Restaurant

Los Angeles – Fatburger is piloting CurbStand, the iOS app that allows users to seamlessly locate, pay and tip for valet parking from their mobile devices. For a limited time, customers at the Fatburger West Hollywood and Downtown Los Angeles locations can use the free CurbStand app, with plans for additional locations in the future.

New York — Winick Realty Group has leased 2,200 sq. ft. for Chipotle Mexican Grill at 222 Market Street, part of the RockPlaza Lofts residential and commercial development in Newark, New Jersey.

Chipotle is the first national quick-service restaurant to open in Downtown Newark in decades, according to Winick. The new unit is located near Seaton Hall University Law School and the Prudential Center, home of the NHL hockey team New Jersey Devils.

Tampa, Fla. -- Burger 21, founded by the owners of The Melting Pot Restaurants, has executed its first franchise agreement in Michigan, under which a debut restaurant in Ann Arbor will open summer 2015.

Additionally, the company signed two franchise agreements for single units in Ocala, Florida, and Raleigh, North Carolina. The new deals are part of the fast-casual concept's growth strategy to expand its presence in new and existing markets nationwide.

To date, Burger 21 has 13 open locations and 25 franchised restaurants in development.

Atlanta - Retail spending growth was at an 11-month high in July as summer vacation travel led strong spending during the month, according to data reported by payment technology and services provider First Data Corporation. The First Data SpendTrend analysis looked at the period July 1 through 31, 2014, compared to July 2 through Aug. 1, 2013.

Kalamazoo, Mich. – A $2.2 million, 23,000-sq.-ft. retail center is reportedly planned for Kalamazoo, Michigan. According to the Kalamazoo Gazette, developer Habib Mandwee plans to open the center in a downtown area next to a location where Kalamazoo Valley Community College wants to build a health-focused campus.

Tenants for the retail center include Biggby Coffee and On the Rocks Market, with room for four other retailers. Developers hope to start construction in spring 2015 with a fall 2015 completion target.

San Francisco - OpenTable, a provider of online restaurant reservations and part of The Priceline Group, has kicked off the national expansion of its pay with OpenTable feature with a launch in New York City. In addition to its new launch in New York City, OpenTable plans to expand its mobile payments presence in San Francisco, home to its mobile payment pilot which launched in February 2014, and to roll out the feature across the nation by introducing it in 20 cities before the end of 2014.

Orlando, Fla. -- Darden Restaurants, Inc., which operates the Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse banners among others, has completed the repurchase of approximately $900 million of the previously announced $1 billion debt retirement, leaving approximately $1.6 billion of debt on its balance sheet.

New York -- The latest SpendingPulse report from MasterCard showed that U.S. retail sales rose 4.6% year-over-year in July, the largest year-over-year gain since October 2012.

Lodging, Airlines and Restaurants were among the top categories for U.S. retail sales last month, while Automotive, Grocery and Luxury items (excluding Jewelry) were less sought after by consumers.