Restaurant

An 18,000-sq.-ft. Hofbrauhaus restaurant has broken ground at Grandview Yard in Grandview Heights, Ohio, according to Nationwide Realty Investors, the developer of the $500 million mixed-use project. Hofbrauhaus Columbus will resemble the legendary 420-year-old Hofbrauhaus in Munich, Germany. The restaurant will include a large bier hall for live entertainment, an old world German-style dining room and an outdoor bier garden.

Minneapolis – Caribou Coffee has launched its new loyalty program, Caribou Perks. Customers can register by text or online.

Emeryville, Calif. — Jamba Juice Company has entered into a master franchise development agreement with Foodmark, the food and beverage division of Landmark Group, to develop 80 Jamba Juice stores across the Middle East region during the next 10 years. The first Jamba Juice store is expected to open in Dubai in 2014.

Foodmark operates several restaurant concepts and brands in the region.

North Plainfield, N.J. — Salon 724 has leased 2,300 sq. ft. at Centre Plaza in Bensalem, Pa., according to Levin Management (www.levinmgt.com), the center’s exclusive leasing and managing agent.

Tenants at the 43,550-sq.-ft. Centre Plaza include Curves for Women, Domino’s Pizza, LabCorp, MGM Financial Strategies Inc., First Federal Savings & Loan, A&S Bagels and Tako Japanese Restaurant.

Seattle — Starbucks is introducing Starbucks gift cards at select locations in mainland China. Starbucks cards can be purchased in three design themes, including Thank You, Kind Regards and Happy Lunar New Year.

“The Lunar New Year is a time when family and friends gather to meet, connect and share stories,” said Belinda Wong, president, Starbucks China. [All of the cards] can be used at our stores in mainland China year-round.”

Plano, Texas -- Pizza Hut will offer 50% off any medium or large pizza ordered online from Jan. 1-10. The online promotion marks the 20th anniversary of Pizza Hut offering online ordering via its “PizzaNet” digital ordering hub.

Participants will also join the brand's "Hut Lovers" program, which provides members with other exclusive deals. Pizza Hut is launching a YouTube ad featuring 1990s pop artists Ace of Base as part of the promotion.

Louisville, Ky. — GBT Realty Corp. has closed on the purchase of approximately 32 acres along Shelbyville Road at I-265 for the development of Middletown Commons in Louisville, Ky. Plans call for the first tenants to open in late 2014.

The mixed-use power center will include more than 225,000 sq. ft. of retail space and six outparcels ranging from 0.6 acres to 1.88 acres. According to GBT Realty, total development costs will likely exceed $50 million.

Washington, D.C. -- Driven by improving same-store sales and customer traffic levels, the National Restaurant Association's Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) hit a five-month high in November 2013. The RPI, a monthly composite index that tracks the health of and outlook for the U.S. restaurant industry, stood at 101.2 in November, up 0.3% from October and the strongest level since June.