Restaurant Trends - Growing And Emerging Concepts - Data reflects change and activity from March 20, 2009 to July 20, 2009

Growing Concepts that have grown by at least 5% (if less than 50 units).
Wichita, KS-based GAMBINO'S PIZZA (founded 1980) has increased by 1 unit, from 50 to 51 (2% growth). These are fast casual Italian and pizza restaurants, open for lunch and dinner, with a $4-$10 per person price range. Locations serve beer and wine, with seating for about 60. Delivery and online ordering are available. Stores are franchised and located in KS, MO, NE, OK, and TX.

Bridgewater, PA-based BRUSTER'S REAL ICE CREAM (founded 1989) has increased by 4 units, from 243 to 247 (2% growth). These quick serve ice cream shops are open for lunch and dinner hours, with a $2-$6 per person price range. Units have seating for about 10. Catering service is available. Trading areas are AL, AR, DE, FL, GA, IN, KY, MD, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, and VA, with new locations to open this year in CT and WV. More than 90% of the stores are franchised.

New York, NY-based ENERGY KITCHEN SMOOTHIE BAR & GRILL has increased by 1 unit, from 6 to 7 (17% growth) and entered into NJ. All other units are in NY. These are fast casual restaurants, serving American cuisine. Meal periods are breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a $4-$10 per person check average. Seating is for about 10. Catering, delivery and online ordering are available. Forty-two percent of the locations are franchised.

UNCLE JULIO'S based in Irving, TX (founded 1986) has increased by 1 unit, from 13 to 14 (8% growth) and expanded into FL. These are family/casual Mexican restaurants with full bar and seating for about 300. Meal periods are lunch and dinner, with a check average around $10-30 per person. Catering is offered. Locations are in FL, GA, IL, MD, TX and VA.

FLYING STAR CAFÉ based in Albuquerque, NM (founded 1987) has increased by 1 unit for their Flying Star Café concept, from 8 to 9 (13% growth). They have another 5 unit concept called Satellite Coffee. Overall company increase is from 13 to 14 (8% company growth). These tend to be family/casual restaurants with seating for about 300. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and beer and wine are served. Catering and banquets are offered. The check average is around $4-$10. All locations are in NM.

Concepts with 20 units or less who grew by at least 2 units.
Edmond, OK-based JIMMY'S EGG (founded 1980) has increased by 5 units, from 14 to 19 (36% growth) and entered into KS. All other units are in OK. These are family/casual restaurants, serving American cuisine. Meal periods are breakfast and lunch, with seating for about 150. Per person check average is around $6-$12. Between 20% and 30% of the locations are franchised.

Key West, FL-based JIMMY BUFFETT'S MARGARITAVILLE (founded 1987) has increased by 2 units, from 15 to 17 (13% growth) and entered into CT and HI. These are family/casual restaurants, serving mostly American cuisine. Meal periods are lunch and dinner, with a $10-$30 per person check average. Locations have a full bar and average seating for about 250. Catering and banquet facilities are available. Trading areas are AZ, CT, FL, HI, LA, NV, SC, Jamaica, Mexico, and the Cayman Islands.

BRIQ'S SOFT SERVE based in Wausau, WI has increased by 2 units, from 6 to 8 (33% growth). These are quick serve ice cream units with limited seating. The per person check average is around $2-$6. All locations are in WI.

BAJA SOL TORTILLA GRILL based in Inver Grove Heights, MN (founded 1997) has increased by 3 units, from 17 to 20 (18% growth) and expanded into IL. These are fast casual Mexican restaurants with seating for about 50. Meal periods are lunch and dinner. The check average is around $6-$12 per person. Catering is offered. Locations are in IL, MI and OH.

Concepts previously written about in the past 18 months.
Gold River, CA-based STRINGS ITALIAN CAFÉ (founded 1999) has increased by 2 units, from 28 to 30 (7% growth). This is a family/casual Italian restaurant concept, open for lunch and dinner. Per person check average is around $8-$20. Beer and wine are served and seating is for about 100. Catering, delivery, and banquet services are available. Locations are franchised and located in CA and NV. We previously featured this concept on 2/26/08 (6% growth).

Wheat Ridge, CO-based QDOBA MEXICAN GRILL (founded 1995) has increased by 10 units, from 480 to 490 (2% growth). These are fast casual Mexican restaurants, open for lunch and dinner. Per person check average is $4-$10. Locations serve beer and wine and have seating for about 80. Catering is available. Trading areas are AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, WV, and WY. Between 60% and 70% of the units are franchised. We previously featured this concept on 3/25/08 (12% growth), 8/26/08 (6% growth) and 3/24/09 (6% growth). Qdoba is a subsidiary of San Diego, CA-based Jack in the Box restaurants.

Carefree, AZ-based BARRO'S PIZZA (founded 1980) has increased by 1 unit, from 25 to 26 (4% growth). These quick serve pizzerias are open for lunch and dinner, with a $4-$10 price range. Beer and wine are served. Seating is for about 50. Delivery is available. All locations are in AZ. We wrote about this concept on 2/10/09 (4% growth).

Jackson, MS-based NEWK'S EXPRESS CAFÉ has increased by 2 units, from 21 to 23 (10% growth) and entered into FL and LA. The restaurants serve fast casual American food, with a $6-$12 price range and seating for about 150. Beer and wine are served. Meal periods are lunch and dinner. Catering is available. Locations are franchised and located in AL, FL, LA, MS, TN, and TX. We featured this concept on 4/15/08 (56% growth) and on 1/27/09 (33% growth).

Contact
Keith Gellman
Restaurantchains.net
1 Bridge St, Unit 94
Irvington, NY 10533
914-591-4297

http://www.restaurantchains.net
keith@restaurantchains.net

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