Restaurant Trends - Growing And Emerging Concepts - Data reflects change and activity from August 21, 2009 to December 28, 2009

Growing Concepts that have grown by at least 5% (if less than 50 units).
Wichita, KS-basd TACO TICO (founded 1962) has increased by 1 unit, from 51 to 52 (2% growth) and entered into IN. These are quick serve Mexican restaurants, open for lunch and dinner. Per person check average is $3-$8. Seating is for around 60. Locations are franchised and trade in the states of AR, IA, IN, KS, KY, LA, OK, and TN.

D'AMICO & PARTNERS of Minneapolis, MN (founded 1954) has increased by 1 unit from 17 to 18 (6% growth) adding a new concept called D'Amico Kitchen. Other concepts are Café & Bar Lurcat (2), Campiello (2), D'amico & Sons (12) and Masa (1). Concepts tend to be upscale with full bar and seating for around 200. Locations are open for lunch and dinner. Catering and banquets are offered. Locations are in FL and MN.

Nashville, TN-based O'CHARLEY'S (NASDAQ:CHUX; founded 1971) has increased by 1 unit for the O'Charley's concept, from 245 to 246 (less than 1% concept growth) and by 1 unit for Stoney River Legendary Steaks, from 10 to 11 (10% concept growth). The company also operates the 116 unit Ninety-nine Restaurant & Pub. Overall company increase is from 371 to 373 (1% company growth). O'Charley's and Ninety-Nine Restaurants are family/casual American concepts, open for lunch and dinner, with an $8-$20 per person check average. Stoney River is an upscale steakhouse, open for dinner only, with a $15-$50+ check average. All restaurant concepts have a full bar and average seating for about 250. Catering and private party services are available. Company trading areas are AL, AR, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI,! MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, and WV.

CONCENTRIC RESTAURANTS based in Atlanta, GA (founded 2002) has increased by 1 unit, from 15 to 16 (7% growth) adding a new concept called Bakeshop. Other concepts are 30 Tables (1), Cibo Matto (1), Lobby At Twelve (1), Luma On Park (1), Max's Coal Oven Pizzeria (1), Murphy's (1), One Midtown Kitchen (1), Parish (1), Roof (1), Room At Twelve Centennial (1), State And Lake (1), Stats Food Play (1), Tap (1), Trois (1) and Two Urban Licks (1). Concepts tend to be upscale with full bar and seating for around 200. Per person check average is around $15-$50+. Catering and banquets are offered. Locations are in FL, GA and IL.

Bettendorf, IA-basd HAPPY JOE'S PIZZA & ICE CREAM PARLOR (founded 1972) has increased by 1 unit, from 60 to 61 (2% growth). The restaurants are family/casual, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Per person check average is $4-$10. Beer and wine are served at some locations. Some units have average seating for about 100, others are take-out/delivery only. Locations are franchised and trade in the states of IA, IL, MN, MO, ND, and WI.

MERCADITO RESTAURANTS based in New York, NY has increased by 1 unit for their Mercadito concept, from 1 to 2 (100% concept growth) and expanded into IL. These are family/casual Mexican restaurants with seating for around 50. Beer and wine are served. The check average is around $10-$30. Catering is offered. Other company concepts are Mercadito Cantina (1) and Mercadito Grove (1). Overall company growth is from 3 to 4 (33% company growth). Locations are in IL and NY with a new unit planned to open in Miami, FL, January 2010.

Concepts with 20 units or less who grew by at least 2 units.
New York, NY-based ENERGY KITCHEN SMOOTHIE BAR & GRILL has increased by 2 units, from 7 to 9 (29% growth). These are fast casual cafes, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, serving American cuisine. Per person check average is $4-$10. Catering, delivery, and online ordering are available. Average unit has seating for about 10. About half of the stores are franchised. Locations are in NJ and NY.

DICK'S WINGS based in Jacksonville, FL has increased by 2 units, from 20 to 22 (10% growth). These are family/casual chicken restaurants with seating for around 125. Beer and wine are served. Lunch and dinner are served. Catering is offered. Locations are more than 90% franchised and are in FL and GA.

Concepts previously written about in the past 18 months.
Annapolis, MD-based LEDO PIZZA (founded 1955) has increased by 3 units, from 86 to 89 (3% growth). These are family/casual Italian and pizza restaurants. Meal periods are lunch and dinner, with a per person check average of $6-$12. Most locations offer full bar and seating for about 90. Catering and delivery are available. Units are franchised and located in DC, DE, FL, MD, NC, VA, and WV. We previously featured this concept on 9/9/08 (4% growth) and on 4/28/09 (4% growth).

FRESHII based in Toronto, ON (founded 2005) has increased by 1 unit, from 13 to 14 (8% growth). These are fast casual restaurants serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Seating is for around 50. The check average is around $3-$8 per person. Catering is available. Locations are franchised and are in IL and ON. We last reported on this concept on 7/21/09 (8% growth).

East Lansing, MI-based BIGGBY COFFEE (founded 1995) has increased by 3 units, from 103 to 106 (3% growth). These are quick serve coffee shops, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner hours. Per person price range is $2-$6. Most units have seating for about 50. Drive-thru, catering and online ordering services are available. Trading areas are AL, MI, OH, SC, and WI. All locations are franchised. We wrote about this concept on 9/2/08 (9% growth) and again on 5/12/09 (4% growth).

BARRO'S PIZZA based in Carefree, AZ (founded 1980) has increased by 2 units, from 26 to 28 (8% growth). These are quick serve restaurants with seating for around 50. Beer and wine are served. The check average is around $4-$10 per person. Lunch and dinner are served. Delivery is offered. All locations are in AZ. We reported on this concept on 2/10/09 (4% growth) and on 7/28/09 (4% growth).

Dallas, TX-based WHICH WICH (founded 2003) has increased by 6 units, from 90 to 96 (7% growth) and entered into the states of IL, IN, and NC. This is a quick serve sandwich shop concept, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Per person price range is $3-$8. Units seat about 50. Catering is available. All stores are franchised and are located in AZ, CA, CO, GA, IA, IL, IN, MO, MS, NC, NM, OK, SC, TN, TX, and WA, with units to open in AR and LA in 2010. Which Wich was featured 3 times in the last 18 months (8/19/08-4% growth, 12/2/08-19% growth, and 3/31/09-13% growth) and made our Top Ten Fastest Growing Concepts list 3 times (#1 July 2007, #3 January 2008, and #2 July 2008) and twice to our Top Twenty list (#3 May 2009 and #1 November 2009.

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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