Restaurant Trends - Growing And Emerging Concepts - Data reflects change and activity from July 9, 2009 to November 9, 2009

Growing Concepts that have grown by at least 5% (if less than 50 units).
Wilmington, NC-based PORT CITY JAVA (founded 1995) has increased by 11 units, from 34 to 45 (32% growth) and entered into CA, MI, SC, and Saudi Arabia. These are quick serve coffee shops, open for breakfast and lunch hours. Per person price range is $3-$8. Average unit has seating for about 30. Online ordering and drive-thru service are available. Units are franchised and located in CA, DC, FL, MD, MI, NC, NJ, SC, Costa Rica and Saudi Arabia.

COUNTRY KITCHEN based in Madison, WI (founded 1939) has increased by 3 units, from 88 to 91 (3% growth). These are family/casual restaurants with seating for about 150. Meal periods are breakfast, lunch and dinner. Banquets are offered. The check average is around $6-$12 per person. Locations are more than 80% franchised and are in AK, AZ, CA, CO, FL, IA, IL, KS, MB, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, SD, TN, VA, WI and WY.

Dallas, TX-based CULINAIRE INTERNATIONAL has increased by 1 unit, from 9 to 10 (11% growth), adding a new concept called Sea Change. This marks the company's entrance into the state of MN. Other concepts are Coast Global Seafood (1), Nicola's Ristorante Italiano (1), and Omaha Steakhouse (7). These are upscale steak and seafood restaurants, open for lunch and dinner. Per person check average is $15-$30+. Locations have a full bar and average seating for about 150. Catering and banquet services are available. Trading areas are AZ, FL, MN, NC, SC, TN, and TX.

GOLDEN GRIDDLE FAMILY RESTAURANTS based in Toronto, ON (founded 1964) has increased by 1 unit, from 25 to 26 (4% growth). These are family/casual restaurants with full bar and seating for around 125. Locations are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Banquets are offered. Locations are more than 90% franchised and are in ON.

FIRST WATCH RESTAURANTS based in Bradenton, FL (founded 1983) has increased by 2 units, from 78 to 80 (3% growth). These are family/casual restaurants open for breakfast and lunch. Seating is for around 150. Per person check average is around $3-$8. Locations are 9% franchised and are in AZ, FL, KS, KY, MD, MO, OH, OK, PA, VA and WV.

Concepts with 20 units or less who grew by at least 2 units.
Maynard, MA-based 5 & DINER (founded 1987) has increased by 2 units, from 15 to 17 (13% growth). These family/casual restaurants are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, serving American food. Per person check average is $6-$12. Seating is for about 100 and beer and wine are served. Trading areas are AZ, FL, IA, MA, MO, OK, and TX. More than 90% of the units are franchised.

VERA'S BURGER SHACK based in Vancouver, BC (founded 1977) has increased by 2 units, from 10 to 12 (20% growth). These are quick serve burger restaurants with seating for around 40. The check average is around $3-$8 per person. Catering is offered. Locations are 83% franchised and are in BC.

Concepts previously written about in the past 18 months.
Oakville, ON-based MADE IN JAPAN TERIYAKI EXPERIENCE (founded 1986) has increased by 5 units, from 127 to 132 (4% growth). These are fast casual Japanese restaurants, open for lunch and dinner, with a $6-$10 per person check average. Catering is available. Units are in mall food courts. All are franchised and located in AB, AZ, BC, CA, FL, GA, MB, NB, NS, NY, ON, PQ, and 9 other countries worldwide. We featured this concept 3 times in the past 18 months (8/19/08-5% growth, 11/18/08-2% growth, and 3/17/09-5% growth).

St Louis, MO-based BANDANA'S BAR-B-Q (founded 1996) has increased by 2 units, from 27 to 29 (7% growth). These are family/casual BBQ restaurants, open for lunch and dinner. Per person check average is $8-$20. Beer and wine are served and seating is for about 150. Catering and online ordering are available. Trading areas are IA, IL, and MO. Between 20% and 30% of locations are franchised. We featured this concept on 6/24/08 (8% growth) and on 6/9/09 (4% growth).

YARD HOUSE RESTAURANT of Irvine, CA (founded 1996) has increased by 2 units, from 23 to 25 (9% growth) and expanded into TX. These are family/casual restaurants with full bar and seating for around 300. Per person check average is around $10-$30. Units are open for lunch and dinner. Catering and banquets are offered. Locations are in AZ, CA, CO, FL, HI, IL, KS, NV and TX. We reported on this concept on 2/10/09 (5% growth).

Boston, MA-based AU BON PAIN (founded 1978) has increased by 6 units, from 266 to 272 (2% growth). These fast casual bakery/cafes are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a $3-$8 per person check average. Average unit has seating for about 30. Catering and online ordering services are available. Trading areas are AL, CT, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, TX, VA, Kuwait, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and the UAE. We wrote about this company on 8/11/09 (2% growth).

FIREBIRDS WOOD FIRED GRILL based in Charlotte, NC (founded 2000) has increased by 1 unit, from 16 to 17 (6% growth). These are family/casual restaurants with full bar and seating for around 200. The check average is around $10-$30 per person. Lunch and dinner are served. Locations are in AL, AZ, DE, NC, NE, TN and VA. We wrote about this concept on 10/14/08 (15% growth) and on 6/30/09 (7% growth).

San Mateo, CA-based STRAITS RESTAURANTS (founded 1987) has increased by 1 unit for the Straits concept, from 4 to 5 (25% concept growth) and entered into TX. The company also operates a 1-unit concept called Sino. Overall company increase was from 5 to 6 (20% growth). These are upscale Asian restaurants, with a $15-$30+ per person check average. Meal periods are lunch and dinner. Locations have seating for about 200 and offer catering and banquet services. Trading areas are CA, GA, and TX. We previously wrote about this company on 5/27/08 (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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