Expansion Roundup: A Soldier Field Kickoff, a 100-Unit Milestone, More

With the eighth month of 2024 nearing an end, brands of all shapes and sizes are propelling themselves toward their next goals and locations.

From nontraditional restaurants to new territories and franchisees who are doubling down, there is no shortage of recent expansion announcements worth noting.

Here’s a taste:

The Firsts

• An Arena Kickoff: The Southern-style seafood chain Surf’s Up is “Bearing down” as it debuts its first arena location at Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears, just ahead of the team’s regular season. The 12-year-old fast-casual now has eight units across the Chicago area. Next, founder Eric Roy Jr. aims to sell additional franchises in areas including Nashville, Tenn. and Las Vegas, plus other locations out west. He also will look to secure additional stadium locations around the country, notes a release.

• Double-Time Debut: The 350-unit chain Shipley Do-Nuts has debuts in North Carolina and Virginia ahead this year, plus 80 units in its development pipeline. In the first half of 2024, the Houston-based concept increased its development pipeline by 33%, opened eight new stores and posted its 14th consecutive quarter of positive same-store sales. By year’s end, it also expects to open new units in Colorado and Maryland. The brand shares that it closed 11 multiunit development deals through Q2 2024, which, it says, is “a significant increase over last year.” Looking forward, Shipley says it is focusing on growing in Georgia and North Carolina.

• Rolling Into Kentucky: On Aug. 26, Asian-American fusion brand Rock N Roll Sushi is opening in Owensboro, marking its first store in the Bluegrass State. The unit will include a hibachi grill. The Mobile, Ala.-based brand, founded in 2010, has 72 locations.

And Many More

• 100 Strong: This month, The Peach Cobbler Factory opened its 100th unit and the brand is now looking ahead to its soon-to-open unit in the Dallas Ft. Worth International Airport, which will be its first airport location. The concept—which offers Southern-inspired desserts like fruit cobblers, banana pudding, cinnamon rolls, shakes and more—first began franchising 30 months ago. The brand, currently in 20 states and also now comprising a mobile-unit division, says it plans to expand further into New Jersey, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.

Houston TX Hot Chicken, founded in 2021, says it has 300 franchise commitments.

• To 20 … & Beyond: Houston TX Hot Chicken is launching forward with its 20th unit set to open in San Diego, Calif., on Sept. 21, plus 300 franchise commitments on the books. By the end of 2025, the hot chicken concept says it plans to more than triple its count, with a goal to have 75 units open. The three-year-old brand, founded by serial entrepreneur and pro race car driver Edmond Barseghian and backed by the Savory Fund investment group, also just launched its app.

• A Franchisee’s Baker’s Dozen: Conley McIntyre (pictured at left), a franchisee for Eggs Up Grill, plans to eventually own 13 units for the breakfast, brunch and lunch concept. Currently the owner of six units in South Carolina, McIntyre expects to open one of six more in Charlotte, N.C., later this year. He also will open a lone location in Travelers Rest. S.C. Brand-wide, there are 81 locations in operation, with more than 100 under development or committed to open this decade.

Other brands sharing expansion news this month include Pizza Inn, which is Egypt-bound; Topgolf, which is opening its 101st unit in a new-to-the-brand state; and Smalls Sliders, which recently surpassed 300 units in development.