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Gong cha Signs 50-Unit Deal in Texas

by Abby Cox

Boston — Taiwanese beverage chain Gong cha has signed a 50-unit exclusive area development agreement in Texas with seasoned franchise operator Bakers Acres & Cattle Co (BACC). The agreement marks the largest direct franchising deal in Gong cha history. This deal follows Gong cha’s recent acquisition of master franchise rights for 170 U.S. locations across 13 states, including Texas. Under the 50-unit deal, BACC will further develop Gong cha’s presence across four major Texas markets over the next seven years, including Austin, Houston, San Antonio and Dallas. Since launching direct franchising …

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Laynes-Night
DevelopmentNewsRestaurantsTexas

Layne’s Chicken Fingers Signs 24 Franchise Agreements, Reaches 50 Units Open

by Abby Cox

Frisco, Texas — Layne’s Chicken Fingers has expanded its footprint to more than 50 operating restaurants and has signed two dozen franchise agreements. In the second quarter of this year, Layne’s celebrated its 50-restaurant milestone in its home state while also laying the groundwork for its California debut with a new 12-unit deal in partnership with tenured IHOP operators. Taylor Thomas, a multi-unit Layne’s and Whataburger franchisee, executed three restaurant openings in 60 days and signed a new agreement to develop 30 Layne’s locations across Oklahoma. Founded in 1994 in College …

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NewsPennsylvaniaRestaurants

Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard Plans to Double New Signings in 2026

by Abby Cox

Philadelphia — Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard is on track to double its 2026 new shop signings. Rita’s has experienced a 100 percent increase in franchise ownership inquiries compared with 2025. Driven by the brand’s real estate strategy, including second-generation restaurant conversions and drive-thru locations, the concept is expanding outside of its core Mid-Atlantic market to the Midwest and south-central United States. According to Rita’s, drive-thru shops generated 38 percent higher average gross sales in 2025 than comparable non-drive-thru locations. Founded in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, in 1984, Rita’s Italian Ice & …

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NevadaNewsRestaurants

Capriotti’s Marks 50th Anniversary Year with 30 New Development Deals

by Abby Cox

Las Vegas — Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop is celebrating its 50th anniversary year by opening 12 new restaurants and awarding development rights for 30 additional locations. The year’s development activity has introduced Capriotti’s into several new markets, including Lake County, Illinois; Killeen, Texas; Tempe, Arizona; Southern Utah; Charleston, South Carolina; and Fort Wayne, Indiana, further expanding the brand’s national footprint as it works toward its long-term goal of 750 restaurants by 2032. Founded in 1976, Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop is a fast-casual restaurant brand with more than 150 locations across the U.S.

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DevelopmentIllinoisNewsRestaurants

Zaxby’s Signs Seven-Unit Development Agreement in Chicago

by Abby Cox

Chicago — Zaxby’s has signed a franchise agreement with a local entrepreneur to open seven new restaurants in Chicago. The development plans follow a separate multi-unit agreement signed in Chicagoland in 2025, along with the first restaurant in Plainfield, Illinois, earlier this year. Zaxby’s currently has more than 1,000 locations in 22 states and is headquartered in Atlanta.

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DevelopmentNewsRestaurantsTexas

Shipley Donuts to Make Ohio Debut, Signs Three-Unit Franchise Deal

by Abby Cox

Houston — Shipley Donuts has signed a three-unit franchise agreement in Cincinnati, marking its entry into Ohio. The deal is with Houston-based Koelache Co. LLC, which plans to open its first Shipley location in the first quarter of 2027, with the other two units expected to open through 2029.  Founded in Texas in 1936, Shipley Donuts has more than 390 franchised and company-owned restaurants across 13 states.

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Investment salesKentuckyNewsRestaurants

Yum Brands Agrees to Sell Pizza Hut in Two Separate Transactions Totaling $2.7 Billion

by Abby Cox

Louisville, Ky. — Yum! Brands Inc., the Louisville-based operator of the Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and KFC franchises, has entered into an agreement to sell the Pizza Hut chain across two separate transactions with a combined value of $2.7 billion. LongRange Capital, a private equity firm based in Stamford, Conn., has agreed to purchase Pizza Hut outside of mainland China for approximately $1.5 billion. The company is financing its acquisition using funds from UBS Investment Bank. Yum China Holdings Inc., which is based in Shanghai and was spun off from …

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DevelopmentKentuckyNewsRestaurants

PJ’s Coffee Signs Seven-Unit C-Store Agreement in Kentucky

by Abby Cox

Lexington, Ky. — PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans has signed a seven-unit license agreement with Steve Estepp, founder of Estepp Energy and Coffee Dudes LLC, to expand the New Orleans coffee brand throughout convenience stores in Central Kentucky. The company operates more than 13 convenience stores across Kentucky and is expanding its portfolio with complementary brands including Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Little Caesars and now PJ’s Coffee. Alongside the company’s operating partner, Brendon Farrar, the group plans to introduce PJ’s Coffee to its stores through a combination of full cafés …

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CaliforniaDevelopmentNewsRestaurants

Wetzel’s Pretzels, Cold Stone Creamery to Open More Than 17 Co-Branded Locations in 2026

by Abby Cox

Pasadena, Calif. — Fast food bakery chain Wetzel’s Pretzels and ice cream parlor chain Cold Stone Creamery are expanding their national footprint through co-branded locations. The brands currently have three co-branded locations under development for May, with plans to open an additional eight units by the end of 2026. This pipeline is on top of several new co-branded locations that opened earlier this year. Recent or upcoming openings include: • Clifton Park, New York • Columbus, Ohio • Alamo Ranch, Texas • Bennington, Nebraska • Bronx, New York • Lewisville, Texas …

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huey-magoos
DevelopmentNewsRestaurants

Huey Magoo’s Introduces Freestanding Condensed Drive-Thru Prototype

by Abby Cox

Orlando, Fla. — Fast-casual chicken tenders chain Huey Magoo’s is introducing a freestanding drive-thru prototype designed to lower build costs and increase site flexibility for franchisees. The design allows development on sites that were previously not viable, supporting growth in more markets while reducing upfront investment. The prototype extends the brand’s “cost-conscious” design approach into a standalone drive-thru format, building on momentum from 2025 when Huey Magoo’s introduced a condensed 1,500-square-foot inline model. Designed in-house by Melissa McCammack, director of architecture and design, the ground-up drive-thru model totals approximately 1,850 …

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