Restaurant Daily

The SBA is pulling the plug on the RRF, Taco Cabana is being sold, and Red Lobster has a new CEO. We’ll recap all the restaurant news you might have missed over the long weekend, and there’s a lot of it. 

Panera is selling Au Bon Pain again, DoorDash acknowledges that most customers would rather order directly from a restaurant, and Jack in the Box is reversing its refranchising push of the last 30 years.

A pair of new federal bills would give franchisees more rights. Pandemic-era pizza sales aren’t quite what they appear. And California’s heat wave has become the backdrop for a labor battle.

A noted takeout skeptic is starting to believe. Fat Brands is buying five more restaurants. And consumers still love Chick-fil-A. 

The market for restaurant IPOs is red hot. Famous Dave’s bought Bakers Square for the pies. And New York City is considering a permanent cap on food delivery fees.

San Francisco is making its delivery fee cap permanent. Subway’s tuna brouhaha keeps resurfacing. And Papa Murphy’s is showing off its new store design.

Chicken thighs will likely become a permanent part of Wingstop’s menu. McDonald’s long-awaited loyalty program is almost ready for prime time. And Krispy Kreme wants to raise up to $640 million with its IPO.

Sweetgreen’s IPO rumors have come true. The Department of Labor is again tinkering with the tip credit. And Luby’s Cafeteria has been sold.

You’ve heard of Wingstop. How about Thighstop? Subway’s franchise royalties are some of the most expensive in the country. And Lettuce Entertain You turns 50.

Rent problems persist, operators look beyond the pandemic, another chain tries drone delivery, and new data shows not every consumer is smitten with milk substitutes.

Small restaurants in need of a loan may still have a shot with the SBA. Dutch Bros coffee is going public. And a Baltimore restaurant wants to make Juneteenth a big day for dining out.

Some restaurants are losing out on their Restaurant Revitalization Fund grants. The Cheesecake Factory has purchased most of Roark Capital’s equity stake. And some big changes are afoot at Grubhub.

How much does a Chipotle burrito cost? Depends where you are. Also, California restaurants can reopen today, and unemployment benefits are just one reason people aren’t returning to restaurant jobs.

Dave & Buster’s is trying to solve its labor issues with tech. An online ordering provider gets a $65 million cash infusion. And might Starbucks lend its name to a sports stadium?

One of the lawsuits against McDonald’s has been dismissed. Restaurants might need to start keeping track of vaccinated employees. And Subway shows why restaurant chains need succession plans.

Subway is buying out its business developers. Chipotle is raising menu prices. And a New York City restaurant is crying foul over third-party delivery.

One in 10 restaurant and hotel jobs are unfilled, restaurant sales are still surging, and Freddy’s Frozen Custard ditches the dining room. 

McDonald’s is facing a tech-related lawsuit. There’s a recent surge in franchising. And did Burger King take a swing at Chick-fil-A?

Subway franchisees detail deep and long-lasting problems with the chain. Restaurants continue to add jobs. And Restaurant Leader of the Year nominees dish on how they succeeded through the pandemic.

Chipotle is plotting expansion in the U.K. and France. Don’t expect robots at McDonald’s in the near future. And a look inside how Krispy Kreme is growing revenue.

McDonald’s CEO predicts improved relationships with franchisees. Mercato Partners has another $100 million to distribute to emerging brands. And Wendy’s is launching its U.K. growth initiative.

Krispy Kreme is ready for its IPO. Cobranded restaurants are having a resurgence. And Shake Shack isn’t worried about cannibalization as it grows.

Yum Brands buys yet another tech company. Sizzler is suing the SBA. And Chili’s is the latest chain with a chicken sandwich.

Subway is insisting its franchisees keep regular hours. This restaurant software company just raised $125 million. And has Red Robin unlocked the staffing secret? 

Ground Round is plotting a new concept. Sam Fox is getting into the hotel business. And a group of Black media executives want to talk to McDonald’s about ad spending.