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Restaurants often have to serve a mix of purposes and uses — from changing menus with changing dayparts to flexible lighting to fit the mood throughout a day — but in the case of the recently opened Third Coast inside the Texas Medical Center, the restaurant had to serve an unusual mix of needs at an unusual destination.

 

As the progenitor or the cupcake craze of the late 2000s, Sprinkles has outlasted the competition — fitting, since owner Candace Nelson serves as a judge on the series Cupcake Wars. Known for its rotating menu of cupcakes, ice cream and cookies, as well as its “cupcake ATM,” the chain has 22 locations in 10 states across the U.S.

 

OZU East Kitchen, located in Los Angeles’ Atwater Village neighborhood, is a fast-casual pan-Asian concept from new restaurateur Paul Yi.

Fried chicken and biscuits chain Bojangles’ unveiled a new restaurant design concept execs say was aimed at propelling the fast-growing chain to its next stage of success.

Hiring and promotional news from across the restaurant development and design community includes new hires at Bombshells Restaurant & Bar, Smashburger and more.

Brazilian steakhouse chain Fogo de Chão contracted New Orleans-based Eskew+Dumez+Ripple to bring local flair to its first Big Easy restaurant. Opened earlier this year, the new restaurant comes amid Fogo’s latest expansion plans, which included the opening of four other company stores last year.

Nestled in the heart of Dallas’ Design District, Joseph Palladino’s Quill combines restaurant and lounge in an elevated design, reminiscent of European nightlife.


Sisters and partners Amy and Clodagh Lawless of The Gage and Acanto in Chicago have opened the doors to their highly anticipated restaurant project, The Dearborn, catering to preshow revelers, cocktail seekers and power lunch crowds alike. The massive 8,000-square-foot urban American tavern at the Block 37 complex in the office-friendly Loop district offers upscale, seasonal cuisine with a Midwestern twist by Executive Chef Aaron Cuschieri, who has clocked time at the legendary Alinea, among other notable Chicago restaurants.