Orlando, Fla. — Orlando-based Italian dining chain Buca di Beppo has voluntarily filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The restructuring will involve 44 core restaurants, as well as a new store currently being opened. According to a press release issued by the company, it is “committed to ensuring that the restaurants operate as usual.” Gray Reed & McGraw LLP is serving as legal advisor, and CR3 Partners LLC is acting as financial advisor, as well as providing corporate leadership as the chief restructuring officer. Stout Capital …
Milton, Ga. — Knuckies Hoagies, a sandwich concept founded in Milton in 2019, has announced a new partnership with Walmart. The brand has executed leases to open restaurants within 14 Walmart stores across six states, including Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Texas. According to a press release issued by the Knuckies Franchise Co., the partnership offers “a built-in customer base and prime locations.”
Northbrook, Ill. — Hilco Consumer-Retail (HCR) has completed the acquisition of operations for Hanes Outlet and Maidenform stores. HCR plans to leverage its RevUp program, which implements virtual store management with retail experts, at the stores. “We are thrilled that Hanes selected us to continue their retail brick and mortar operations, and we are excited to hit the ground running with the dedicated store teams,” says Ian Fredericks, president and chief executive officer of HCR.
Alpharetta, Ga. — Metro Atlanta-based Honey Baked Ham Co. has signed a four-unit franchise deal in the Northeast. Locations will include Worcester, Massachusetts, as well as elsewhere in the state and an additional location in Rhode Island. Tom McGwire, great-grandson of the brand’s founder, will own and operate the units, along with his father Tad McGwire and brothers Charlie and Brett McGwire. This will bring Tom McGwire’s Honey Baked Ham portfolio to eight stores, following a previous deal to develop four stores across Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
Tampa, Fla. — Japanese variety retailer Daiso has announced plans to open its first Florida Store in Tampa. Scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2025, the store will be situated within Northdale Promenade. David Eggnatz of Katz & Associates represented Daiso, in the leasing negotiations. Brian Hector represented the landlord, Kite Realty, on an internal basis. Daiso is currently seeking additional sites throughout Florida ranging in size from 7,000 to 12,000 square feet.
The Woodlands, Texas — Conn’s HomePlus, a Texas-based home furnishing retailer, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and will close at least 70 stores nationwide, according to reports from multiple media outlets including CNN and USA Today. The latter publication reports that Conn’s filed for bankruptcy protection this past Tuesday in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas amid slumping revenue reports. The impacted stores are located throughout 13 states, according to CNN. Both news organizations report that the state with the highest concentration of closures is Florida (18), followed by Texas …
Falls Church, Va. — Chicken salad restaurant concept Chicken Salad Chick has opened a new restaurant in Falls Church, a suburb of Washington, D.C. The first of eight units planned in the Northern Virginia suburbs of D.C., this marks the brand’s first entry into the market. Franchisee Devon Chamberlin will own and operate the units, with the next restaurant to be opened in Fairfax.
Austin, Texas and Orlando, Fla. — Darden Restaurants (NYSE: DRI) has agreed to acquire Chuy’s Holdings (NASDAQ: CHUY) for $605 million in an all-cash transaction. The Tex-Mex restaurant chain — which owns and operates 101 full-service restaurants across 15 states — will join Darden’s existing restaurant portfolio, which includes Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse and Ruth’s Chris Steak House, among others. Under terms of the merger agreement, Orlando-based Darden will acquire all outstanding shares of Chuy’s at $37.50 per share. The purchase price represents a 40 percent premium to the Austin-based company’s …
Dallas — Dallas-based food-and-beverage franchising company BRIX Holdings LLC has entered into an agreement with franchise owner Richard Stassi to open four new units in Arizona and Missouri. Stassi will open three Smoothie Factory + Kitchen and Red Mango co-branded shops within the next three years in metro Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona. The first of the units is scheduled to open in early 2025. Franchisee Gary Patel signed the fourth deal with Stassi and will open a Red Mango store in Kansas City, Missouri, in early 2025, marking the first entry …
Roswell, Ga. — Hardware retail chain Ace Hardware has opened its 5,000th domestic store. Dubbed Fixit Ace Hardware, the store is located in Roswell, roughly 20 miles north of Atlanta. Additionally, the retailer opened its 100th new store of the year in Henderson, Nevada, last month. Ace, which operates more than 5,800 outposts globally, plans to open an additional 200 stores by the end of this year, which marks 100 years of business for the brand.