Growing Concepts
Concepts that have grown by at least 5% (if less than 50 units).
CIELITO LINDO of Oakland Park, FL has increased by 1 unit, from 2 to 3 (50% growth). These are family/casual Mexican restaurants with full bar and seating for around 150. Meal periods are lunch and dinner. Per person check average is around $6-$15+. Banquets are offered. All locations are in FL.
BLUE MESA GRILL headquartered in Addison, TX has increased by 1 unit, from 5 to 6 (20% growth). These are family/casual Mexican restaurants with full bar and seating for around 250. Meal periods are lunch and dinner. Per person check average is around $10-$30. Catering and banquet services are offered. All locations are in TX.
Houston, TX-based TREEBEARDS RESTAURANT (founded 1978) has increased by 1 unit, from 4 to 5 (25% growth). The restaurants are family/casual, open for lunch only. Per person check average is $6-$12. Locations have full bar service and seating for about 150. Catering and private party services are available. All locations are in TX.
Wauwatosa, WI-based DE ROSA CORPORATION (founded 1972) has increased by 1 unit, from 13 to 14 (8% growth), with the addition of a new concept called Parkside 23. Other concepts include Café West (1), Chancery Pub & Restaurant (6), Eddie Martini’s (1), Jose’s Blue Sombrero (2), Original Pancake House (2), and Seven Sisters (1). These are family/casual concepts, serving multiple cuisine types. Meal periods are lunch and dinner (Original Pancake House is open for breakfast). Per person check average is $8-$20 and full bar service is available. Average seating is for about 150. The restaurants offer private party services. All locations are in WI.
SURIN OF THAILAND of Birmingham, AL has increased by 1 unit, from 5 to 6 (20% growth) and expanded into TN. These are family/casual Thai food restaurants with full bar and seating for around 150. Meal periods are lunch and dinner. Per person check average is around $10-$30. Locations are in AL, GA, MS and TN
California-based BLUEWATER GRILL has increased by 1 unit, from 4 to 5 (25% growth). This family/casual seafood concept is open for lunch and dinner, with a $10-$30 per person check average. The restaurants have full bar and seating for about 200. Online ordering and banquet services are available. Trading areas are AZ and CA.
Charlotte, NC-based SHOWMAR’S RESTAURANT (founded 1982) has increased by 7 units, from 24 to 31 (29% growth). This family/casual concept serves American cuisine, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Per person check average is $6-$15+, with full bar and seating for around 100. Catering is available. Locations are in NC and SC.
SUSHI ZUSHI based in San Antonio, TX has increased by 1 unit, from 7 to 8 (14% growth). These are upscale Japanese restaurants with full bar and seating for around 150. Meal periods are lunch and dinner. Per person check average is around $10-$30. Online ordering and delivery services are available. Catering and banquet services are also offered. All locations are in TX.
Emerging and Re-emerging Concepts
Concepts with 20 units or less who grew by at least 2 units.
New Jersey-based BUBBAKOOS BURRITOS (founded 2007) has increased by 4 units, from 2 to 6 (200% growth). This fast casual Mexican concept is open for lunch and dinner, with a $4-$10 per person price range. Units seat about 50 and offer catering, delivery and private party services. All locations are in NJ.
Austin, TX-based PLUCKERS WING FACTORY & GRILL (founded 1995) has increased by 2 units, from 12 to 14 (17% growth). This family/casual concept is open for lunch and dinner, with a $6-$12 per person price range. Locations serve beer and have seating for around 100. Catering, delivery, and private party services are available. Trading areas are LA and TX.
Moline, IL-based HEART OF AMERICA RESTAURANTS & INNS (founded 1978) has increased by 1 unit for the Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse concept, from 6 to 7 (17% concept growth) and entered into KS. The company also added a new concept called Checkered Flag (1 unit). Overall company increase was from 16 to 18 (13% growth). Other concepts include Gramma’s Kitchen (1), Machine Shed Restaurant (6), and Thunder Bay Grille (3). These are family casual concepts, serving mostly American cuisine. Per person check average is $6-$15+, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Locations have full bar and seating for around 250. Catering and banquet rooms are available. Trading areas are IA, IL, KS, MN, NE, and WI.
Repeat Growers
Concepts previously written about in the past 18 months.
Lehi, UT-based COSTA VIDA FRESH MEXICAN GRILL (founded 2003) has increased by 7 units, from 43 to 50 (16% growth) and entered into AB and OK. This fast casual concept is open for lunch and dinner, with a $3-$8 per person price range. Units seat about 50 and offer catering and online ordering services. All units are franchised and trade in AB, AZ, CA, CO, ID, MO, NM, OK, TX, UT, and WA. We last wrote about this concept on 11/8/11 (79% growth).
Tallahassee, FL-based WHARF EXPRESS (founded 1986) has increased by 1 unit, from 6 to 7 (17% growth) and entered into AL. This is a family/casual seafood concept, open for lunch and dinner. Per person check average is $8-$20, serving beer and wine. Seating is for about 100. Catering and banquet services are available. Trading areas are AL and FL. We last featured this concept on 12/20/11 (50% growth).
EARL OF SANDWICH based in Orlando, FL (founded 2004) has increased by 1 unit, from 22 to 23 (5% growth). These are fast casual sandwich restaurants with seating for around 50. Meal periods are breakfast, lunch and dinner. Per person check average is around $4-$10. Catering and online ordering are offered. Locations are more than 60% franchised and are in CA, FL, MA, MI, NJ, NV, NY, PA and TX. We last reported on this concept on 7/10/12 when they had 24% growth.
HERO CERTIFIED BURGERS of Toronto, ON (founded 2003) has increased by 11 units for their Hero Certified Burgers concept, from 29 to 40 (38% concept growth). These are quick serve burger restaurants with seating for around 30. Meal periods are lunch and dinner. Per person check average is around $3-$8. At the same time, the company also decreased by 3 units for Lettieri Espresso & Bar, from 11 to 8. Overall company growth is from 40 to 48 (20% company growth). All locations are in ON. We last reported on this concept on 3/27/12 when they had 18% company growth.
About RestaurantChains.net
The RestaurantChains.net directory was launched in 2004 and currently covers more than 4,300 multi-unit restaurant companies, supplying headquarters contact information and company attributes in more than 100 different criteria. Foodservicereport.com, a sister publication, is a database that covers more than 750,000 restaurants in the US. Subscribers can receive regular reports on new store openings or pre-defined lists based on hand-picked criteria such as cuisine, type, style, or geographic region.
For more information, please contact Keith Gellman at keith@foodservicereport.com.
