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real estate

Financing

How the Saks Global bankruptcy could affect restaurant real estate

 By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 28, 2026

A Deeper Dive: Stephen Cohen, a real estate attorney, joins the restaurant finance podcast to talk about mall real estate and how the retailer’s bankruptcy could affect that.

Operations

Torchy's Tacos set to close 7 restaurants next month

 By Lisa Jennings on Jan. 27, 2026

The move follows another six closures late last year as the fast-casual chain evaluates performance across the portfolio. But growth is also planned, officials say.

Operations

Who's growing, slowing or shrinking in fast casual

By Lisa Jennings on Dec. 12, 2025

Chipotle, Raising Cane's and Wingstop are gung ho on growth this year. Other brands, however, are slowing their roll or closing units.

Emerging Brands

Less than a year from an investment from Chipotle, Brassica prepares to double its unit count

By Lisa Jennings on Aug. 29, 2025

The Columbus, Ohio-based fast casual won a minority investment last year from Chipotle's Cultivate Next fund. Now Brassica is readying a jump to three new markets.

Operations

Texas loses its taste for Portillo's

By Lisa Jennings on Aug. 05, 2025

Sales at the fast-casual chain in the once-hot market slowed in the second quarter, prompting a revenue downgrade and questions about the company's expansion plans.

Leadership

CEO v. CEO: Dutch Bros. Christine Barone and Portillo's Michael Osanloo face off

By Lisa Jennings on Apr. 15, 2025

It was more collegial executive exchange than smack down, but the leaders of the drive-thru coffee concept and fast-casual Italian beef concept shared notes on growth, menu innovation and digital tech at the Restaurant Leadership Conference in Phoenix.

Consumer Trends

Why Sweetgreen wants to see workers come back to the office

By Lisa Jennings on Mar. 13, 2025

Even five years after COVID, urban centers were dead on Fridays. But the full return-to-office movement could bring an unexpected boost, especially to fast casuals.

Operations

In-N-Out Burger plans one of biggest units yet on the Las Vegas Strip

By Lisa Jennings on Dec. 06, 2024

It isn't scheduled to open until 2026. But the unit will be in the massive upcoming retail center The BLVD.

Operations

This iconic Norms coffeeshop is a poster child for LA's Googie design. Will it become a Raising Cane's?

By Lisa Jennings on Nov. 27, 2024

The fast-casual chicken specialist owns the building and has proposed a conversion that will preserve the historic Atomic Age style and character. But pushback is expected.

Consumer Trends

Shopping malls find a second life as restaurant destinations

By Patricia Cobe on Oct. 30, 2024

Consumers are returning to malls to seek out favorite restaurant brands, with The Cheesecake Factory and soup dumpling concept Din Tai Fung topping the list, according to Yelp data.

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