News Briefs

A fast-casual Hawaiian barbecue chain is touching down in a major new market.

Ono Hawaiian BBQ will open its debut Texas location in Plano on July 24. Founded in 2002, the chain currently operates more than 130 restaurants in California and Arizona.

At the Plano location, which features a drive-thru, guests will find Ono Hawaiian BBQ's popular plate lunches, including BBQ Chicken, BBQ Beef, Kalbi Short Ribs, Island Fire Chicken, Chicken Katsu and a variety of seafood offerings. The chain says its entrance into a state known for its barbecue will offer Texas diners an “exciting” new experience rooted in Hawaiian flavors and hospitality.

"Texas has long been a market we're excited about, and we're thrilled to introduce Ono Hawaiian BBQ to Dallas," said co-founder and CEO Joshua Liang. "Our goal has always been to share the flavors, and aloha spirit through fresh, quality food and genuine hospitality. We look forward to becoming part of the Dallas community and welcoming guests to experience what has made Ono Hawaiian BBQ a favorite for more than two decades."

[READ MORE: L&L Hawaiian Barbecue opens six new locations in April]

To celebrate its arrival in Texas, Ono Hawaiian BBQ will host a grand opening celebration on July 24 featuring buy one get one free meals all day, and a special Hawaiʻi-inspired giveaway including two tickets to Cirque du Soleil's ʻAuana and a stay at Outrigger Waikīkī Beachcomber Hotel.

A leading rural lifestyle retailer is adding a new third-party delivery partner.

Tractor Supply Company is now offering same-day delivery from more than 2,400 Tractor Supply stores through the Instacart app and website. Customers can shop Tractor Supply’s full assortment on Instacart – including pet food and supplies, livestock feed, farm and ranch products, garden essentials, tools and hardware – with delivery in as fast as one hour at the same price as in the retailer’s store or site.

"We're committed to making living the Life Out Here lifestyle easier and more convenient," said Matthew Rubin, senior VP and president of digital & e-commerce at Tractor Supply Company. "Our partnership with Instacart provides customers with another seamless way to shop Tractor Supply, combining the products they trust with the speed and convenience of Instacart delivery. This partnership also introduces Tractor Supply to millions of Instacart users as a dependable supplier of the products they need to care for their pets, animals and land."

Tractor Supply has also been partnering with DoorDash to offer third-party on-demand delivery services since 2022. Participating Tractor Supply stores are available on DashPass, DoorDash’s membership program that offers members $0 delivery fees and other perks.

[READ MORE: Tractor Supply offers on-demand delivery]

"We're excited to bring Tractor Supply's trusted assortment of home, animal, and yard products to Instacart customers across the country," said Blake Wallace, VP of retail partnerships at Instacart. "Tractor Supply is a beloved brand with a broad reach that serves customers in communities of all kinds, and with Instacart, those customers can get what they need delivered to their door in as fast as an hour."

New retail construction is hovering near a multi-decade low, with one state accounting for a large share of the activity.

During the second quarter of 2026, roughly 72.1 million square feet of retail space was under construction in the United States, up 0.9% year over year and below the 10-year average of roughly 78.9 million square feet, according to data from CoStar, a global provider of online real estate marketplaces, information and analytics in the property markets. 

“The sharp rise in land prices, construction costs and interest rates over the past several years has pushed required rents well above prevailing market levels for many retail formats,” said Brandon Svec, national director of retail analytics at CoStar Group. "Even in markets with strong population growth and leasing demand, achieving returns that justify ground-up construction remains challenging. Beyond cost pressures, developers remain cautious following years of heightened supply risk awareness, while retailers continue to favor measured, capital-disciplined expansion strategies.”

Marcus & Millichap has arranged the sale of Seabrook Shopping Center near Space Center Houston in Seabrook, Texas. 

Neither the buyer nor the seller was disclosed by the national brokerage firm. The sale price listed on Marcus & Millchap’s website for the 25,000-sq.-ft. center was $2.7 million.

Seabrook is located on East NASA Parkway in the Kemah submarket, which counts a population of nearly 110,000 residents within a five-mile radius. 

Marcus & Millichap noted that thousands of tourists are drawn by the Space Center and local waterfront attractions.

“Houston's retail investment market remains strong, particularly for well-located shopping centers that offer opportunities to create value through leasing and repositioning,” said Scott Jones, an associate director of investments at the brokerage.

The buyer had recently acquired another center in the area from Marcus & Millichap and saw significant lease-up potential at Seabrook, which has nearly 20,000 square feet of available space. 

Consumer behavior indicates the use of artificial intelligence shopping tools is becoming widespread.

Data emailed to Chain Store Age by marketing technology provider Bloomreach reveals that more than 75% of consumers have leveraged next-gen AI solutions such as ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude to help them shop in the last six months. A recent survey of more than 4,000 U.S. and U.K. consumers conducted by Bloomreach also indicates that more than four-in-10 (42%) respondents use AI shopping tools daily, and close to 70% use AI for shopping at least weekly.

In addition 40% of respondents say using AI has led them to shop more frequently, 38% say spend more overall when they leverage AI, and 34% said they make more impulse purchases while shopping with AI. However, not all results are positive for retailers. Four-in-10 (41%) respondents would rather shop through an AI assistant, slightly more than would prefer to visit a brand’s website directly (38%), which Bloomreach analysis suggests signals a shift in where customer relationships are formed.

[READ MORE: Numerator: Consumers of all ages utilizing AI tools]

Other findings

• Eight-in-10 respondents say AI shopping results have met or exceed their expectations.
• More than half (56%) of respondents plan to use AI to shop more in the next 12 months.
• Six-in-10 (61%) respondents say AI increases their confidence in purchase decisions.
• Consumers are actively using AI to compare products (48%), find deals (46%) and discover products (41%).

"Shoppers aren't experimenting with AI anymore, they’re relying on it. And beyond that…they’re enjoying it. Most say AI shopping experiences are meeting or exceeding their expectations," said Raj De Datta, co-founder and CEO, Bloomreach. "The way consumers search and shop has changed, and brands have to adapt accordingly. Customer engagement built for yesterday won't win the shopper of today.”  

An Atlanta-based fried chicken chain has made its debut in the Big Apple.

Zaxbys has opened its first New York City location with a 2,000-sq.-ft. restaurant in the Bronx that offers both dine-in and drive-thru services. Later this summer, the chain will open a 2,800-sq.-ft. store on Manhattan’s Upper East Side that will feature its modern farmhouse-inspired design, along with convenient self-service ordering kiosks.

Zaxbys now operates over 1,000 locations in 24 states, and last month said it was continuing to accelerate its expansion into key new markets, including Maryland, Phoenix and Chicago.

"New York is one of the most influential food cities in the world, and we're incredibly proud to introduce Zaxbys to this market," said Zaxbys CEO Bernard Acoca. "Opening our first two restaurants in New York this summer marks an exciting milestone in our growth journey and a significant chapter in our expansion across the Northeast.”  

[READ MORE: Zaxbys names development chief as it continues expansion]

To celebrate its New York debut, Zaxbys will host a series of events throughout the city this summer designed to introduce the brand to local communities and build excitement around its arrival, the company said.

“Whether it's Southern transplants looking for a taste of home or New Yorkers discovering our Chicken Fingerz and signature sauces for the first time, we're excited to share the Southern hospitality and bold flavor experiences that have made Zaxbys a fan favorite for more than 35 years,” added Acoca.

Founded in 1990, Zaxbys is known for its chicken fingers and wings, salads and more.