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The Santa Clarita, Calif.-based burger chain with 11 units across California, Nevada, Texas and Hawaii has “multiple restaurants being built and in development across the country,” according to a release. A new unit in Santa Clarita is opening on June 18.
This unit will open in the Valencia Town Center and be led by local franchise owner and operator Homayoun Daryani, who also owns and operates Persia Lounge and Restaurant.
With 8,000 square feet, 40 self-serve beer taps and three patios, this unit will offer milkshakes and espresso at a town center-facing window for to-go services.
The new unit is complying with social-distancing measures. According to the company, “The self-serve taps will not be available for guests to use in the beginning months. The staff will be the only ones to use them … but once the [California] recommendation is lifted, they will be available for guest use.”
Beverly Hills, Calif.-based FAT Brands, parent of Fatburger and Buffalo’s Express, opened a co-branded Fatburger and Buffalo’s Express in North Richland Hills, Texas, on June 1.
“Many things have changed during the pandemic, but not Americans’ love for delicious, freshly made burgers or spicy and flavorful chicken wings,” said Andy Wiederhorn, CEO of FAT Brands in a company release. “We’re excited to open our first Texas location, a co-branded Fatburger and Buffalo’s Express, to help satisfy that hunger.”
The menu will feature Fatburger burgers as well as a wide selection of wings from Buffalo’s Express.
FAT Brands currently operates over 375 restaurant locations between all 6 brands. There 72 other co-branded Fatburger and Buffalo’s Express restaurants across the country.
The Costa-Mesa, Calif.-based casual-dining chain with almost 40 units, opened a new location in Fairfax, Virginia on June 6.
Originally set to open in April during the COVID-19 pandemic, this unit opened with takeout, curbside and delivery capabilities along with patio seating in accordance with local social-distancing measures.
“We are excited to open our second Fairfax County restaurant and to bring our style of hospitality and delicious food to the Fairfax neighborhood,” said Chris Simms, founder and CEO of Lazy Dog, in a company statement. “The team, the guests and the community are the reason why we do what we do—to offer a dining experience that feels like family. We can’t wait to welcome the Fairfax community to Lazy Dog.”
The Costa Mesa, Calif.-based quick-service chicken chain opened a new location in Tuscon, Ariz., on June 15. Owned and operated by franchise partner Lugos Pollos Inc., this is the fifth location for the group.
“We are thrilled to open the newest El Pollo Loco restaurant in South Side Tucson and continue our expansion in Arizona,” said franchisee Ben Lugo in a company statement.
The location has 2,400 square feet and a drive-thru. It is expected to employ approximately 30 employees and accommodate 58 customers for dine-in.
“It’s exciting to continue developing our presence in Arizona, especially alongside a long-time franchisee partner,” said Brian Carmichall, senior vice president and chief development officer, in a company release.
El Pollo Loco has over 480 company- and franchisee-owned stores across Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas, Utah and Louisiana.
The newest location of Juice It Up!, in College Station, Texas, is the brand’s fourth location in the state. It will be operated by new Texas resident Rob Labossiere, a former produce manager for supermarket Stop & Shop.
“As a proud new resident of College Station, I am excited to open a business I believe in and share Juice It Up!’s delicious, better-for-you options with our new guests,” said Labossiere in a company statement. “The well-being of friends, family and community is very important to me, and I wanted to bring a healthy concept to the College Station and Bryan communities that I’m confident will thrive when led by a team as passionate and dedicated as mine.”
The new location will follow guidelines set forth by the CDC and offer carryout and delivery via DoorDash.
Juice It Up, based in Irvine, Calif., currently has over 100 locations nationwide. The company has not responded to questions about the exact opening date.
Fast-casual salad chain Sweetgreen is expanding its footprint with its first location in Colorado. The Denver location, in the Cherry Creek neighborhood, opened on June 11 with 2,600 square feet and a recessed patio at 50% occupancy, following Colorado’s current COVID-19 guidelines.
However, that’s not the only Colorado location the brand has planned. Two more locations will open in Colorado before the year ends.
One in the Lower Downtown neighborhood of Denver is set to open “sometime this month” according to a company release while a third will open in Boulder “this fall”.
The Lower Downtown location will be over 3,100 square-feet and feature a garage door directly across the street from Union Station with a patio. Both locations opening this month will feature beer and cider on the menus.
Sweetgreen currently has over 100 locations across the country.
The Dallas-based lifestyle brand featuring a menu of protein bowls, salads, sandwiches and fresh juice is expanding with a new unit in McKinney, Texas.
Opened on June 11, this location marks the brand’s fifteenth unit and opened with a pickup window, the first of any units to do so, to create a contactless experience for guests.
