Restaurant Trends - Growing And Emerging Concepts - Data reflects change and activity from September 4, 2009 to January 5, 2010

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

Orange County, CA-based FINBAR'S ITALIAN KITCHEN has increased by 1 unit, from 2 to 3 (50% growth). This is an upscale concept, open for lunch and dinner hours. Per person price range is $15-$30+. Locations have a full bar and average seating for about 150. Catering, delivery and banquet services are available. All the restaurants are in CA.

KEARES RESTAURANT GROUP based in Lancaster, PA has increased by 1 unit, from 5 to 6 (20% growth) adding a new concept called Old Naples Italian Restaurant. Other company concepts are Barny's Grill (1), Doc Holliday's Steakhouse (1), Gibralter (1), Harrisburg Comedy Zone (1) and Lancaster Brewing Co (1). Concepts tend to be upscale with full bar and seating for around 200. The check average is around $15-$30+ per person. Catering and banquets are offered. All locations are in PA.

Denver, CO-based PASQUINI'S PIZZERIA (founded 1986) has increased by 1 unit, from 3 to 4 (33% growth). These are family/casual Italian and pizza restaurants, open for lunch and dinner. Per person check average is $6-$12. The restaurants have full bar service and seating is for about 200. Catering and delivery are available. All locations are in CO. Franchising opportunities are now available.

ZANTIGO MEXICAN RESTAURANT based in Woodbury, MN (founded 1999) has increased by 1 unit, from 7 to 8 (14% growth). These are fast casual Mexican restaurants with seating for around 50. The check average is around $3-$8 per person. Catering is offered. Franchising is available. All locations are in MN.

CITY WOK based in Palm Desert, CA (founded 1990) has increased by 1 unit, from 4 to 5 (25% growth) and expanded into VA. These are family/casual Asian restaurants with seating for around 100. Beer and wine are served. Catering is offered. The per person check average is around $6-$15+. Some locations are franchised. Trading areas are CA and VA.

New York, NY-based INOTECA (founded 1998) has increased by 1 unit, from 4 to 5 (25% company growth), adding a new concept called Corsino Cantina Italiana. Other concepts are Ino Café/Bar (1), Inoteca (1), Inoteca Liquori Bar (1), and Lupa (1). These are all upscale Italian restaurants, open for lunch and dinner (Ino Café/Bar serves breakfast). Per person check average is $15-$50+. Restaurants have a full bar and average seating for about 100. Catering and banquet services are available. All locations are in NY.

CHEZ CORA based in Ste-therese, PQ (founded 1987) has increased by 3 units, from 110 to 113 (3% growth). These are family/casual restaurants with seating for around 125. Meal periods are breakfast and lunch. Beer and wine are served. The check average is around $6-$12 per person. Locations are franchised and are in AB, MB, NB, NL, NS, ON, PE and PQ.

Concepts with 20 units or less who grew by at least 2 units.
Austin, TX-based CHUY'S COMIDA DELUXE (founded 1982) has increased by 4 units for the Chuy's concept, from 12 to 16 (33% concept growth) and entered into TN. All other locations are in TX. The company also operates Hula Hut (1) and Shady Grove (1). Overall company increase is from 14 to 18 (29% company growth). These are family/casual Mexican restaurants, open for lunch and dinner. Per person check average is $6-$15+ with full bar service. Seating is for about 200. Catering is available.

Concepts previously written about in the past 18 months.
Tampa, FL-based MELTING POT (founded 1975) has increased by 4 units, from 142 to 146 (3% growth). These are upscale European/fondue restaurants, open for dinner only. Per person price range is $15-$50+. All locations have a full bar and have seating for about 200. Banquet rooms are available. All units are franchised and are located in AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, and WI. We previously featured this concept back on 11/4/08 (3% growth).

St Paul, MN-based CARBONE'S PIZZERIA (founded 1954) has increased by 2 units, from 30 to 32 (7% growth). These quick serve pizzerias are open for lunch and dinner, some locations serving beer. Some units have seating for about 50. Delivery is available. Stores are franchised and located in MN and WI. We featured this concept on 8/12/08 (10% growth).

SMASHBURGER based in Denver, CO (founded 2007) has increased by 6 units, from 29 to 35 and expanded into AZ. These are fast casual restaurants with seating for around 70. Beer and wine are served. Meal periods are lunch and dinner. The check average is around $6-$12 per person. Locations are in AZ, CO, IA, ID, KS, MN, NE, NJ, OH, OK, TX and UT. Franchising is offered. We reported on this concept on 5/5/09 (33% growth) and on 9/8/09 (142% growth).

Southfield, MI-based HAPPY'S PIZZA (founded 1994) has increased by 3 units, from 47 to 50 (6% growth) and entered into IL. These are take-out/delivery pizzerias, open for lunch and dinner. Catering is available. Units are franchised and located in IL, MI, and OH. We wrote about this restaurant on 5/5/09 (14% growth) and on 9/1/09 (12% growth).

THE EGG & I based in Lone Tree, CO (founded 1987) has increased by 2 units, from 36 to 38 (6% growth) and expanded into AL. These are family/casual restaurants with seating for around 125. Per person check average is around $3-$8. Meal periods are breakfast and lunch. Locations are more than 70% franchised and are in AL, CO, NE, TX, UT and WY. We last reported on this concept on 9/1/09 when they had (13% growth).

Emeryville, CA-based FREEBIRDS WORLD BURRITO (founded 1987) has increased by 2 units, from 25 to 27 (8% growth). These are fast casual Mexican restaurants, open for lunch and dinner, with a $4-$8 per person price range. Beer is served. Most locations have seating for about 100. Catering and online ordering are available. Trading areas are OK and TX. We featured this concept on 12/16/08 (10% growth) and on 5/5/09 (9% growth). Freebirds is a subsidiary of Tavistock Restaurants.


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

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

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