Restaurant Trends - Growing And Emerging Concepts - Data reflects change and activity from July 31, 2009 to November 30, 2009

Growing Concepts that have grown by at least 5% (if less than 50 units).
Atlanta, GA-based CHICK-FIL-A (founded 1967) has increased by 36 units, from 1449 to 1485 (2% growth). These are quick serve chicken restaurants, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a $3-$8 per person check average. Catering is available. Most units are in mall food courts. More than 90% of the stores are franchised and located in AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV, and WY.

CHART HOUSE RESTAURANT based in Houston, TX (founded 1961) has increased by 1 unit, from 26 to 27 (4% growth). These are upscale steakhouse restaurants with full bar and seating for around 200. The per person check average is around $15-$30+. Catering and banquets are offered. Locations are in AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, KY, MA, MD, NJ, NV, OR, PA, TX and VA. Chart House is a subsidiary of Landry's restaurants.

New Castle, PA-based PIZZA JOE'S (founded 1980) has increased by 1 unit, from 45 to 46 (2% growth). These are quick serve pizzerias, open for lunch and dinner. Average unit has seating for about 40. Delivery is available. Locations are franchised and in OH and PA.

WESTSHORE PIZZA based in Tampa, FL (founded 1994) has increased by 3 units, from 39 to 42 (8% growth). These are family/casual pizza restaurants with seating for around 10-40. Catering is available. Beer and wine are served at some units. Locations are more than 90% franchised and are in FL, NY and OH.

Norman, OK-based LA BAGUETTE FRENCH BAKERY & CAFÉ (founded 1984) has increased by 1 unit, from 3 to 4 (33% growth). This is a family/casual concept, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Per person check average is $ 4-$12+. Units serve beer and wine and have an average seating of about 50. Catering and private party services are available. All locations are in OK.

PIRANHA KILLER SUSHI based in Arlington, TX (founded 2001) has increased by 1 from 4 to 5 (25% growth). These are upscale sushi restaurants with full bar and seating for around 90. Lunch and dinner are served. Catering and banquets are offered. The check average is around $15-$50+ per person. There is a second 1-unit concept called My Martini Bistro. Overall company growth is from 5 to 6 (20% growth). All locations are in TX.

NATURAL CHICKEN GRILL of Miami, FL has increased by 1 unit, from 12 to 13 (8% growth). These are fast casual chicken restaurants with seating for around 50. The check average is around $3-$8 per person. Locations are more than 90% franchised and are in FL.

Concepts with 20 units or less who grew by at least 2 units.
Florida-based FIVE STAR PIZZA has increased by 2 units, from 10 to 12 (20% growth). These take-out/delivery pizzerias are open for lunch and dinner. Units are individually owned and operated. All located in FL.

Concepts previously written about in the past 18 months.
Atlanta, GA-based MELLOW MUSHROOM (founded 1974) has increased by 2 units, from 103 to 105 (2% growth) and entered into AZ and CO. These fast casual pizzerias are open for lunch and dinner, with a $6-$12 per person check average. Many locations have full bar service. Catering is available. Units are franchised and located in AL, AR, AZ, CO, FL, GA, IN, KY, LA, MS, NC, OH, SC, TN, TX, and VA. We wrote about this company 4 times in the past 18 months (8/26/08-5% growth, 1/6/09-12% growth, 4/21/09-3% growth, and 8/18/09-4% growth).

PINKBERRY headquartered in Los Angeles, CA (founded 2005) has increased by 6 units, from 72 to 78 (8% growth) and expanded into TX. These are quick serve ice cream stores with seating for around 50. Check average is around $3-$8 per person. Locations are in CA, NY and TX. We last reported on this concept on 2/24/09 (4% growth).

Scottsdale, AZ-based NRGIZE LIFESTYLE CAFÉ has increased by 8 units, from 85 to 93 (9% growth). These are quick serve juice/smoothie cafes, open for lunch and dinner hours. Per person price range is $2-$6. All units are franchised and located in AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, MN, NJ, NY, OR, PA, TX, WA, and WI. We previously featured this concept on 12/9/08 (15% growth). Nrgize Lifestyle Café is a subsidiary of Kahala Corp.

ZPIZZA based in Irvine, CA (founded 1986) has increased by 3 units, from 90 to 93 (3% growth). These are quick serve pizza restaurants with seating for around 30. Some locations offer beer and wine. Lunch and dinner are served. Catering and online ordering are available. Locations are more than 70% franchised and are in AZ, CA, CO, GA, HI, MD, MN, MT, NC, NV, NY, OH, PA, SC, TX and VA. We reported on this concept on 12/2/08 (10% growth) and on 3/24/09 (12% growth).

Covington, LA-based WOW CAFE & WINGERY (founded 2001) has increased by 5 units for the Wow Café concept, from 54 to 59 (9% concept growth), entering into KY and PA. They also increased by 3 units for the PJ's Coffee & Tea concept, from 48 to 51 (6% concept growth). Overall company increase is from 102 to 110 (8% company growth). The Wow Cafes are fast casual, specializing in chicken wings. Meal periods are lunch and dinner, with a $4-$10 per person check average. Beer is sold. Catering is available. PJ's Coffee is a quick serve coffeehouse concept, open for breakfast and lunch hours, with a $2-$6 per person price range. Some units serve beer and wine. Average seating is for about 30. The company's trading areas are AL, CA, DC, FL, GA, IL, KY, LA, MD, MN, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NM, OK, PA, TN, TX, VA, ! VT, and WI. We wrote about this company on 8/18/09, when PJ's had a 7% 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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