Chicago — Fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant chain Roti has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, with plans to seek new investors or purchasers while reorganizing finances. The Chicago-based company, which was founded in 2006, intends to keep units in the Chicago, Minneapolis and Washington, D.C. metros open throughout the process. The company cites the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and a recent downturn in consumer spending as some of the challenges leading up to the filing. “After careful consideration, filing for bankruptcy protection was the best way to address our challenges — …
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.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Baum Family Investments has purchased three single-tenant properties located in Jacksonville. Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) occupies each of the properties on a triple-net-lease basis. An undisclosed seller sold the buildings for roughly $5 million. Baum Family Investments has acquired four other properties in the state this year, with plans to purchase an additional six properties before the end of 2024.
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.
McDonough, Ga. — Chick-fil-A has opened its first elevated, drive-thru only restaurant in the south Atlanta suburb of McDonough. The restaurant features four drive-thru lanes running below an elevated kitchen that is twice the size of a typical Chick-fil-A kitchen. Food reaches the delivery team members via a custom meal transport system that uses conveyer belt technology. Patrons can either order onsite with a Chick-fil-A team member or order ahead on the Chick-fil-A app, and the restaurant features dedicated lanes for both ordering methods, as well as “pull-aside lanes” for guests …
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.
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.”
Sandy Springs, Ga. — Experiential Brands, a company that owns a portfolio of fast-casual restaurant brands, has launched SocialBites Food Hub in Sandy Springs, a suburb of Atlanta. Now open, the venue features multiple food-and-beverage concepts, as well as indoor and outdoor gathering spaces, interactive décor, entertainment programming, a full bar and private event space. Restaurant concepts at the property include The Original Hot Chicken, INKED Tacos, Flametown Burgers and Pinsa Roman Pizza. A second SocialBites is scheduled to open in Woodstock, roughly 30 miles outside Atlanta, later this year.
Store closures have been making headlines — from drugstores to restaurants and big box retailers. While some worry this is a sign of a slowing retail market, disposing of excess space quickly at the right price saves companies valuable time and money. Closures are not limited to retailers that are struggling — healthy retailers and restaurants shutter locations where their prototype may have evolved or the demographic makeup of the neighborhood has shifted. Mark Reeder, executive vice president at SRS Real Estate Partners, has provided disposition solutions for national retailers …