Albuquerque, N.M. — Restaurant chain Marco’s Pizza has signed a nine-unit development agreement in New Mexico. Franchisees Chris and Kristian Ornelas will own and operate the restaurants, with the first new units scheduled to open in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho before the end of the first quarter of 2025. This mark’s the brand’s first entry into the state.
Charlotte, N.C. and Travelers Rest, S.C. — Eggs Up Grill — a breakfast, brunch and lunch chain — has signed a new, seven-unit development agreement in North and South Carolina. Franchisee Conley McIntyre, who has a portfolio of existing Eggs Up outposts, will develop, own and operate the restaurants. Six of the locations will be in the Charlotte, North Carolina market, with an additional location in Travelers Rest, South Carolina. There are more than 100 Eggs Up Grill restaurants planned or currently underway.
Laval, Quebec and Cranberry Township, Pa. — Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., the Canadian parent company of Circle K, has agreed to acquire GetGo Café + Markets from Giant Eagle Inc., a supermarket chain based in Pennsylvania. GetGo’s portfolio includes 270 gas station and convenience store locations in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland and Indiana. The company staffs approximately 3,500 employees. “We are excited to welcome GetGo into the Couche-Tard family,” says Brian Hannasch, president and CEO of Couche-Tard. “We look forward to growing together as we learn from and continue GetGo’s innovative …
Atlanta — Atlanta-based fast-casual concept Smalls Sliders has signed a franchise agreement to open four new units in Florida. DPC Smalls Investments will own and operate the restaurants, which will be located in the Destin and Panama City Beach areas. The first of the units, which are dubbed “Cans,” is scheduled to open in 2025. In April, the brand announced a 12-restaurant franchise agreement for Tallahassee and Jacksonville.
Richmond, Va. — LL Flooring (NYSE: LL), a specialty flooring retailer, has commenced voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. The Richmond, Virginia-based company, which operates more than 300 stores, will also be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange. The company plans to use the Chapter 11 proceedings to pursue a “going concern sale” of its business, meaning that a buyer could continue business upon acquisition. LL Flooring says it “remains in active negotiations with multiple bidders” and hopes to seek approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware …
Dallas — Dallas-based Lincoln Property Co. has announced a strategic investment in retail real estate owner and operator Centennial. According to the companies, Lincoln has committed a “significant” amount of capital for the future acquisition and redevelopment of retail and mixed-use developments, which will be jointly owned by Lincoln and Centennial. Lincoln has also invested in Centennial’s operating platform. Centennial, which was founded in 1997 and is also based in Dallas, currently operates more than 23 million square feet of retail and mixed-use properties across 18 states. Whitney Livingston, president of …
Atlanta — Jamestown, a real estate development, investment and management firm based in Atlanta, has announced plans to purchase the Atlanta-based subsidiary of North American Properties (NAP), a prominent mixed-use developer and operator based in Cincinnati. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, but NAP’s Atlanta office had $2 billion in assets under management (AUM) as of June 30, 2024. That portfolio includes nine mixed-use destinations across six states on the East Coast. As part of the transaction, a Jamestown affiliate will make an investment in the platform’s portfolio comprising Colony …
Norwalk, Conn. — Wegmans Food Markets has announced plans to open a 92,000-square-foot store in Norwalk. Scheduled to open next summer, the new location marks the first in the state for the grocer. Wegmans’ portfolio includes 111 stores along the East Coast.
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.”