Why an independent restaurateur is betting on Mellow Mushroom

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Seasoned independent restaurateur Jon Walker is expanding his culinary portfolio by opening a Mellow Mushroom franchise in Danville, Virginia, capitalizing on…

How best friends are building their pizza and brew empire

Joey Freis and Mitchell Millar bought a pizzeria at 21. Now they lead nine restaurants and are getting ready to scale Best Pizza & Brew towards its next…

Navigating the tightest restaurant real estate market in 20 years

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Ebere Anokute, head of retail research for CBRE, during the ICSC real estate conference in Las Vegas, reveals the shifting dynamics of restaurant real estate…

Slice House by Tony Gemignani to open Ventura, California pizzeria

June 1, 2026

Slice House by Tony Gemignani will open in Ventura. California in July 2026, according to a press release.

Mountain Mike's expands Texas footprint with 2nd McKinney restaurant

May 29, 2026

Mountain Mike's Pizza has opened its second restaurant in McKinney, Texas. It's the 14th in the state and continues expansion across the the Dallas-Fort Worth…

&pizza goes global: The Mumbai blueprint

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Just five months after formation, Latitude Food Group is launching its first international expansion by partnering with The 90s Venture to bring &pizza's…

Little Caesars to expand to Malaysia

May 22, 2026

Little Caesars is expanding into Malaysia, with its first restaurant scheduled to open in Damansara on May 24, according to a press release.

The 'people-first' philosophy that turned a broke delivery driver into Domino’s largest U.S. franchisee

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Former delivery driver Brian Bailey scaled his Domino’s franchise from a single New Mexico location into a massive 160-store empire by maintaining a strict…

Imo's Pizza to open in Nashville

May 20, 2026

Imo's Pizza, the St. Louis-based pizzeria known for its signature Provel cheese and thin, crispy crust, is expanding into Tennessee with the opening of its…

The success formula that took Everbowl from 1 to 400 locations

I sat down with Jeff Fenster, who built five eight- to nine-figure companies, exited three, and grew Everbowl to more than 100 open locations with almost 40…

Grimaldi’s Pizzeria marks 45th nationwide opening with Alabama restaurant

May 14, 2026

Power Brands Hospitality Group, the Alabama franchisee of Grimaldi's Pizzeria, has opened a Grimaldi's location at Clift Farm, 461 John Henry Way, Suite 850…

Mountain Mike's Pizza makes Carson City, Nevada debut

May 13, 2026

California-based Mountain Mike's Pizza has opened in Carson City, Nevada. The restaurant is the brand's eighth in the state and is locally owned and operated…

Mellow Mushroom VP shares secrets to long-term franchise success

In this episode of the Pizza Marketplace podcast, Mellow Mushroom VP of Franchise Development Jamie Cecil discusses the brand's 50-year history of "unicorn…

&pizza marks 1st international expansion with 10-store India deal

May 12, 2026

Latitude Food Group, the franchisor and operator of Washington, D.C.-based &pizza, has signed a master franchise agreement with The 90s Venture to bring…

New York-style pizza joins Marco’s Pizza menu for limited run

May 7, 2026

Marco's Pizza is expanding its menu with the launch of a limited-time New York Style Pizza, according to a press release.

Timber Pizza Co. to expand in Atlanta

May 7, 2026

Timber Pizza Co. has signed a franchise development deal to bring two new locations to the Atlanta metropolitan area, marking the brand's first entry into the…

Pizza Inn franchisee shares leadership insights, advice on growing a franchise

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Dion Firooznia transitioned from a 40-year career in corporate restaurant leadership to become an award-winning Pizza Inn franchisee, leveraging multi-unit…

How R&R Brands scaled from a single brand to a multi-brand platform

I sat down with Scott Taylor, Founder and CEO of R&R Brands, a visionary and an industry icon whose fingerprints are on some of the most important…

Your Pie debuts streamlined business model to drive Southeast growth

April 30, 2026

Your Pie, a fast-casual pizza chain, plans to expand its presence across the Southeast, specifically targeting metro Atlanta, the…

Mr Gatti's reopens Walmart locations in 2 states with upgraded dining, games

April 27, 2026

Mr Gatti's Pizza has reopened five Walmart locations across Texas and Oklahoma following the installation of revamped dining and entertainment spaces…