Restaurant Trends - Growing And Emerging Concepts - Data reflects change and activity from April 17, 2009 to August 17, 2009

Growing Concepts that have grown by at least 5% (if less than 50 units).

Greenfield, IN-based CHICAGO'S PIZZA (founded 1979) has increased by 1 unit, from 10 to 11 (10% growth). These are quick serve pizza restaurants, open for lunch and dinner. Some serve beer and wine, with seating for about 50. Per person check average is $4-$10. Delivery is available. All units are franchised and located in IN.

ABNER'S FAMOUS CHICKEN TENDERS based in Oxford, MS (founded 1993) has increased by 1 unit, from 8 to 9 (13% growth) and expanded into AL. These are fast casual chicken restaurants with seating for about 100. Lunch and dinner are served. Catering is offered. The per person check average is around $3-$8. Locations are in AL, MS and TN.

Santa Monica, CA-based MARMALADE CAFÉ (founded 1990) has increased by 1 unit, from 9 to 10 (11% growth). These are upscale/casual restaurants, serving American cuisine. Meal periods are breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a $10-$30 per person check average. Locations have a full bar and seating for about 200. Catering, banquet and online ordering services are available. All the locations are in CA.

J. GUMBO'S DOWN-HOME CAJUN COOKIN based in Jeffersonville, IN has increased by 1 unit, from 9 to 10 (11% growth). These are fast casual cajun restaurants with seating for about 40. Beer and wine are served. Lunch and dinner are offered. The per person check average is around $4-$10. Catering is available. Locations are in KY and OH.

Atlanta, GA-based PLANET SMOOTHIE (founded 1995) has increased by 3 units, from 125 to 128 (2% growth). This is a quick serve juice/smoothie chain, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner hours. Per person price range is $3-$8. All locations are franchised and trade in the states of AL, AR, AZ, CA, FL, GA, HI, KY, LA, MA, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, and VA.

VIGILUCCI'S RESTAURANT GROUP of Carlsbad, CA (founded 1994) has increased by 1 unit, from 7 to 8 (14% growth) adding a new concept called Vigilucci's Ristorante. Other concepts are Robbie's (1), Vigilucci's Cucina Italiana (1), Vigilucci's Osteria (1), Vigilucci's Ristorante & Pizzeria (1), Vigilucci's Seafood & Steakhouse (1), Vigilucci's Seafood Steak & Chop House (1) and Vigilucci's Trattoria Italiana (1). These are upscale Italian restaurants with full bar and seating for about 200. The check average is around $15-$50+ per person. Catering and banquets are offered. All locations are in CA.

Concepts with 20 units or less who grew by at least 2 units.
Ann Arbor, MI-based MAIN STREET VENTURES (founded 1981) has increased by 1 unit for the Chop House concept, from 3 to 4 (33% concept growth) and by 1 unit for Real Seafood Co, from 3 to 4 (33% concept growth) and entered into MD. Other concepts are Blue Pointe Oyster Bar (1), Carson's American Bistro (1), Ciao (1), Gratzi (1), La Dolce Vita (2), Palio (1), Tidewater Grill (1), and Zia's (1). Overall company increase was from 15 to 17 (13% growth). The restaurants are mainly family/casual, with cuisines ranging from steak, seafood, Italian and American. Average check is $10-$30 per person, open for lunch and dinner. Restaurants have a full bar and average seating for about 250. Banquet services are available. Trading areas are FL, MD, MI, OH, and WV.

CLUCK-U CHICKEN based in Laurel, MD (founded 1985) has increased by 2 units, from 22 to 24 (9% growth). These are quick serve restaurants with seating for about 70. Lunch and dinner are served. The per person check average is around $3-$8. Catering is offered. Locations are more than 90% franchised and are in MD, NC, NJ and PA.

Vancouver, BC-based FRESHSLICE PIZZA (founded 1999) has increased by 4 units, from 16 to 20 (25% growth). These are take-out/delivery pizzerias, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner hours. Units have seating for about 10-20. Online ordering is available. Between 10% and 20% of the locations are franchised. All units are located in BC.

THAI COTTAGE based in Corpus Christi, TX has increased by 2 units for their Blue Fish House concept, from 1 to 3 (200% concept growth). These are family/casual Thai restaurants with seating for about 80. Beer and wine are served and catering is offered. The check average is around $10-$30 per person. Thai Cottage is the company's second 8-unit concept. Overall company growth is from 9 to 11 (22% company growth). All locations are in TX.

Concepts previously written about in the past 18 months.
Covington, LA-based SMOOTHIE KING (founded 1973) has increased by 10 units, from 600 to 610 (2% growth) and entered into NV and PA. These quick serve juice/smoothie cafes are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner hours, with a per person price range of $4-$8. Seating is for about 10. Catering is available. Trading areas are AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, and South Korea. More than 90% of stores are franchised. We featured this concept on 4/15/08 (4% growth) and on 4/21/09 (3% growth).

LOMBARDI FAMILY CONCEPTS headquartered in Dallas, TX (founded 1979) has increased by 1 unit for Penne Pomodoro, from 2 to 3 (50% concept growth). These are upscale Italian restaurants with full bar and seating for about 150. Per person check average is around $15-$50+. Catering and banquets are offered. Other company concepts are Cibus Café (1), La Cubanita (1), Lombardi's (1), Sangria Tapas Y Bar (1), Taverna Pizzeria & Rissotteria (3) and Toulouse Café & Bar (1). Overall company increase is from 10 to 11 (10% company growth). We reported on this concept on 5/6/08 when they had 13% growth.

St Johns Island, SC-based GILLIGAN'S STEAMER & RAW BAR has increased by 1 unit, from 8 to 9 (13% growth). This is a family/casual seafood concept, open for lunch and dinner, with a $10-$30 per person check average. Locations have a full bar and seating for about 250. Catering and banquet facilities are available. All are in SC. We previously wrote about this concept on 3/3/09 (14% growth).

BRAVO DEVELOPMENT INC based in Columbus, OH (founded 1981) has increased by 4 units for the Brio Tuscan concept, from 30 to 34 (13% growth) and expanded into CT and MD. They also increased by 3 units for their Bravo Cucina concept, from 44 to 47 (7% concept growth). These are upscale Italian restaurants with full bar and seating for about 200. Catering and banquets are offered. The per person check average is about $15-$30+. There is also a 1 unit concept called Bon Vie. Overall company increase is from 75 to 82 (9% company growth). We last reported on this concept on 2/5/08 when they had 5% company growth.

Willoughby, OH-based PANINI'S BAR & GRILL (founded 1986) has increased by 1 unit, from 13 to 14 (8% growth). These are family/casual restaurants, serving American cuisine. Per person check average is $6-$12. Locations have a full bar and seating is for about 200. Catering and banquet services are available. Delivery is offered at some locations. All units are franchised. We previously featured this concept on 10/21/08 (8% 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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