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Emerging Brands

New brands and soon-to-open concepts worth watching

Emerging Brands

Tesla's new retro-futuristic diner is a restaurant, charging station and marketing ploy

 By Lisa Jennings on Jul. 29, 2025

Elon Musk's long-awaited concept is open in Los Angeles. With a Jetson's vibe, $14 tuna melts and a side of protesters, guests are lining up to try it.

Emerging Brands

Panini Kabob Grill has sights set on going public

 By Lisa Jennings on Jul. 22, 2025

This 26-unit Southern California casual-dining chain has been growing for 25 years, "one kabob at a time." Now the structure is in place to accelerate expansion outside California, without franchising.

Emerging Brands

Big Way brings a fast-casual take on hot pot

By Lisa Jennings on Jul. 21, 2025

This 13-unit chain from Canada recently opened its first U.S. location in the Los Angeles area, with more to come.

Emerging Brands

Cooper's Hawk gets ready to grow its pizza concept, Piccolo Buco

By Joe Guszkowski on Jul. 16, 2025

The Italian import known for its poofy crust will get its second and third U.S. locations this year, giving Cooper’s Hawk wine club members another place to use their perks.

Emerging Brands

Dillas is ready to leave the emerging brand category behind

By Lisa Jennings on Jul. 15, 2025

This 11-unit drive-thru quesadilla concept took a year off of growth to work out some kinks. Now co-founder Kyle Gordon feels the brand is ready to become the next Raising Cane's.

Emerging Brands

A former ghost kitchen's continuing evolution

By Lisa Jennings on Jul. 13, 2025

The 13-unit Local Kitchens is not a ghost kitchen or a food hall. The latest unit to open in Los Angeles is a "culinary collective."

Emerging Brands

Olive & Finch lets diners dictate how they want to experience the brand

By Lisa Jennings on Jul. 09, 2025

This growing premium fast casual out of Denver is expanding with an all-day menu priced no higher than $20. Part of the value offering is giving guests options for how they use the concept.

Emerging Brands

Chuck E. Cheese debuts a new arcade concept for adults who want to be kids

By Heather Lalley on Jul. 01, 2025

The food-and-games chain, known for its “where a kid can be a kid” motto, has opened 10 Chuck’s Arcade locations in shopping malls in eight states, with more to come.

Emerging Brands

How this Australia-based Mexican chain hopes to break into the Chipotle-dominated U.S. market

By Lisa Jennings on Jul. 01, 2025

Guzman Y Gomez is a more-than 220-unit fast-food brand in Australia, Japan and Singapore. Its American-born founder hopes to prove the concept in Chicago.

Emerging Brands

How this entrepreneur's bagel runs became a business

By Lisa Jennings on Jun. 27, 2025

Florida-based bakery-cafe Jeff's Bagel Run expects to double in unit count this year with uBreakiFix founder Justin Wetherill as an investor partner.

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