The Fresh Market Opens New Store The specialty grocer opened its 48^th store in Florida, their 162^nd location overall, and continues their expansion plans. Fresh Market is aiming to add as many as 22 new stores over the next two years, with fast-growing Florida included in the list of states to expand in. Fresh Market currently operates 162 stores in 22 states. (Chain Store Age 4/24) [Read]

Chipotle Starts 2024 Strong The quick-serve chain reported strong Q1 sales and earnings as traffic rose despite higher menu prices. Chipotle also reiterated their plans to open 285 to 315 locations by the end of this year as they work towards their long-term goal of doubling its store count. The company opened 47 new locations in this first quarter. (Chain Store Age 4/25) [Read]

Pollo Campero to More Than Double U.S. Footprint The quick-serve chicken restaurant recently opened its 100^th location, part of a $190M commitment to grow the brand. Their parent company, CMI Foods, plans to open at least 25 new U.S. restaurants by the end of the year, and aims to add nearly 150 locations in total by 2028. Pollo Campero operates nearly 400 locations worldwide. (Chain Store Age 4/23) [Read]

Papa Johns to Add New Stores One of Papa Johns’ largest domestic franchisees has entered into a new partnership with the company that will lead to the opening of 50 new locations by 2028. The Bajco Group, led by Nadeem Bajwa, has goals to own 500 Papa Johns restaurants in existing markets across the Midwest and in Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Papa Johns currently has over 5,900 locations in over 50 countries and territories. (Chain Store Age 4/9) [Read]

Little Caesars Plans Growth The Detroit-based pizza chain plans to open 30 new locations throughout seven different markets in the next 4 years. Markets such as Tampa, Raleigh, San Antonio, and San Diego will be part of the expansion for Little Caesars, led by experienced franchisees. Little Caesars is also planning to grow its new concept prototype, Little Caesars PODs, which will be built offsite and have quicker construction timelines than the traditional stores. (Chain Store Age 4/17) [Read]

Sky Zone Plots Expansion The indoor trampoline park chain plans to open 5 new locations by the end of the year as Sky Zone eyes its 300^th location. There are locations in Florida, Illinois, and Washington set to open soon, as well as planned locations coming to California, Oregon, and Texas this year. Sky Zone continues to use analytics and creativity to determine consumer demand and convert big box spaces into one of their parks. Sky Zone currently has over 270 locations across the U.S. (Chain Store Age 4/16) [Read]

Tractor Supply Hits Record Q1 Sales The nation’s largest rural lifestyle retailer is maintaining its full-year guidance after net sales rose 2.9% and net income gained 8.2% compared to the year-ago period. In addition, the company has also announced that they will open approximately 80 new Tractor Supply stores in 2024, as well as expanding their Petsense banner. (Chain Store Age 4/25) [Read]

Blackstone to Buy Tropical Smoothie The world’s largest private equity firm, Blackstone, has reached a deal with the top smoothie and juice franchise in the U.S., Tropical Smoothie Cafe, for nearly $2B. Tropical smoothie has 1,400 locations in 44 states after opening roughly 175 new locations in 2023. They also saw over $1B in sales in 2023. (Bisnow 4/25) [Read]

Joann Emerges from Bankruptcy The fabric and sewing supplies store is officially becoming a privately owned company as part of their bankruptcy restructuring plan. Joann did not have to close any of their 800 stores because of this and expects to fully complete their bankruptcy turnaround in early May. (WFLX 4/28) [Read]

Tijuana Flats Files for Bankruptcy The Tex-Mex chain has closed a handful of South Florida locations since late 2023, before being sold to new ownership, who then filed for bankruptcy. This comes after the company announced lofty plans last year to open 50 new locations by 2025. Tijuana Flats has closed 29 locations between January and April this year. (South Florida Business Journal 4/23) [Read]

Jamestown Acquires Tamarac Town Square for $22.5M The sale comes as one of two properties bought by Jamestown as they continue to expand their grocery-anchored shopping center portfolio. The 124,000-sqaure-foot Publix-anchored center was roughly 84% leased at time of sale. Jamestown also acquired Fountain Oaks, a 160,000-square-foot Kroger-anchored center in Sandy Springs, Georgia. (Chain Store Age 4/11) [Read]

New Walmart Planned for Jacksonville Oakleaf Plantation has a new proposed Walmart Supercenter, liquor store, and gas station. The city is reviewing plans, but the proposed development would include a 175,360-square-foot Walmart and a 4,365-square-foot liquor store addition, as well as one of eight outparcels being designed to be a gas station. Walmart purchased the three parcels of land in 2006 and 2021 for a total of $33.1 million. (Jacksonville Business Journal 4/23) [Read]

Online Grocery Sales Projected to Reach $120B by 2028 New forecasts show that online grocery sales are projected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 4.5% in that period, more than three times the projected 1.6% CAGR of the in-store grocery segment. By the end of 2028, online grocery sales are projected to reach nearly $120B and account for nearly 13% of total grocery sales. (Chain Store Age 4/24) [Read]

GDP Growth Slowed in Q1 Despite seeing an increase at a 1.6% annualized pace in the January-through-March period, GDP growth was much weaker than expected. Consumer spending also increased by 2.5%, but is still down from a 3.3% increase in the fourth quarter of last year. Excluding food and energy, core PCE prices rose at a 3.7% rate, well above the Fed’s 2% target. (CNBC 4/25) [Read]