Fast Casual Restaurant

Columbia, Md. -- Boardwalk Fresh Burgers & Fries said Tuesday it has signed a master franchise agreement with multi-unit restaurant developer Manu Patel to develop 40+ Boardwalk Fresh Burgers & Fries restaurants in Delaware, New Jersey, and the Philadelphia metro area.

Philadelphia -- Center City Philadelphia-based Michael Salove Co., an X Team partner, announced the completion of two lease transactions with Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen in the Greater Philadelphia area.

Popeye’s has signed a lease to open a 2,069-sq.-ft. freestanding unit in Wilmington, Del., and 2,152-sq.-ft. endcap at Darby Town Center in Darby, Pa.

Both are slated to open in March 2011. Once open, these units will be the 15th and 16th for the New Jersey-based franchisee.

Atlanta -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said Tuesday it has leased more than 23,500 sq. ft. of retail and restaurant space for seven new merchant locations in the Atlanta metro market.

According to Andre Koleszar, Regency Centers’ VP and regional officer, Atlanta-area retail business is getting stronger. “We’ve seen leasing activity recovering and retailers are attracted to shopping centers in prime locations with a merchandising mix that attracts upscale customers, ” he said.

Philadelphia -- Michael Salove Co., an X Team partner based in Center City Philadelphia, announced that it has completed two lease transactions in the Greater Philadelphia market with Qdoba Mexican Grill.

Qdoba will open a 2,600-sq.-ft. unit in Providence Town Center in Collegeville, Pa. and will open a 2,300-sq.-ft. unit in Wynnewood Square in Wynnewood, Pa.

New York City -- Robert K. Futterman & Associates said it has been retained as the exclusive retail leasing agent for the Manhattan franchisee of Elevation Burger, which controls the chain’s locations south of 50th Street and is currently the only Manhattan franchisee. 

Earlier this year, RKF represented the burger chain’s franchisee in the leasing of its Manhattan flagship location at 103 West 14th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues. It is scheduled to open in December.

Miramar, Fla. - Boca Raton, Fla.-based Woolbright Development announced that five new restaurants have opened over the last few months at Miramar Square in Miramar, Fla.

Miramar Square is a 240,000-sq.-ft. shopping center anchored by Kohl’s, Staples and Dollar General.

The new restaurant openings include Golden Krust Caribbean Grill, L&L Market Bistro/Elle’s, Smitty’s Grill, La Coriana and Giardinos Gourmet Salads.

Other eateries slated to open in the next months include Coldstone Creamery and Sir Pizza.

Milford, Conn. -- Don Fertman, chief development officer for the Subway sandwich chain, is the latest executive to go undercover on the CBS television series “Undercover Boss.” Fertman, a 29 year veteran of the restaurant chain, will be seen baking bread, stocking sandwich ingredients, slicing vegetables, taking inventories and serving customers, on the episode that airs Nov. 21, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

Atlanta -- SRS Real Estate Partners said that Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Pei Wei Asian Diner has selected SRS to find its debut location in the state of Georgia.

Pei Wei was launched in July 2000 as a growth vehicle for P.F. Chang’s China Bistro. Currently, Pei Wei operates more than 165 company-owned stores in 20 states.
 

Closing the lid on a local Jack in the Box

Near my Baton Rouge, La., neighborhood is a Jack in the Box fast-food restaurant that, from all cursory indications, had appeared to be surviving the recession.

Columbus, Ind.  -- New York City-based Centro Properties Group announced that Panera Bread has opened a 4,100-sq.-ft. location at Columbus Center, in Columbus, Ind.

Centro Properties Group is the owner of Columbus Center.