Fast Casual Restaurant

Prattville, Ala. -- Brentwood, Tenn.-based GBT Realty said that it is bringing Starbucks Coffee, Aspen Dental and Firehouse Subs to Cobbs Ford Village, a new, in-line shopping center located in Prattville, Ala., in the Montgomery MSA. 


Cobbs Ford Village is approximately 2.52 acres and will house several additional tenants that are now in the beginning stages of signing leases. Groundbreaking for the center will be this April, with an estimated opening date of spring 2014.

Waban, Mass. -- Chick-fil-A, Dunkin' Donuts, Sonic Drive-In, and Little Caesar's earned the top spots in the fast food sector of the 2013 Temkin Experience Ratings. At the other end of the spectrum, KFC and McDonalds were the lowest-rated fast food restaurants. The fast food industry earned the second highest average rating out of 19 industries, falling only behind the grocery sector.

Wendy's is rolling out its updated image and new store environment to some 200 locations this year. Features include lounge seating, fireplaces and digital menuboards. The re-imaged restaurants have shown an average 25% increase in sales over the prior year.  Learn more.

Design and rebranding: Tesser, San Francisco

Boston -- Boston-based The Wilder Cos. announced Wednesday that PetSmart will grand-open its new store on March 9 at Wilder’s Rochester Crossing, N.H., shopping center.

The opening of the 12,000-sq.-ft. store will bring the shopping center to 100% occupancy.

Rochester Crossing, at 304,500 sq. ft., also feature Kohl’s, Lowe’s, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft, GameStop, Tropical Smoothie and Buffalo Wild Wings.

Indianapolis -- Kite Realty Group said that Buffalo Wild Wings will open on a 0.92 acre outparcel at Glendale Town Center, located in Indianapolis.

In other Kite Realty news, Maurices has leased 4,751 sq. ft. at Red Bank Commons, located in Evansville, Ind., and Hair Studio Artists leased 1,241 sq. ft. at Delray Marketplace, in Delray Beach, Fla.  

Dallas -- Cypress Equities said Wednesday that Sleep Experts has signed a lease to occupy the remaining portion of the company’s development that currently houses Freebirds World Burrito at the northeast corner of West Seventh Street and Foch Street in Fort Worth, Texas.

The 3,035-sq.-ft. store is expected to open in May and marks the third in Fort Worth.

Madison, Ala. -- Brentwood, Tenn.-based GBT Realty announced that several new tenants bring its Shoppes of Madison property to near 100% occupied.

Moe’s Southwest Grill will join the new shopping center, along with Buenavista Mexican Cantina, which will open a 7,220-sq.-ft. restaurant on a 1.55-acre outparcel.

The Target-anchored Shoppes of Madison also features Ross, Petco, Kinnucan’s, and numerous junior anchors and small shops. The 28-acre center, which opened in 2012, was developed and leased by GBT Realty Corp.

New York -- RKF announced that it has arranged four long-term leases for U.K.-based sandwich chain Pret A Manger.

The new stores are located at 655 Sixth Avenue, 319 Broadway, 350 Park Avenue and 303 Park Avenue South. With the addition of these new stores, Pret A Manger will have 36 Manhattan locations.

While the 655 Sixth Avenue location recently opened, the other three locations are slated to open in April.

Austin, Texas -- Schlotzsky's has signed the brand's largest franchise agreement in more than 40 years, entering into a partnership that calls for more than 170 Schlotzsky's locations throughout California. The company, which currently has more than 350 locations worldwide, plans to have upwards of 700 locations by 2016.
   
Each of the new restaurants will feature a new, contemporary design and an upgraded service model in which crew members hand-deliver food to the tables.

Dublin, Ohio -- Wendy’s is getting a makeover. On Feb. 25, the company will unveil its new, more contemporary-looking logo in advertising, on product packaging, crew uniforms, new restaurant signage, menuboards and digital assets.  

The updated logo is in sync with the company’s new “Image Activation” restaurant environment, whose bold, sleek, ultra-modern look is designed to enhance the customer experience. Features include lounge seating with fireplaces, flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi and digital menuboards.