Fast Casual Restaurant

The personalization trend has hit the world’s largest Italian ice brand.

Rita’s Italian Ice is testing a cafe concept in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Four additional Rita's Cafe locations are in the works.

Whole Foods Market has chosen a fast-casual vegan eatery as the first partner in its “Friends of 365” program to allow like-minded, innovative businesses to establish their own independent retail spaces in 365 by Whole Foods Market stores.

The retailer announced that by Chloe will be part of the first 365 location, which is scheduled to open in late May in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles. It will be the plant-based vegan brand’s first location outside of New York City.

Checkers Drive-In Restaurants is employing a high-tech solution to help it expand throughout the United States.

The fast-casual chain has partnered with Buxton to identify growth opportunities for Checkers & Rally's restaurants. The company, which operates and franchises both Checkers and Rally's restaurants, currently has more than 800 locations nationwide.

If you’re after a hot tenant, look no further than food.

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.”

Fully customized pizzas tailored to each guest’s liking, served up in minutes. That’s the idea behind PizzaRev, a Los Angeles-based fast-casual pizza chain whose “build-your-own” approach is bringing food customization to a new level.

Richmond, Va. -- Divaris Real Estate announced the completion of four leases totaling 14,367 sq. ft. of commercial space in the metropolitan Richmond, Virginia market.

Hanford, Calif. – Passco Companies announced four leases at Hanford Mall located in Hanford, California. Set to open summer 2016, the new retailers include Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, Dunkin Donuts, and Pieology.

Whole Foods Market is launching a new format that aims to cater to the downtown business crowd, only this time there's no bricks-and-mortar involved. The grocery chain is launching a food truck in Austin, Texas, in March, according to the Austin Business Journal. The retailer plans to offer sandwiches and salads at first and likely expand the menu eventually. [Austin Business Journal]

Chain Store Age will honor the winners of its first-ever Breakout Retailer Awards, which honors emerging retail/restaurant concepts that are innovative in their segment and poised for growth, at its annual SPECS Conference, March 13-15, 2016, at the Hilton Anatole, Dallas. This year’s awards are sponsored by The Paint Folks.

Bryn and Dane’s announced it will be expanding from three to six locations in Pennsylvania within the next year. The new stores will be located in the Philadelphia Metro Area:

• Bryn Mawr Village in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania; set to open summer 2016
• Atwater South in Malvern, Pennsylvania; set to open fall 2016
• The Franklin, 834 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; set to open early 2017