Which Wich updates its digital platforms while Cosi shares its same-store sales. In addition, The Melting Pot, Smoothie King and Tropical Smoothie Café all look to grow their franchise networks. All this and more in the Restaurant Development Report.
Franchisees Morris Saide and Tomis Vidal plan to develop three Bar-B-Cutie Smokehouse restaurants in San Antonio over the next four years. The first location should open in the spring of 2016. Barb-B-Cutie Smokehouse is a 65-year-old fast-casual barbecue concept that includes such features as drive-thru and catering service.
Blaze Fast Fire'd Pizza entered the Oregon market with the opening of a restaurant in Beaverton. The fast-casual, build-your-own pizza chain also opened a location in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Cosi, Inc. reported that estimated system-wide comparable restaurant sales for the company's 2015 Period 5 recorded an aggregate decline of 0.9 percent as compared to the 2014 Period 5. Taking a closer look at the numbers, company-owned stores report a 2.2 percent increase in sales while franchised locations declined 7.3 percent.
Domino's Pizza continued its international growth with the June 8 opening of its first store in Portugal. This location, in the Telheiras area of Lisbon, is run by master franchisee Daufood. Domino's now operates in more than 75 markets worldwide, with more than half of its global retail sales coming from international stores, according to a company release.
Fogo de Chão, Inc. has commenced a proposed initial public offering of 4,411,764 shares of its common stock pursuant to a registration statement filed on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In connection with the offering, the company intends to grant the underwriters the option to purchase up to 661,764 additional shares of its common stock. The estimated price range for the initial public offering is $16.00 to $18.00 per share of common stock. Fogo has applied to list its common stock on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the ticker symbol "FOGO."
The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc., a polished casual fondue restaurant chain, seeks franchise candidates to open a new restaurant in North Carolina's Triad area, a region that includes Winston-Salem, Greensboro and High Point. The Melting Pot has six locations in North Carolina, including an existing restaurant in northern Greensboro. The Melting Pot's existing Greensboro restaurant, which opened in 1998, will eventually close its doors as it will be replaced with a new, larger location in the market as part of the company's expansion plans.
On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina's Rogers, Ark., location has undergone a complete makeover. Built in 2002, the newly remodeled restaurant's design reflects a laidback atmosphere and a natural look that leans into On the Border's Tex-Mex roots. The largest casual dining Mexican restaurant features brighter colors, more rustic finishes, new furnishings and unique art and décor.
Smoothie King, a health-focused juice and smoothie concept, has selected Denver as a key target market for expansion. The brand will use Denver as a hub for its growth by adding 25 locations and then expanding throughout the Aurora and Lakewood, Colo. areas. Smoothie King aims to have 1,000 locations domestically by the end of 2017 to add to the 700 global locations currently open.
Tropical Smoothie Café, a fast-casual sandwich and smoothie franchise plans to open at least 6 locations in the Detroit market and 10 locations in the Tampa, Fla., market. In Michigan, the company will look to add locations in Wayne and Washtenaw Counties in such municipalities as Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, Canton and Plymouth. Currently, there are three Tropical Smoothie Café locations in the Detroit area. In the Tampa market, Tropical Smoothie Café will look to add units in such surrounding municipalities as Palm Harbor, Clearwater Beach and Northdale. Currently, there are four cafés in the Greater Tampa area.
Which Wich has developed a new mobile app and digital ordering program that allows customers to order and customize meals online via web and smartphone platforms at order.whichwich.com, Apple's App Store, and Google Play. Customers can arrive at the restaurant, grab their food and go.