Austin, Texas — Smokey Mo’s BBQ has signed a franchise agreement to develop four new restaurants in Austin. Father-son entrepreneur duo Cody and Stephen Cox will own and operate the locations. Along with its expansion plans, Smokey Mo’s has recently introduced a refreshed restaurant design, optimized kitchen flow and digital ordering capabilities. Founded in 2000, Smokey Mo’s currently has 23 active restaurants across Texas.
San Francisco — San Francisco-based fast-casual chicken chain Starbird has signed a franchise agreement with Mac Haik Restaurant Group to develop 36 new restaurants in Texas. Beginning in 2027, the partnership will bring locations to Houston, Austin and San Antonio. The agreement represents the largest development deal in Starbird’s history and a significant step in the brand’s long-term growth strategy as it enters its second decade. Founded by restaurant entrepreneur Aaron Noveshen through his firm, The Culinary Edge, Starbird currently operates 19 locations across the Bay Area, Southern California and Colorado.
Toledo, Ohio — Toledo-based Marco’s Pizza closed out 2025 with more than 60 new stores. This year, the pizza chain plans to surpass 80 more new store openings, while continuing to accelerate growth across new domestic markets, international territories and non-traditional venues. In 2025, Marco’s entered New Jersey, signed a development agreement for New Mexico and celebrated anniversaries in Mexico and Puerto Rico, while continuing to explore new international opportunities and growth across the Caribbean and Latin America regions. Additionally in 2025, Marco’s continued its expansion into ghost kitchens and alternative …
Belmar, N.J. — Belmar, New Jersey-based Playa Bowls, a fast-causal restaurant chain that specializes in açai bowls, smoothies and fruit juices, has signed three multi-unit franchise agreements spanning Nevada, South Carolina and Missouri. Husband-and-wife teams Justin and Hannah Kirkland, alongside Craig and Diana Kirkland, will own and operate 10 restaurants in Southern Nevada. Brittany and Jeff Ciaramita have signed a five-unit development agreement in Missouri, marking the brand’s introduction to the state. Potential locations include Ladue, Central West End, Creve Coeur, Town and Country and Chesterfield, with the first location …
Nevada — Chicken Salad Chick has signed a franchise agreement to open six new restaurants in Southern Nevada, marking the brand’s first entry into the state. Husband and wife Mark and Cayla Rubalcaba will own and operate the restaurants, while Anton Nikodemus will serve as a strategic partner in the development efforts. In addition to Nevada, Chicken Salad Chick has recently opened its development pipeline to other states such as New Jersey, New York, Utah and Arizona. In 2025, Chicken Salad Chick signed nearly 100 restaurant deals, with 42 openings …
Texas and Birmingham, Ala. — Huey Magoo’s has signed a development agreement to open 12 new restaurants in Texas and Alabama. The deal includes four locations in Birmingham and eight across North Dallas. The Jha Rajput Patel group will own and operate the restaurants. Founded in 2004, Huey Magoo’s has more than 85 locations across 12 states and is on track to reach 100 locations in 2026.
San Diego — San Diego-based Mike’s Red Tacos is planning to open more than 200 new locations across the country. A team of restaurant industry leaders, along with the original Mike’s Red Tacos founder Mike Touma, have secured development agreements with franchisees from Dave’s Hot Chicken, Jersey Mike’s, Blaze Pizza, Dunkin’, Little Caesars, Carl’s Jr. and Wetzel’s Pretzels. Company president and restaurant industry executive Vincent Montanelli is leading the expansion, while Bill Phelps and Andrew Feghali will support the concepts as early-stage investors and advisors. The 200-plus locations now in …
Texas — International coffee concept Black Sheep Coffee has signed a franchise agreement to develop 20 new units across the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) metroplex. The agreement will bring 20 additional locations to the DFW region over the next five years, with planned sites across Richland Hills, Bedford, Garland, Rowlett, Mobile City, Sunnyvale, Richardson and Sachse. The expansion builds on Black Sheep Coffee’s footprint in North Texas, where the brand currently operates cafés along Preston Road and East Mockingbird Lane, as well as the Grapevine area. Founded in 2013 by college roommates …
Arkansas and Missouri — Atlanta-based cheeseburger concept Smalls Sliders has signed a franchise agreement to develop four new units — dubbed Cans — in Northwest Arkansas and Missouri. Brothers Joe and Tim Rheem, along with business partner Johnny Hughes, will own and operate the restaurants. Potential locations include Rogers, Bentonville, Springdale, Fayetteville and Fort Smith, Arkansas, as well as Joplin and Branson, Missouri. Founded in 2019, Smalls Sliders currently has 375 Cans open or under development and is active across 30 states.
Irvine, Calif. — Irvine, California-based Mountain Mike’s closed out 2025 with record unit growth, marking the most new restaurant openings in the brand’s history. Along with the debut of its 300th location in Las Vegas, Mountain Mike’s opened 24 new restaurants across six new markets and signed franchise agreements to add 19 new restaurants to the development pipeline. By year’s end, Mountain Mike’s was operating in more than 30 markets coast-to-coast, with roughly 100 locations under development in 16 states. Looking ahead, the brand is targeting 25 new restaurant openings in …
