Birdcall, Bumpers, Rita’s Italian Ice, Taco Bell. and Rock N’ Roll Sushi lead RestaurantNews.com’s Top 20 stories for the week ending August 17, 2025.
1) Birdcall Is Headed to Boise, Idaho After Signing First-Ever Franchise Agreement
Denver-based craft chicken brand Birdcall has signed its first-ever franchise agreement with Boise entrepreneur Caleb Randall to develop five new restaurants across Idaho’s Treasure Valley – including Boise, Meridian, Nampa, and Caldwell – with the first expected to open in 2026. Currently operating 15 locations across Colorado, Arizona, and Texas, Birdcall plans to rapidly expand to as many as 200 locations nationwide by the end of 2028, showcasing its ambitions for major growth.
2) Mississippi Favorite Bumpers Welcomes First Franchise Partner in Texas Market
Mississippi-based quick-service restaurant brand Bumpers Drive-In is expanding with its first franchise partner in Texas, restaurant industry veteran James Brown, who will open the first location in Lindale, TX. Brown, drawn by Bumpers’ unique offerings like funnel cake fries and strong operational support, is eager to leverage the brand’s loyal following and build a thriving local business.
3) Rita’s Italian Ice Celebrates Mid-Year Momentum with Growth, Innovation and Industry Recognition
Rita’s Italian Ice is experiencing significant growth in 2025, with 16 new locations opened and 19 more in development, including markets like Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Liberty Township, Ohio. The brand is enhancing its expansion strategy by introducing flexible store formats such as drive-thru prototypes and adaptive reuse of spaces like former banks and dry cleaners, aiming to reduce build-out costs and accelerate market entry.
4) Fan Favorite Returns: The Cheesy Street Chalupas Are Back
Taco Bell is bringing back its fan-favorite Cheesy Street Chalupas for a limited time nationwide starting August 14, 2025, featuring slow-roasted chicken or marinated steak, fresh onions, cilantro, and Jalapeño Ranch in a gooey Quesalupa-inspired shell, available as a two-pack for $5.49. The chalupas are also included in the $9 Luxe Cravings Box, which adds a Cheesy Bean & Rice Burrito, chips with nacho cheese sauce, and a medium drink.
5) Rock N’ Roll Sushi Signs Area Development Agreement to Return to Dallas-Fort Worth
The brand announced today that franchisees Brian Paul and Anthony Krall have signed a three-unit area development agreement to bring Rock N’ Roll Sushi back to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The first location is slated to open as early as this winter.
6) SPB Hospitality Appoints Robert J. Fargo as Senior Vice President of Development
SPB Hospitality has appointed seasoned real estate and construction executive Robert J. “Bob” Fargo as Senior Vice President of Development to lead its national development pipeline across its growing portfolio of brands – including J. Alexander’s, Krystal, Logan’s Roadhouse, Stoney River Steakhouse, Amada, and Village Whiskey. In this new role, Fargo will oversee all facets of real estate, design, and construction management – from lease execution to grand openings – leveraging his extensive experience to optimize development timelines, budgets, and quality across multimillion-dollar projects.
7) Four Savory Fund Brands Named to Inc. 5000 List of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies
Four restaurant brands backed by Savory Fund – Houston TX Hot Chicken, Via 313, Mo’ Bettahs Hawaiian-Style Food, and South Block – have been named to the prestigious 2025 Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies, with Houston TX Hot Chicken ranking exceptionally high at No. 217 nationwide. This recognition underscores the success of Savory Fund’s growth model, which combines financial capital and operational support to help emerging restaurant brands scale effectively.
8) East Coast Momentum Builds as Konala Inks Multi-Unit Deal for Philadelphia
Konala, a healthy fast-food brand known for its gluten-free, high-protein menu and efficient drive-thru model, has signed a three-unit franchise agreement with Circle9 LLC to expand into the Philadelphia market. Circle9, previously successful European Wax Center franchisees, were drawn to Konala’s operational simplicity and mission to provide healthy, flavorful food for families, and plan to open their first location in the Main Line suburbs outside central Philadelphia.
9) The Peach Cobbler Factory Launches Innovative New Mobile Division
The Peach Cobbler Factory has unveiled a new mobile dessert division, enabling its franchisees to bring their Southern-style cobblers, banana puddings, and other sweet treats to surrounding towns, fairs, weddings, sporting events, and more – expanding reach through a cost-effective, turnkey mobile unit connected to existing brick-and-mortar stores. The initiative follows successful pilot testing that showed significant sales and profit gains when operated under company guidelines and includes a lower franchise fee, mobile unit financing options, and streamlined implementation to boost store productivity and market presence.
10) Bread & Vine Is Expanding Nationwide
Bread & Vine, a modern all-day quick-service restaurant blending French elegance with international comfort food, is expanding nationwide. Founded in 2021 by French restaurateur Eric Bonnetain, the brand is set to open new locations in Tampa, Florida; Geneva, Illinois; and Boston, Massachusetts, with openings planned for late fall 2025. The franchise program offers entrepreneurs a proven model with full support in menu creation, sourcing, design, staff training, and operations. The initial franchise fee is $40,000, with a royalty of 5% of gross sales. The company aims to have 10 locations by the end of 2026 and 50 by 2028.
11) Whataburger Welcomes New Chief Operating Officer, Jessica Reicher
Whataburger has appointed Jessica Reicher as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, effective September 16, 2025, bringing over 30 years of restaurant leadership experience – including roles at Arby’s (Flynn Group), Red Robin, Fuddruckers, Pizza Hut International, Taco Bell, and Nando’s U.S. Reicher will oversee all corporate and franchise operations, restaurant services, and team development across Whataburger’s expanding footprint of more than 1,100 restaurants in 17 states.
12) Via 313 Soars to 25 Locations With Debut of Cypress Restaurant
Via 313, the award-winning Detroit-style pizza brand that began as a food truck in Austin, has reached a milestone by opening its 25th location – and fifth in the Houston area – with a new restaurant in Cypress set to debut on August 15, 2025, complete with grand opening festivities and community-focused activities. The opening includes family-friendly events like prize wheels, local partnerships, and charities – donating 25% of opening-day proceeds to support Cy-Fair Helping Hands – highlighting Via 313’s continued commitment to neighborhood engagement alongside its rapid expansion.
13) New York Media Misrepresents Texas Based Dickey’s Barbecue Pit Success in Franchising
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit has responded to a New York Post article that portrayed the brand’s franchise model negatively, clarifying that the majority of its franchisees experience success through a collaborative partnership approach. The company emphasized that the highlighted cases involved individuals who did not adhere to the brand’s proven operational standards, and it provided evidence to support its claims.
14) NFS Announces Bankruptcy Sale of Denny’s Restaurants
National Franchise Sales (NFS) has launched a structured bankruptcy auction for eight Denny’s locations across St. Louis and Louisiana, following the Chapter 11 filing of T&S Food Services II, LLC in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware. These stores are now available for competitive bidding, offering potential buyers a chance to acquire established operations within a recognizable family-dining brand.
15) Tompkins Square Bagels Opening First Food Hall Location at Shaver Hall at Amazon’s Midtown Manhattan Office
Tompkins Square Bagels – a beloved NYC shop known for its hand-rolled, small-batch bagels and iconic breakfast sandwiches – is set to open its fifth location and first-ever food hall outpost in Shaver Hall, Amazon’s new Midtown Manhattan food and entertainment venue inside the former Lord & Taylor building, slated to open in early 2026. The shop will bring signature items like the cult-favorite Weezer sandwich and its full lunch menu to this high-profile Fifth Avenue destination.
16) Del Taco’s El Big Boxes Just Got Bigger – Now Bigger Burritos Each At Over A Half Pound
Del Taco has upgraded its El Big Boxes to include burritos that now weigh over half a pound, offering hearty options like beef & bean, bean & cheddar, grilled chicken, and 8-Layer Veggie varieties – available across three value-packed box combos ranging from $5 to $9. The chain is also bringing back fan favorites – the Orange Cream Shake and Funnel Cake Fries (priced at $2.49) – to complement the bigger portions and deliver even more flavor and value.
17) Nékter Juice Bar Redefines the Future of Wellness with a Bold, Evolved Lineup of Cold-Pressed Juices and Lifestyle Bundles
Nékter Juice Bar is redefining modern wellness by launching a fresh lineup of 12-ounce, never-pasteurized cold-pressed juices – designed to support immunity, digestion, recovery, energy, and more – paired with Lifestyle Bundles that offer flexible, grab-and-go solutions fitting a real-life routine. This new “wellness your way” approach, featuring options like The Glow, The Defense, The Full Reset, and curated bundles such as the Immunity or Gut Reset, underscores Nékter’s ongoing commitment to accessible, functional, and ingredient-transparent health offerings.
18) KFC Answers the Call of Passionate Fans – Potato Wedges and Hot & Spicy Wings Make a Nationwide Comeback
KFC is reintroducing its fan-favorite Potato Wedges and Hot & Spicy Wings across U.S. locations starting August 18, responding to years of demand from social media and petitions. The return marks a nostalgic push in KFC’s “Kentucky Fried Comeback,” with wedges making a comeback after five years and the spicy wings returning after nearly two, both available while supplies last.
19) Vicious Biscuit Launches Omnichannel App to Meet Modern Guest Demands
Vicious Biscuit has introduced Vicious Biscuit Rewards, an omnichannel app designed to streamline both in-store and digital guest experiences. The platform offers mobile ordering, personalized loyalty, catering, and analytics, while also enhancing franchise scalability.
20) Ruby Slipper and Ruby Sunshine Named One of America’s Top Breakfast Chains in Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards
Ruby Slipper and Ruby Sunshine, two Louisiana-based brunch brands with 26 locations across six states, have been ranked the #2 best breakfast chain in the U.S. in Newsweek’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards. The recognition highlights the brands’ focus on made-from-scratch cuisine, signature cocktails, and Southern hospitality.