Hospitality

Canton, Mass. -- Dunkin' Brands Group announced that David Starmer has joined Dunkin' Brands as VP - IT, store systems, and Paul Zaher has joined the company as VP - IT, marketing systems. Both will report directly to Jack Clare, senior VP and CIO for Dunkin' Brands.

Zaher joins Dunkin' Brands from Express, where he directed e-commerce and other marketing systems.  

Starmer joins Dunkin' Brands from Papa Murphy's International, where he directed in-store technology solutions.

Detroit – Despite the widely reported financial troubles the Detroit area is facing, four current development projects demonstrate there is demand for new retail stores and restaurants in the city.

According to an article in Crain’s Detroit Business, all four projects are taking place near the Oakland Mall at the intersection of 14 Mile and John R. roads. Chicago-based Urban Retail Properties is reportedly developing Qdoba Mexican Grill and Starbucks locations off 14 Mile Road that will open later this fall.

Saratoga, Calif. — Fuddruckers is expanding its footprint in Southern California through a new franchise development partnership with Keilah LLC.

The partnership will open ten new Fuddruckers over the next several years. The first is slated to debut by early 2015.

Mokena, Ill. — Micoley.com’s Sept. 28 property auction will offer a restaurant and banquet facility in Mokena, Ill. The two-story restaurant spans 14,754 sq. ft. The site includes 162 parking spaces. Zoning allows other kinds of commercial activity.

The property has an opening bid of $995,000, substantially lower than the initial asking price of $1,795,000. Offers are expected during the lead up to the auction. Properties such as this frequently sell ahead of their auction date.

Boston — A group of private equity companies, including Advent International and CDIB Capital, have joined together to acquire a significant equity position in International Coffee & Tea, which owns and operates stores under The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf banner, with an eye on expanding in Asia. Other investors participating in the transaction include Mirae Asset Private Equity and the Sassoon family (the latter is the largest existing shareholder of The Coffee Bean, and is remaining as a substantial shareholder).

Ocean City, Md. — Fractured Prune Doughnuts has announced a national expansion projecting 50 new store agreements in the next six months. The next Fractured Prune www.fracturedprune.com will open in St. George, Utah, on Sept. 24.

The brightly colored doughnut shops promote always hot doughnuts, available all ways and offers 15 glazes and 15 toppings.

Canton, Mass. -- Dunkin’ Donuts announced that it has signed agreements with two franchise groups to begin developing Dunkin' Donuts restaurants in the United Kingdom. The two agreements call for the development of 50 Dunkin' Donuts restaurants in Greater London over the next five years, with an initial focus on North London and East London.

New York -- McDonald’s is testing a mobile order and payment application in Austin, Texas, and Salt Lake City, Bloomberg News reported.