Indoor pickleball concept Dill Dinkers signed a 30-unit agreement for the Atlanta metro area. The deal is with a five-person business group, Daniel and Laura Hardeman, as well as Destin Dunham, Evelyn Orenbunch and Stuart Napshin.
Daniel and Laura Hardeman bring experience as a former software engineer and marketing expert, respectively. Napshin, meanwhile, is a business strategy professor at Kennesaw State University, Orenbunch is a former Team USA athlete and Dunham has a background in the payment services industry.
Founded in 2022 and franchising since 2023, Dill Dinkers has four locations open in Maryland with another opening soon in Virginia.
Potbelly signed four multi-unit deals to expand in three states. Two deals come for Florida, one with Ron Asmar of RTA Restaurant Group, who will open four in Tampa, adding to the 18 there now. The other agreement is with Shari Nasir and Imran Malik of Sugarland Investment Group, who will open six units in Orlando, bringing their total commitment to 12.
Franchisee Rob Wilbern, who is president of I’m a Wreck and already committed to opening five Potbelly units in Springfield, Illinois, added an agreement to develop four stores in St. Louis. And existing franchisee Shakti Patel of MSS Fort Liberty signed a three-unit agreement for Fayetteville, North Carolina. Founded in 1977, Potbelly has more than 425 locations in the U.S.
Bojangles is developing several new locations thanks to multi-unit deals, such as a 20-unit agreement for Phoenix.
Bojangles, a chicken and breakfast concept, signed a 20-unit agreement for the Phoenix market. The deal is with the company LVP Restaurant Group, an entity of LV Petroleum, in partnership with Kingsbarn Realty Capital. This adds to LVP’s commitment to develop 20 Bojangles restaurants in Las Vegas and 20 non-traditional units in TravelCenters of America locations across the western U.S. Leading the Phoenix development is LVP Vice President Jeanette Davis. Founded in 1977, Bojangles has more than 800 locations in 17 states.
Dessert concept Jars signed a 10-unit agreement for the Atlanta market. The deal is with entrepreneur James Gormley, who has extensive experience in commercial real estate. Founded in 2021 by chef Fabio Viviani, Jars has three locations open in Illinois, California and Texas.
Vicious Biscuit, a fast-casual breakfast brand, inked a 10-unit agreement for Indianapolis. The deal is with David Dessner, who has a background in mortgage banking, and Steve Wise, who owns a construction labor and staffing company. Vicious Biscuit, which launched in 2018 and began franchising in 2023, has six locations open. It’s been quick to attract multi-unit owners.
Fitness brand Pvolve signed a pair of agreements to expand in Arizona markets. In Phoenix, Pvolve signed a three-unit deal with former telecommunications operator Whitney Goodwin and business partner Jeanine Yonushonis. Accountant Caitlin Pettitt and advertising executive Chuck Huttinger, meanwhile, signed on for two studios in Scottsdale. Launched in 2017, Pvolve has seven units open and counts actress Jennifer Aniston as a partner.
Slim Chickens, a fast-casual brand, signed a three-unit agreement with an existing franchisee to expand its Texas footprint. The deal is with Joel Garza, who owns Slim Chickens locations in Houston and is also a franchisee with Sonic Drive-In. The new agreement will expand the concept in Brazos and Polk counties, located north of the Houston metro. Slim Chickens, founded in 2003, has more than 250 units.
Mooyah Burgers, Fries & Shakes, a fast-casual concept, inked a three-unit agreement to grow in California’s Los Angeles and Orange counties. The agreement is with local entrepreneur and attorney Andrew Davis. Established in 2007, Mooyah has 73 locations in the U.S. and five in the United Arab Emirates.
Food from the brand Mooyah Burgers, Fries & Shakes, which has signed a new three-unit deal for southern California.
Airbrush tanning brand Pure Glow signed a three-unit deal for the Boston metro area. The agreement is with husband-and-wife team Sarah and Ross Fairbanks, who bring a variety of business experiences. Sarah Fairbanks worked in the beauty industry at companies Johnson & Johnson for Neutrogena Sun Care. Ross Fairbanks and his family, meanwhile, founded and sold two facility energy management companies to private equity. Founded in 2015, Pure Glow has two locations open in Boston and in 2023 received $1.4 million in seed funding to expand nationwide through franchising.
Fruit-based beverage concept Sip Fresh signed a three-unit agreement for Central Florida. Ryan McGrail, a Marine Corps veteran with experience in enterprise software sales, intends to open locations in Tampa, Orlando and Sarasota. Founded in 2017, Sip Fresh has four locations open.
Brunch brand Biscuit Belly signed a three-unit deal with an existing franchisee group to open two in Virginia and one in South Carolina. DGB Tenn previously inked an agreement to open five Biscuit Belly locations across Virginia and the Carolinas. Founded in 2019, Biscuit Belly began franchising in 2020 and has 10 restaurants open.
International Development News
Marco’s Pizza is expanding to Mexico with a new master franchise deal.
PayMore, an electronics retailer, signed its first international multi-unit deal. Richard Price, who has more than 20 years of experience in the software as a service industry, signed on to open five locations in Toronto, Canada. Founded in 2011 and franchising since 2020, PayMore has 26 stores open.
Marco’s Pizza is expanding internationally with a 50-unit master franchise agreement for Mexico. The deal is with Grupo Pizza Amanges SA de CV, a Mexican company run by four business partners. Their first unit is expected to open in the second quarter of 2024. Founded in 1978, Marco’s Pizza has more than 1,200 stores in 34 states, with locations also in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas.