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real estate

Why Checkers and Rally’s are building restaurants out of shipping containers

The QSR drive-thrus introduce new build options for franchisees.

Bob Evans enters into sales-leaseback deals for 145 properties

The deals will net more than $165 million.

Financing

Avoiding rent rip-offs

By Dina Berta on Jun. 15, 2015

At a time when the country is seeing established, successful concepts close or relocate because of rapidly escalating rents, operators are focusing on other ways to make a lease still work for them.

Fatburger eying Cuban franchises

By Peter Romeo on Jan. 02, 2015

The multi-regional burger chain says it can move ahead on exploratory discussions that started four years ago.

Grand Slam in the Big Apple

By Patricia Cobe on Oct. 14, 2014

Mahogany woodwork, tufted leather upholstery, prosecco on tap—this isn’t anything like the other 1,700 Denny’s around the U.S.

Best and worst places to open a restaurant: Tourism still reigns in 2014

By Kristen Miles, Hannah Nilles and John Torres on Oct. 13, 2014

As the 2014 Restaurant Growth Index shows, consumers continue to loosen their purse strings and indulge in restaurant dining while on vacation.

Concept to Scout: e.a.t. spot

By Patricia Cobe on Sep. 30, 2014

For founder Ken Waagner, the two locations for e.a.t. spot in downtown Chicago ticked all the boxes: low build-out costs; convenient, walkable locations.

Six firms interested in buying Bob Evans' real estate

Sep. 25, 2014

Shareholders want the restaurant chain to sell its sites, and a number of sale-leaseback companies are willing to make it happen.

McDonald’s to refranchise 1,500 restaurants

May 29, 2014

As part of a plan to boost slipping profits, the burger giant plans to sell a chunk of company-owned units—largely outside the U.S.—to franchisees by the end of 2016.

The new math of the Red Lobster deal

By Peter Romeo on May 21, 2014

Putting a value on Red Lobster isn’t a done deal in the view of some Darden Restaurant shareholders. And the only things sharper than their pencils appear to be their tongues.