East Coast Wings + Grill, German Doner Kebab, Bread & Vine, Mountain Mike’s Pizza, and Golden Corral lead RestaurantNews.com’s Top 20 stories for the week ending June 22, 2025.
1) East Coast Wings + Grill Named to Franchise Business Review’s 2025 Culture100 List
Independent research identified East Coast Wings + Grill as one of the Top 100 Franchise Brands with the best culture based on surveys of over 35,000 franchise owners.
2) Get Ready, Centereach! German Doner Kebab is Opening This June
German Doner Kebab (GDK), the internationally loved premium QSR brand famous for its delicious, high-quality kebabs, is bringing its bold flavors to Centereach.
3) Bread & Vine Expands Nationally with Bold Franchise Rollout and Uncompromising Culinary Vision
Founded by hospitality veteran Eric Bonnetain and fine wine expert Monique Bonnetain, Bread & Vine is quickly becoming a rising star in the U.S. culinary landscape.
4) Mountain Mike’s Pizza Expands Greater Sacramento Presence With New Roseville Restaurant
Mountain Mike’s Pizza, a leading family-style pizza chain for over 45 years, known for its legendary crispy, curly pepperonis, massive 20-inch Mountain-sized pizzas and dough made fresh daily, has opened its third Roseville location, further solidifying the brand’s stronghold in the greater Sacramento region, where it operates nearly 60 locations.
5) Golden Corral’s Fourth Location in Puerto Rico Now Open
America’s leading buffet and grill expands presence on the island with the opening of Bayamón location.
6) Uncle Sharkii Poke Bar Franchisees Honored with Multi-Unit Mastery Award
Award recognizes the longtime franchisees’ successful leadership and operational excellence across five Uncle Sharkii Poke Bar locations.
7) Media reports raise questions about New York Times reporting on Dickey’s Barbecue: “Our Franchisees, Our Legacy Deserve Better”
“We have served authentic Texas-style barbecue since 1941. We have outstanding, successful franchisee partners who work extremely hard in a tough business,” said Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants. “The experience and success of the majority of our franchisees and our brand stands on its own merit.”
8) Yum! Brands Appoints Chris Turner as Chief Executive Officer Effective October 1, 2025
Turner, who currently serves as Chief Financial & Franchise Officer for Yum! Brands, will succeed current Chief Executive Officer David Gibbs, who, in March 2025, informed the Board of Directors of his intention to retire in the next year after 37 years with the Company and a successful tenure as CEO.
9) Southern Chicks Baton Rouge Grand Opening Draws Fans, Foodies, and Local Press
Southern Chicks Café & Daiquiris marked a major milestone this May with the grand opening of its newest location – and the first under the brand’s franchise banner – in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
10) Oui, Oui! La Madeleine Launches ‘Summer of Salade Samplers’
French-inspired bakery and café la Madeleine celebrates the “Summer of Salade Samplers,” with the launch of fresh, seasonal offerings that include three new salades for mixing and matching, plus four Refresher beverages and a delectable Brioche BLT, all perfect for warm-weather dining.
11) Soulman’s Bar-B-Que Announces Leadership Promotions and New Additions to Support Growth and Excellence
Soulman’s Bar-B-Que, a North Texas institution known for its authentic, hickory-smoked barbecue and community-first approach, has announced key leadership promotions and additions designed to fuel the brand’s continued growth, innovation, and operational excellence.
12) Huddle House Franchise Celebrates Grand Opening of Laredo, Texas Restaurant
The new location marks the first Huddle House for Laredo and the 21st Huddle House location for Texas. In the coming years, Huddle House will double its footprint in the Lone Star state with a 20-unit agreement signed for the Houston-metropolitan-area.
13) Introducing Wasserstrom’s Business Accelerator Tools
The first innovation from Wasserstrom’s Business Accelerator Tools is a six-part Design & Build series, created to equip new operators with practical strategies for a successful restaurant launch.
14) Sunny Street Café Appoints Champion as PR and Franchise Development Agency of Record
Sunny Street Café, the fast-growing, family-run breakfast and lunch concept known for its warm hospitality and chef-driven comfort food, has officially named Champion as its public relations and franchise development agency of record.
15) Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken Aims for Another Top 10 Win Ahead of National Fried Chicken Day
After securing a spot on USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards list for the Best Fast Food Fried Chicken in 2023 and 2024, Lee’s once again earns a nomination for 2025. Voting runs now through July 7.
16) Powerhouse+Co. Proudly Adds Taco Cabana To Growing Portfolio of Restaurant Clients
Having supported Texas-based Taco Cabana’s franchise growth since last year, Powerhouse now adds consumer communications for the popular Mexican-inspired fast-casual dining chain.
17) Beyond Juicery + Eatery Celebrates 20 Years of Fresh-Fueled Growth and Wellness Innovation
Beyond Juicery + Eatery is celebrating its 20th anniversary on Friday, June 20 – fittingly, on the first day of summer – with a series of limited-time offerings and experiences that reflect its evolution from a regional smoothie shop to a fast-growing lifestyle brand rooted in flavor, function and wellness.
18) From Farm-to-Fork: Tender Greens Unveils Summer Menu Rooted in the Season
Tender Greens, the Los Angeles-based restaurant known for its elevated approach to peak seasonal fare, proudly announces the launch of its summer menu, spotlighting fresh produce and ingredient-driven flavors.
19) Surcheros Lands on Fast Casual’s Top 100 Movers & Shakers List
Surcheros, a community favorite rooted in bold flavors with Southern hospitality, caps off a major growth year with another milestone. Fast Casual Magazine recently named the Georgia-based Fresh-Mex company to its 2025 Top 100 Movers & Shakers list.
20) Logan’s Roadhouse Deepens Community Impact with 50,000 Meals Donated and a Service Dog Named Logan
Veteran-focused and hunger relief campaigns continue through partnerships with GiftAMeal and K9s For Warriors