Potbelly, Swig, Cortes Ventures, Claim Jumper, and O’Charley’s lead RestaurantNews.com’s top stories for the week ending November 5, 2023.
1) Potbelly Announces 40-Shop Agreement with Royal Restaurant Group
Potbelly Corporation (NASDAQ: PBPB), the iconic neighborhood sandwich shop, has completed a 40-unit agreement with Royal Restaurant Group, a national franchise group that successfully operates restaurant locations for global brands. The agreement will involve the future development of 36 Potbelly shops in markets across both Ohio and Florida. As part of the deal, Potbelly will also refranchise four locations in the greater Columbus, Ohio region.
2) Swig’s First Franchise Location Officially Opens in Arkansas
When Doug and Shannon Fowler moved to Arkansas to be near their children and grandchildren, they never would have predicted they’d be the newest franchisees to join the Swig drink shop family. On Friday, Nov. 3, the Fowlers unveiled the first Swig location in Arkansas at 4204 W. Green Acres Road in Rogers.
3) The Inspiring Journey of Luis and Cyndi Cortes: Founders of Cortes Ventures Inc.
In the world of entrepreneurship, success stories often emerge from the most unexpected backgrounds, and the story of Luis and Cyndi Cortes, the dynamic founders of Cortes Ventures Inc., is no exception. This power couple’s journey is a testament to hard work, passion, and their unwavering commitment to excellence. Cortes Ventures found its early success by becoming the largest licensee of Red Bicycle Coffee, a boutique specialty coffee house based in Nashville.
On Monday, November 13th, Claim Jumper Steakhouse & Bar will be celebrating Veterans Day with a free dine in meal for all veterans and active military members. The free meal options include BBQ Chicken Salad, Classic Cheeseburger, Black Tie Chicken Pasta, Meatloaf & Mashed Potatoes, Country Fried Steak, and Southern Fried Chicken.
To celebrate Veterans and active duty military and show appreciation for their service, O’Charley’s will offer a special free lunch menu on Friday, Nov. 10 and Saturday, Nov. 11. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, Veterans can order one of the following free entrées and/or receive a free slice of pie at dinner. Both offers are for dine-in only. The special Veterans lunch menu includes: Tenders & Fries, Classic Cheeseburger, Honey-Drizzled Southern Fried Chicken, Southern Fried Chicken Tender Salad or Bayou Shrimp Pasta. For $10, Veterans can upgrade to the Louisiana Sirloin meal.
East Coast Wings + Grill (ECW+G), a full-service and family-dining restaurant renowned for its variety of buffalo wing sauces and heat indexes, announced the opening of their newest location in Clemson, South Carolina. Located at 405 S. College Ave., Suite 300, the new restaurant signals the brand’s intent of continued growth in the region after opening in Florence, South Carolina, earlier this year.
7) Farmer Boys Introduces New Cracked Fried Chicken Sandwich’ for a Limited Time
Farmer Boys, the Southern California-based fast casual restaurant chain known for its award-winning burgers and exceptional service, hatched a plan to elevate its fried chicken sandwiches with the launch of the new ‘Cracked Fried Chicken Sandwich,’ available now for a limited time. Each sandwich is made with a hand-cracked, over-easy fried egg atop an all-natural chicken breast, double-battered for extra crispiness, seasoned with a proprietary blend of spices and fried to perfection, topped with bacon and tomato on a locally-baked toasted brioche bun.
8) Wild Eggs Announces New Vice President of Marketing
Wild Eggs, a favorite breakfast, brunch, and lunch restaurant chain headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, announces the appointment of Michelle Heffernan as its Vice President of Marketing. With 25 years of marketing, sales, and advertising experience, Heffernan brings incredible expertise to her new role. Heffernan’s career includes 17 years in the restaurant industry, where she served as the Senior Director of Marketing for Papa John’s International Preferred division.
9) Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ Celebrates a Phenomenal Year of Triumphs and Awards in 2023
In 2023, Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ is making waves as the brand of the year in the hot dog and BBQ market, raking in a multitude of awards that underscore its excellence in fast casual dining. With a rapidly expanding presence across the United States, Crave continues to solidify its position as the top franchise in the industry. This year, Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ’s franchisees have received a remarkable array of accolades, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to quality and creativity.
10) Cracker Barrel Teams with Dolly Parton to Celebrate Rockin’ New Rewards Program
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store announced today that global superstar Dolly Parton will be the face of “Rewards That Rock,” a campaign that honors the brand’s recently launched rewards program, Cracker Barrel Rewards, and Dolly’s new album, Rockstar. To celebrate the partnership, Cracker Barrel and Dolly are giving rewards members the chance to win one of 667 custom-designed Dolly Rockin’ chairs.
