Pizza, has just announced its first franchise deal in India that will see it open 400 locations over the next ten years. The first Marco’s Pizza in India is expected to open before the end of the year. Pizza and franchise veterans DJ Patel and Monaliza Patel are leading the expansion in India. DJ Patel is an area developer for Marco’s Pizza overseeing 40 Marco’s Pizza units in Georgia, Maryland, DC and Virginia. Likewise, Monaliza Patel is also an area representative and partners with DJ to co-manage stores in Atlanta and the Southern Georgia region. Headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Marco’s Pizza has about 500 locations and with the over 1500 new franchise deals signed in 2013, it is on track to quadruple its store count in the coming five to seven years………..
Homegrown Hospitality Group is opening a 3100 square foot Pearlz Oyster Bar end unit at the StoneCrest at Piper Glen in Charlotte, South Carolina, reports the Charlotte Business Journal. Located in the former Miro Spanish Grille location, it is the fourth unit in the chain of full service fresh seafood restaurants. Pearlz features a mix of raw shellfish, local seafood, Lowcountry recipes and regional dishes along with its full service bar. A late November opening is anticipated. Along with three existing Pearlz Oyster Bar restaurants in downtown Charleston, the West Ashley area of Charleston and in Columbia, Homegrown Hospitality also operates over 20 restaurants in North and South Carolina and Georgia trading under several banners including TBonz Gill & Grill, Liberty Steakhouse & Brewery, Rioz Brazilian Steakhouse and Capriz Italian Feast…….
On August 4th, Carolina Ale House opened its first location in Tennessee at 9045 Kingston Pike in Knoxville. It is the Raleigh, North Carolina-based chain’s 25th restaurant. Carolina Ale House describes itself as the better alternative to a typical sports bar with scratch made food, a family-friendly atmosphere and outstanding hospitality. The restaurants include an extensive scratch menu that goes beyond the usual sports bar fare with 72 beers on tap, including a local selection and a 30 percent craft beer lineup as well as about 99 bottled beers. The 15-year old chain operates throughout the southeast and will expand to downtown Raleigh and Chapel Hill in North Carolina as well as downtown Charleston in South Carolina over the next six months……..
Florida hospitality company The Bento Group will open its next Bento Cafe Pan-Asian restaurant in the Fall in Orlando and according to reports in the Orlando Business Journal, the company is sourcing sites in Florida’s Winter Park area as well as other markets in Central and South Florida. The next opening, a 3800 square foot location at Plaza on University on University Blvd., will have seating for about 150 and will include a full bar. It is the company’s third Bento Café. A fourth Bento Café, a 3000 square foot location at 1708 W. Tennessee St. near Florida State University in Tallahassee, is scheduled to open in Spring 2015 and long term plans call for 40 Bento Cafe locations within the next five years. The Bento Group operates several restaurant and nightclub banners including SushiChao, Hiro, Mochi, Kasa Tapas, etc……..
Just days ago Dallas, Texas-based Firecrust Neapolitan Pizzeria has opened its first restaurant, a 3000 square foot in-line location at the Knox Promenade on N. Central Expressway in Dallas and started construction on a second restaurant that will open in a plaza at 6505 W. Park Blvd. in Plano, Texas in October. Firecrust is a premium fast-casual Neapolitan pizza concept that allows the customer to create their own pizza by choosing from premium products and toppings along its granite pizza line. The pizza is then cooked in a wood-burning oven at 900 degrees for about 90 seconds. From the time of ordering the fresh hot pizzas arrive in less than five minutes to a customer's table. Founder of Firecrust Scott Bender noted that it is Dallas' first Neapolitan Pizzeria serving premium pizza in a quick service format……..
Regional steakhouse chain All American Steakhouse & Sports Theatre open its latest restaurant in Waldorf, Maryland, a community located about 23 miles southeast of Washington DC. The chains sixth location and third in Maryland is the freestanding, former Bennigan’s location, of about 6600 square feet with over 600 feet of frontage on Saint Patrick’s Dr. Another All American Steakhouse & Sports Theatre is opening later in the year at the new Meade Center on Annapolis Rd. in Odenton in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area in Maryland. The freestanding location is in the mixed-use project across from Fort Meade. The full service restaurant concept combines a traditional steakhouse menu with a sports bar and games room components. The chain’s other three locations are in Virginia……….