Here’s a capture of the latest deals in development as reported by Franchise Times with some commentary from theRestaurant Brokers.  Word on the street from Franchise Times is that two brands are looking at strong growth including Firehouse Subs which according to their VP of Development is, “on track to open its 1,000th restaurant this summer and is eyeing more international expansion.” Carvel Ice Cream was noted in the same report as, “churning out ice cream deals at a rapid rate.” 

Here are some of the other franchise restaurant deals announced recently.  A sports bar concept out of Harrisburg Pennsylvania called Arooga's Grille House & Sports Bar has inked a deal to bring three of its units to New York’s Staten Island.  The developer is  Monalisa Group, headed by Vincent Malerba, who currently owns and operates Angelina's Ristorante in Tottenville. 

That’s not the only northeast expansion the restaurant brokers noted in this recent report.  The first Paisano’s Pizza opened in DC (Georgetown area) this month and there are eight more units slated to open in the next 36 months.  The franchisor, Capital Restaurant Group, headquartered in Chantilly, VA., operates 28 Paisano's and Bella Pizza locations in Virginia and Maryland, and recently added SpinFire Pizza to its portfolio.

Pizza continues to grow with build your own pie fast casual concepts seeing strong expansion.  MMM Pizza 1 has opened its first Pieology unit in Gaithersburg Virginia. 

The dough continues to roll with an announcement that PizzaRev, a fast-casual pizza concept backed by Buffalo Wild Wings, has signed an agreement with Surfside Coffee, LLC, to develop 45 restaurants across the greater Miami area. The group's first location is on track to open at the Miracle Mile in Coral Gables, one of South Florida's most sought-after shopping destinations. Based in Miami, FL, Surfside Coffee, LLC, operates one of the largest Dunkin' Donuts franchise networks in Florida. The group is backed by Fireman Capital Partners, LLC , a private equity firm led by CEO Chris Mellgren.

In what the Restaurant Brokers see as a strong line of growth for ethnic offerings in the future, Franchise Times is reporting the opening of The Halal Guys just off the Las Vegas strip later this summer.  The franchisee, FOMO THG, already operate units in the Bay Area of California. The Halal Guys started in NYC as a food cart that attracted long lines for its signature dishes, gyros and falafel.  With the influx of Middle Easterners to the U.S., Halal offerings will, in our opinion, expand beyond fast casual and become very mainstream over the next decade.

Another new fast casual concept just launching was highlighted in the latest report.  Annapolis-based Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls, a fast-casual restaurant concept with affordable lunch and dinner menus, has hired U.S. Franchise development firm FranPoint Partners to help launch the brand.

That’s the wrap up of the latest deals on the horizon.  It seems as though pizza, pizza and more pizza with a bit of Halal and Sports Bars thrown into the mix, are what’s on the table for expansion in the future in the franchise community.

The restaurant brokers will keep you updated on the latest franchise restaurant concepts expanding or hitting the marketplace.  For franchise restaurants for sale in our portfolio, visit this link.