Restaurant

East Rutherford, N.J. -- Triple Five on Monday gave more information on its plans to transform the controversial and long-delayed Xanadu project in New Jersey’s Meadowlands Sports Complex, in East Rutherford, into what it promises will be “the world's largest and premier tourism, entertainment and retail destination, eventually reaching 7.5 million sq. ft.”

Chicago -- In its most recent consumer sentiment and behavior survey, Technomic, the Chicago-based food industry research firm, found that 84% of consumers believe that grocery prices have risen in the past three months and 62% believe restaurant prices have risen.

Bob Goldin, executive VP of Technomic, believes that the rapid rise in gas prices, now at record highs, has raised consumer sensitivity to price increases in grocery stores and restaurants.

Commack, N.Y. -- North Plainfield, N.J.-based Levin Management Corp. said that frozen dessert company D’Lites Emporium will open a new location at Mayfair Shopping Center, located in Commack, N.Y.

The 1,280-sq.-ft. store will join other food offerings in the center such as Outback Steakhouse, Ciao Baby, Good Taste Buffet, Bagel Boss, Kosher Market & Deli, and Original Brooklyn Pizza.

New York City -- SRS Real Estate Partners said that Panera Bread has leased 6,926 sq. ft. on the ground-floor and basement levels at 120 E. 86th Street in Manhattan.
      
The lease was arranged by way of a termination with the current tenant, Walgreens, and a new lease execution with Panera.

New York City -- Dunkin’ Brands Group, which operates the Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins chains, filed to sell at least $400 million of stock in an initial public offering.

The Canton, Mass.-based company plans to use the proceeds to repay debt and for working capital and general corporate purposes, according to its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Dunkin' Brands was taken private in 2005 by a trio of private-equity firms for $2.4 billion in cash.

Kansas City, Mo. -- Einstein Noah Restaurant Group announces partnership with Service Management Group, a leading customer analytics agency focused on loyalty and service improvement, to increase customer loyalty and drive same-store sales.

Through this partnership Service Management will identify new business opportunities through customer analyses that integrate guest experience metrics with transaction data and Einstein restaurant attributes.

By Giles Sutton and Mark Wuller, [email protected], [email protected]

New York City -- Darden Restaurants plans to roughly double the size of LongHorn Steakhouse during the next 10 years. 

Speaking at Barclay’s Retail & Restaurants Conference in New York City, Darden president and COO Drew Madsen said LongHorn Steakhouse, Olive Garden and Seasons 52 would help drive the company’s growth going forward. Darden want to expand LongHorn Steakhouse, which currently has some 345 locations, to 600 to 800 units over the next decade.