Restaurant

New York — Pita Grill has signed a 12-year lease for 2,700-sq. ft. in Greenwich Village at 496 LaGuardia Place between West Houston and Bleecker Streets. The space includes 1,350 sq. ft. on the ground floor and 1,350 sq. ft. on the lower level. The quick-service restaurant will be the chain’s ninth location since if first opened a few blocks away at West 4th Street in 1994.

Los Angeles and Tokyo — Pinkberry has selected Royal Holdings to roll out franchises across Japan. An experienced franchisee, Royal Holdings operates 722 restaurants across several brands.

The initial development plan calls for 50 Pinkberry frozen yogurt stores.

Canton, Mass. --  Baskin-Robbins is launching a new online cake ordering system for customers nationwide, Online shoppers can browse through Baskin-Robbins' gallery of ice cream cakes and can create their own customizable cake by choosing their favorite ice cream and cake flavor combination.

Houston — Fuddruckers has opened its first restaurant in Europe — in Varese, Italy near Milan. The fast casual restaurant is the first of 10 planned by a new franchise partner, Vinum et Alia. Future sites being considered are in Italy, Poland and Switzerland.

The design of the 5,000-sq.-ft., 120-seat restaurant references Fuddruckers’ classic roadhouse origins.

Riverside, Calif. — Farmer Boys will open its 75th fast casual restaurant in Orange, Calif., this weekend. The Grand Opening will include a ribbon cutting ceremony, burger-eating contest, Big Cheese burger giveaway and family entertainment.

The fast, casual Farmer Boys chain prides itself on using farm-fresh ingredients.

Los Angeles – Pinkberry’s is entering the Japanese market with franchisee Royal Holdings. Japan is the 20th country where Pinkberry will operate stores.

Royal Holdings who operates 722 restaurants across several brands, both full service and QSR concepts. The partnership provides growth opportunities in the market for both traditional stores and non-traditional venues, with an initial development plan for 50 stores.

Aliso Viejo, Calif. —  AUM Hospitality has opened the second Johnny Rockets restaurant in Malaysia at Avenue K in Kuala Lumpur, a 360,000-sq.-ft. retail hub. The new Johnny Rockets is the 11th restaurant in the chain to open in Southeast Asia.

In addition to the two Malaysia, the chain operates six outlets in the Philippines and three in Indonesia.

Grand Rapids, Mich. — HopCat has purchased a former restaurant building on Woodward Avenue in Midtown Detroit and plans to open its third Michigan location in August. Mid-America Real Estate – Michigan represented the seller, Midtown Detroit Inc., in the transaction. Mid-America in cooperation with M Retail Solutions represented HopCat. A mass transit stop is planned directly in front of the building.

With 130 taps, the Midtown location will be the largest craft beer bar in the state. The bar will also offer wine, liquor and a full menu.