Luna Grill, the San Diego-based Mediterranean fast-casual chain, is accelerating its expansion and has selected Texas to host the first group of out-of-state locations.
The chain expects to open its first store in the Lone Star state this summer in Flower Mound and additional stores in the Dallas/Fort Worth market will follow.
With its most recent opening, in Irvine, Calif., last December, Luna Grill ended 2013 with 10 restaurants in operation. Five additional locations are in development and the company says more than a dozen top-tier lease sites are under consideration. Four new units are set to open in the first half of 2014 in California, including Poway, Huntington Beach, Rancho San Diego and Aliso Viejo.
The move into Texas kicks off a national expansion drive on the part of Luna Grill's parent, Premier Food Concepts LLC. The company plans to grow to 20 units by the end of this year and to 40 by the end of 2016, according to Dan Lowe, director of operations.