Despite economic challenges, hundreds of thousands of startups are launching across the country. The number of business applications filed in the United States in the week ended Aug. 29 exceeded 101,600, up 62% over the prior-year period, according to US Census Bureau data. Drexel Food Lab, a product development and culinary innovation center at Philadelphia-based… read more

Casual dining giants like Applebee’s and Outback Steakhouse have been squeezing quite a bit of juice out of this channel since the early 2000s. No doubt the casual dining segment has had the curbside market cornered, offering a convenient and speedy occasion for fast food-fatigued consumers. However, Covid-19 has changed that. Curbside is now everywhere as restaurants,… read more

Corner Bakery Café was founded in 1991. With a heightened number of office closures due to COVID-19 sagging traffic, Corner Bakery Café tapped DLA Piper as restructuring counsel, Debtwire, citing two sources familiar with the situation, reported. The fast-casual engaged Stifel as its investment banker to explore strategic alternatives, one of the sources added. This… read more

Sam Wong remembers hearing about the chicken concept Pollo Campero nearly 20 years ago. He was told that customers were waiting hours just to get into the restaurant. At first, Wong wasn’t buying the hype. So he drove 65 miles to Los Angeles to get a firsthand impression. As it turns out, the hyperbole was… read more

Restaurants in Florida can resume dine-in service at pre-pandemic levels under an executive order drafted Friday by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Virtually all other COVID-related operating restrictions on restaurants and bars in the state are also lifted. The changes take effect upon DeSantis’ signing of the executive order, which he promised during a press conference. DeSantis… read more

The Melting Pot fondue chain has begun the development of a new concept it describes as “flex-casual,” making it the latest full-service chain to try a blend of fast-casual and full-service elements. Called Melting Pot Social, the new venture will feature menu and service options that go beyond the typical offerings of a Melting Pot…. read more

Luby’s board votes to liquidate, dissolve 73-year-old Texas institution, Fuddruckers.  The Texas restaurateurs behind Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen and Pappasito’s Cantina could swoop in and save Luby’s, which earlier this month announced it would liquidate and dissolve the company. Christopher and Harris James Pappas entered a confidentiality agreement with Luby’s on Sept. 11 to obtain the… read more

Pizza Hut and Wendy’s franchisee NPC International, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July, is delaying a plan to auction off 900 Pizza Hut outlets after getting push back from Pizza Hut LLC, according to the Wall Street Journal. Earlier this week, the Yum Brands division expressed concerned that the sale would prompt a “group of credit-focused… read more

A group of minority shareholders and current management of Red Lobster Seafood Co. is acquiring the casual-dining chain from Golden Gate Capital, the new controlling consortium said. The new owners are seafood supplier Thai Union PCL, which has been a Red Lobster shareholder since 2016 and trades on the Stock Exchange of Thailand under the… read more

Levine Leichtman Capital Partners has agreed to purchase fast-casual chain Tropical Smoothie Cafe, the Los Angeles-based private equity firm said Tuesday. Management, led by CEO Charles Watson, will remain the same. “We are excited to partner with Charles and the rest of the management team who have led the tremendous growth of Tropical Smoothie Cafe…. read more