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Operations

Who's growing, slowing or shrinking in fast casual

 By Lisa Jennings on Dec. 12, 2025

Chipotle, Raising Cane's and Wingstop are gung ho on growth this year. Other brands, however, are slowing their roll or closing units.

Emerging Brands

Less than a year from an investment from Chipotle, Brassica prepares to double its unit count

 By Lisa Jennings on Aug. 29, 2025

The Columbus, Ohio-based fast casual won a minority investment last year from Chipotle's Cultivate Next fund. Now Brassica is readying a jump to three new markets.

Operations

Texas loses its taste for Portillo's

By Lisa Jennings on Aug. 05, 2025

Sales at the fast-casual chain in the once-hot market slowed in the second quarter, prompting a revenue downgrade and questions about the company's expansion plans.

Leadership

CEO v. CEO: Dutch Bros. Christine Barone and Portillo's Michael Osanloo face off

By Lisa Jennings on Apr. 15, 2025

It was more collegial executive exchange than smack down, but the leaders of the drive-thru coffee concept and fast-casual Italian beef concept shared notes on growth, menu innovation and digital tech at the Restaurant Leadership Conference in Phoenix.

Consumer Trends

Why Sweetgreen wants to see workers come back to the office

By Lisa Jennings on Mar. 13, 2025

Even five years after COVID, urban centers were dead on Fridays. But the full return-to-office movement could bring an unexpected boost, especially to fast casuals.

Operations

In-N-Out Burger plans one of biggest units yet on the Las Vegas Strip

By Lisa Jennings on Dec. 06, 2024

It isn't scheduled to open until 2026. But the unit will be in the massive upcoming retail center The BLVD.

Operations

This iconic Norms coffeeshop is a poster child for LA's Googie design. Will it become a Raising Cane's?

By Lisa Jennings on Nov. 27, 2024

The fast-casual chicken specialist owns the building and has proposed a conversion that will preserve the historic Atomic Age style and character. But pushback is expected.

Consumer Trends

Shopping malls find a second life as restaurant destinations

By Patricia Cobe on Oct. 30, 2024

Consumers are returning to malls to seek out favorite restaurant brands, with The Cheesecake Factory and soup dumpling concept Din Tai Fung topping the list, according to Yelp data.

Financing

At least 20 Frisch's Big Boy restaurants face eviction

By Peter Romeo on Oct. 23, 2024

The chain has asked a court to delay the proceedings, saying it could use the time to come up with a closings schedule that's fairer to employees.

Technology

Company linked to Travis Kalanick brings bulk restaurant delivery to LA

By Joe Guszkowski on Jul. 02, 2024

Picnic delivers food from more than 100 restaurants to select offices and apartment buildings with no fee or tip.

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