Four of the 10 newcomers to this year's Top 100 Independents list are Chicago steakhouses: Maple & Ash, RPM Steak, Swift & Sons and Prime & Provisions broke into RB's ranking based on their 2017 sales. In addition, Farmers Restaurant Group landed another concept on the list this year—Farmers Fishers Bakers—after adding two Founding Farmers locations last year. And Junior's new 49th Street restaurant also made its inaugural appearance, despite having only been opened for part of 2017. Read on to see the rest of the restaurants new to the ranking.
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.
Immigration declines are hurting a lot of restaurants. The Texas Restaurant Association has brought together different groups to find a long-term solution.
The fast-food chain is asking a court to prevent a franchisee from closing restaurants in a dispute over unpaid marketing fees. The franchisee sued the brand last year over what it called an improper termination.
