Update from Restaurantchains.net on growing and emerging restaurant concepts
Growing Concepts that have grown by at least 5% (if less than 50 units).
LA TASCA SPANISH TAPAS BAR & RESTAURANT (founded 1993), with U.S. operations based in Arlington, VA, has increased by 7 units, from 65 to 72 (11% growth). The restaurants are upscale tapas bars, open for lunch and dinner, with seating for about 200. All units have a full bar. Catering and banquet facilities are available. Only 5 of the restaurants are located in the United States, in DC, MD, and VA. International locations are in the UK.
The Maine-based restaurant chain ESPO'S TRATTORIA has increased by 1 unit, from 3 to 4 (33% growth). These are family/casual Italian restaurants, open for lunch and dinner, with a $10-$30 per person check average. Units have a full bar and seating for 100. All the locations are in ME.
New York, NY-based IL MULINO (founded 1981) has increased by 1 unit, from 8 to 9 (13% growth). These are upscale Italian restaurants, open for dinner only. Per person check average is $50-$75. Trading areas are DC, FL, IL, NV, and NY, with new locations scheduled to open later this year in Atlanta, GA, Aspen, CO, and Atlantic City, NJ.
MINSKY'S PIZZA of Kansas City, MO (founded 1976) has increased by 1 unit, from 12 to 13 (8% growth). These are family casual locations with full bar and seating for about 80. Online ordering and catering are offered. Locations are around 40% franchised and are in KS and MO.
ST-HUBERT RÔTISSERIES of Laval, PQ (founded 1951) has increased by 2 units for their St-Hubert Rôtisseries concept, from 79 to 81 (3% concept growth). These are family/casual chicken restaurants with seating for around 200. Beer and wine is served and banquets are offered. The check average is about $6-$15+ per person. There is a second express concept (St-Hubert Express) with 17 locations. The overall company growth is from 96 to 98 (2% growth). Locations are partly franchised and are in NB, ON and PQ.
WHATABURGER based in Corpus Christi, TX (founded 1950) has increased by 7 units, from 693 to 700 (1% growth). Locations are quick serve with seating for about 50. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Trading areas are AL, AR, AZ, FL, GA, LA, MA, NM, OK and TX. About 50% are franchised.
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Concepts with 20 units or less who grew by at least 2 units.
Roswell, GA-based J CHRISTOPHER'S RESTAURANT (founded 1996) has increased by 4 units, from 16 to 20 (25% growth) and entered into TN. These family/casual restaurants are open for breakfast and lunch, with a $4-$10 per person check average. Seating is for about 125. Banquet rooms are available. Trading areas are FL, GA, and TN. A new franchise program is currently in the works.
SEEKER'S COFFEE HOUSE & CAFÉ of Middleburg Heights, OH (founded 2001) has increased by 3 units, from 1 to 4 (300% growth) and expanded into TX. These are family/casual coffeehouses with seating for about 90. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served. Catering and banquets are offered. Locations are more than 90% franchised and are in OH and TX.
DEWEY'S PIZZA based in Cincinnati, OH (founded 1998) has increased by 3 units, from 9 to 12 (33% growth). These are family/casual pizza restaurants serving beer and wine. Seating is for about 90 and banquets are offered. Locations are in KY, MO and OH.
TIMES GRILL of Baton Rouge, LA (founded 1994) has increased by 2 units, from 6 to 8 (33% growth). Locations are family/casual American restaurants with full bar and seating for about 200. The check average is around $6-$15 per person. Locations are in FL and LA.
Concepts previously written about in the past 18 months.
Edmonton, AB-based PIZZA 73 (founded 1985) has increased by 5 units, from 52 to 57 (10% growth). We wrote about this chain in our 11/6/07 newsletter (18% growth). These take-out/delivery pizzerias are open for lunch and dinner. Online ordering is available. Locations are in the provinces of AB, BC, and SK.
New York, NY-based MODERN MEXICAN RESTAURANTS has increased by 1 unit for their Pampano concept, from 1 to 2 and opened a new concept in Acapulco, Mexico called Madeiras (1 unit). Other concepts are Isla (1), La Sandia (1), Maya (3), Tamayo (1), and Zengo (2). Overall company growth was from 9 to 11 (22% growth). We previously wrote about this company in our 4/3/07 newsletter (13% growth, added La Sandia concept). These are upscale Mexican restaurants, with a $15-$30+ per person check average. Zengo locations serve Japanese cuisine. Meal periods are lunch and dinner. Locations have a full bar and seating for about 150. Catering and banquet facilities are available. Restaurants are located in CA, CO, DC, NV, NY, Dubai, and Mexico.
Taylors, SC-based FATZ CAFE (founded 1988) has increased by 3 units, from 38 to 41 (8% growth). We wrote about this concept 3 times previously (10/31/06-10% growth, 3/27/07-3% growth, and 10/23/07-9% growth). These are family/casual American restaurants, open for lunch and dinner, with a $10-$30 per person check average. Units have a full bar and seating for about 250. Trading areas are GA, NC, SC, and TN, with a Dublin, VA location to open in March '08.
Ridgeland, MS-based MCALISTER'S DELI (founded 1989) has increased by 14 units, from 244 to 258 (6% growth) and entered into CO. We wrote about this concept on 6/27/07 (6% growth) and again on 10/9/07 (4% growth). The restaurants are fast casual, open for lunch and dinner, with seating for about 150. Per person check average is $4-$10. Catering and online ordering are available. Trading areas are AL, AR, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MO, MS, NC, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, and VA. About 90% of units are franchised.
TACO BUENO headquartered in Farmers Branch, TX (founded 1967) has increased by 6 units from 176 to 183 (3% growth) and expanded into SC. These are quick serve Mexican restaurants with seating for about 50. The per person check average is around $3-$8. Less than 20% of locations are franchised. Trading states are AR, KS, MO, NE, NM, OK, SC and TX. We reported on this concept in our 5/8/07 newsletter (6% growth) and our 11/6/08 newsletter (4% growth).
FIRST WATCH RESTAURANTS of Bradenton, FL (founded 1983) has increased by 2 units, from 76 to 78 (3% growth) and expanded into PA. We previously wrote about this concept in the following newsletters: 12/12/06 (12% growth), 5/1/07 (7% growth) and 10/30/07 (6% growth). These are breakfast and lunch restaurants with seating for about 150. The company recently announced a new franchise program and they are now 9% franchised. Locations are in AZ, FL, KS, KY, MD, MO, OH, OK, PA, VA and WV.
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