Growing Concepts
Concepts that have grown by at least 5% (if less than 50 units).
East Amherst, NY-based MIGHTY TACO (founded 1973) has increased by 1 unit, from 20 to 21 (5% growth). This fast casual Mexican concept is open for lunch and dinner, with a $4-$12+ per person price range. Units seat about 70. Drive-thru service is available. All units are in NY.
Little Rock, AR-based WHOLE HOG CAFE has increased by 1 unit, from 12 to 13 (8% growth) and entered into NJ. These fast casual bbq restaurants are open for lunch and dinner, with a $4-$12+ per person price range. Beer and wine are served and seating is for about 125. Catering and delivery are available. Trading areas are AR, LA, MO, NJ, and NM.
Davie, FL-based FROOTS (founded 2001) has increased by 2 units, from 30 to 32 (7% growth). This is a fast casual juice/smoothie concept, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner hours. Per person price range is $4-$12+. Seating is for about 20. Catering, delivery and online ordering options are available. All units are franchised and trade in CA, FL, GA, IA, IL, MA, PA, TX, and VA.
Los Angeles, CA-based BIG WANGS has increased by 1 unit, from 4 to 5 (25% growth). This family/casual restaurant serves American cuisine and is open for lunch and dinner. Per person check average is $10-$30, will full bar and seating for around 150. Catering is available. Locations are in CA and 10 other countries worldwide.
Vermont-based AMERICAN FLATBREAD has increased by 1 unit, from 3 to 4 (33% growth) and entered into NY. The restaurants are family/casual, serving Italian food and pizza. Meal periods are lunch and dinner. Per person price range is $6-$15+, with beer and wine service. The restaurants seat about 300 and offer catering packages. Trading areas are NY and VT.
Emerging and Re-emerging Concepts
Concepts with 20 units or less who grew by at least 2 units.
Chicago, IL-based INTELLIGENTSIA COFFEE & TEA (founded 1995) has increased by 3 units, from 7 to 10 (43% growth) and entered into NY. This fast casual coffee house concept is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner hours, with a $4-$12+ per person price range. Units seat about 50. Beer and wine are offered at select locations. Trading areas are CA, IL, and NY.
Lewis Center, OH-based W.G. GRINDERS has increased by 2 units, from 20 to 22 (10% growth) and entered into IN. This fast casual sandwich shop is open for lunch and dinner, with a $4-$12+ per person check average. Stores seat about 70 and offer catering, delivery and online ordering services. Locations are franchised and trade in IN, MI, OH, and PA.
Spokane, WA-based TWIGS BISTRO & MARTINI BAR has increased by 2 units, from 7 to 9 (29% growth). This upscale concept serves American cuisine and is open for lunch and dinner. Per person check average is $15-$50+, with full bar and seating for about 80. Catering and banquet facilities are available. All locations are in WA.
Repeat Growers
Concepts previously written about in the past 18 months.
Carefree, AZ-based BARRO’S PIZZA (founded 1980) has increased by 1 unit, from 32 to 33 (3% growth). This fast casual pizzeria is open for lunch and dinner, with a $4-$12+ per person price range. Locations serve beer and wine and seat about 50. Delivery is available. All locations are in AZ. We last featured this concept on 2/5/13 (3% growth).
Covington, LA-based SMOOTHIE KING (founded 1973) has increased by 22 units, from 650 to 672 (3% growth). The concept is fast casual, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner hours. Per person price range is $4-$12+, with limited seating available. Catering is offered. All locations are franchised and trade in AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, South Korea, Singapore, and the Grand Cayman. We last wrote about this concept on 12/18/12 (8% growth).
Atlanta, GA-based WING ZONE (founded 1991) has increased by 3 units, from 70 to 73 (4% growth). This quick serve chicken wing concept is open for lunch and dinner, with a $4-$12+ per person check average. Stores have limited seating and offer catering, delivery and online ordering options. Units are franchised and trade in AL, CO, FL, GA, IL, KS, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, South America, and the Middle East. We wrote about this concept on 3/14/12 (4% growth) and on 10/9/12 (19% 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.
