Continue to Site >>>

casual_dining

Operations

Applebee's wants managers spending more time in the dining room

 By Joe Guszkowski on May 07, 2026

The casual-dining chain is prioritizing facetime between managers and customers as it looks to improve the service in its restaurants.

Financing

Applebee's sues franchisee over Logan’s Roadhouse acquisition

 By Joe Guszkowski on May 05, 2026

The casual-dining chain said SSCP Management’s acquisition of Logan’s violated their franchise agreement because the two brands are direct competitors.

Financing

A smaller Hooters starts its comeback from bankruptcy

By Joe Guszkowski on Apr. 30, 2026

The sports bar chain has closed some of its weakest locations in recent months, but others are showing signs of life under new ownership. “I'm cautiously optimistic,” said CEO Neil Kiefer.

Financing

How Chili's plans to keep doing this

By Joe Guszkowski on Apr. 29, 2026

Even after several years of significant traffic growth, the casual-dining chain believes its restaurants can handle even more volume. It’s studying its highest-grossing stores to find out how.

Operations

Applebee’s is sued by a franchisee over co-branded restaurants

By Joe Guszkowski on Apr. 24, 2026

A Texas-based operator alleged that dual-branded Applebee’s/IHOP stores are infringing on its exclusive territory and hurting sales. And that's not its only dispute with the franchisor.

Financing

The Technomic Top 500: Chain restaurant sales slowed again in 2025

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 20, 2026

The bulk of the Top 500 chain restaurants’ growth came in just three categories: coffee, beverages and chicken. For everybody else, it was a market-share game at best.

Marketing

Chili’s tries to catch lightning in a bottle again with chicken sandwich campaign

By Alicia Kelso on Apr. 16, 2026

Marketing Bites: Like it did with its Big QP burger launch last year, the casual-dining chain is once again going after fast food’s value perception.

Financing

To-go locations fueled Buffalo Wild Wings’ growth last year

By Joe Guszkowski on Apr. 14, 2026

The quick-service Buffalo Wild Wings Go opened 79 new stores last year while its full-service counterpart shrunk. But both concepts struggled with per-unit sales.

Financing

There's a new No. 2 brand in casual dining

By Joe Guszkowski on Apr. 09, 2026

Chili’s surged past Olive Garden in 2025 to become the second-largest casual-dining chain in the U.S. behind Texas Roadhouse, per Technomic data.

Financing

Kura sales soar as customers pay up for prizes

By Joe Guszkowski on Apr. 08, 2026

Diners ordered more food at the conveyor-belt sushi chain in order to win toys from Nintendo and Hello Kitty, fueling same-store sales growth of 8.6%.

  • Page 1