Fast Casual Restaurant

Chain Store Age on Thursday announced the winners of its first annual Breakout Retailer Awards, which honors emerging retail/restaurant concepts that are innovative in their segment and show strong potential for growth.

Newk’s Eatery is on track with its plans to double in size in the next three years.

The Jackson, Mississippi-based fast-casual chain entered six new markets and increased its store count by 27% in 2015, opening 20 new locations. It currently operates 96 eateries in 13 states.

Johnny Rockets, the franchisor and operator of Johnny Rockets restaurants, has named Susanne Stover as its CFO and member of its executive team. Stover will be reporting directly to CEO Charles Bruce, and will lead and implement strategies to drive growth and a financial infrastructure.

Stover is no stranger to the casual dining segment. She has held leadership positions as the CFO for the Rosa Mexicano restaurant chain and controller at the casual dining restaurant chain California Pizza Kitchen.

Highland Village, Texas -- Trademark Property Corp., the operating partner for The Shops at Highland Village located in Highland Village, Texas, announced Torchy’s Tacos has signed a lease for 5,262 sq. ft. at the recently renovated shopping center. In addition, Runway Seven’s flagship store will relocate this spring to a larger space.

San Antonio, Texas -- InvenTrust Properties Corp. announced that it has acquired Sonterra Village Shopping Center, a newly constructed, 42,492 sq. ft. shopping center located in San Antonio, Texas, for approximately $21.5 million.

Winter Garden, Fla. -- The Sembler Company has completed construction on the final outparcel at the 1.15 million sq. ft. Winter Garden Village located in Winter Garden, Florida.

Pei Wei Asian Diner and Mattress One will occupy the new 7,200-sq. ft. building, marking complete build-out of the development originally started in 2006.

Kneaders Bakery & Café has partnered with Buxton to support its growth initiatives as it expands into new markets.

Buxton will identify franchise territory opportunities for the Utah-based Kneaders based on customer analytics.

From food trucks to high-end restaurants and everything in between, dining has never been more essential to the shopping center experience.

“E-commerce has made it more important for retail centers to enhance the experience,” said Terry Montesi, CEO, Trademark Property Co. And food works great with retail.”

Cousins Subs, a regional sub sandwich retailer with more than 100 locations in Wisconsin and Arizona, knows that a bigger sandwich isn’t better unless it has the right ingredients.

Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin-based Cousins is taking the same approach to corporate growth that it takes to increasing the size of its sandwiches. Cousins is partnering with customer analytics platform provider Buxton to develop site selection strategies based on core customer insights. Buxton will also identify new real estate growth opportunities for Cousins Subs in the Midwest.

Sonic Drive-In is expanding its footprint in the Golden State.

The company signed franchise agreements to open a total of 33 new drive-ins in the state of California over the next seven years.

The 33 drive-ins are planned for multiple markets across the state: 11 in Sacramento; 12 in the San Francisco Bay Area; three in west Los Angeles; five between Bakersfield and Stockton and two in the Palm Springs area.