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concepts

Leadership

Paul Damico named CEO of Perkins and Huddle House parent

 By Joe Guszkowski on Oct. 23, 2025

The restaurant veteran will take the top job at Ascent Hospitality Management, replacing former CEO James O’Reilly.

Emerging Brands

Chi-Chi's is ready to open its first restaurant in 20 years

 By Joe Guszkowski on Oct. 01, 2025

The casual-dining Mexican brand will return next week in a Minneapolis suburb with a menu of old favorites and new fare. And yes, there will be deep-fried ice cream.

Operations

Applebee's and IHOP to nearly triple number of co-branded restaurants this year

By Joe Guszkowski on Mar. 13, 2025

Parent company Dine Brands plans to open up to 14 combo locations in the U.S. and 23 overseas, underscoring its high hopes for the full-service mashup.

Operations

Despite the odds, full-service restaurants keep launching fast casuals

By Joe Guszkowski on Jan. 31, 2025

Sit-down chains are hungry for a piece of the hot fast-casual market. But they haven’t had much success so far.

Operations

What independent restaurant closures can tell us about the year ahead

By Lisa Jennings on Jan. 08, 2025

Across the country, operators are sharing their reasons for permanently closing and how hard it is to make it work.

Food

How much updating can Chi-Chi's stand without losing its soul?

By Peter Romeo on Dec. 12, 2024

Restaurant Rewind: The Mexican pioneer is promising to return in a more contemporary version. A look back at its heyday suggests that’ll be a challenging transformation.

Marketing

For some struggling restaurant chains, boosting traffic is a new game

By Peter Romeo on Dec. 11, 2024

Concepts as different as Dickey's and Dave & Buster's are embracing new arcade-like attractions to bolster sagging sales and traffic.

Emerging Brands

The Cheesecake Factory has big plans for its smaller brands

By Joe Guszkowski on Dec. 05, 2024

The casual-dining chain believes it could eventually open hundreds of North Italias, Flower Childs and Culinary Dropouts across the U.S., more than doubling its current footprint.

Financing

Chi-Chi's restaurants set to return after disappearing 20 years ago

By Joe Guszkowski on Dec. 03, 2024

The son of Chi-Chi's founder plans to start opening restaurants next year. The full-service Mexican chain shut down in 2004 following bankruptcy and a devastating hepatitis outbreak.

Financing

Some smaller eatertainment ventures aren't having much fun

By Peter Romeo on Dec. 02, 2024

Two players from the field both posted significant declines in their most recent quarters, but a music specialist is ready to hit play on growth.

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