Store Expansion News: April update
Retailers and restaurants alike made headlines in April with store expansion plans and new formats.
Here are the major stories as reported by Chain Store Age, starting with the most recent.
•Frozen yogurt chain 16 Handles to make California debut — here's where New York City-based 16 Handles has announced its debut expansion into California with eight units planned across some of the state’s most high-demand markets, including the Los Angeles Metro area, the San Fernando Valley, the San Francisco Bay Area and North San Diego. The chain opened its first shop in 2008, and operates more than 40 locations total.
•Footwear brand Vivaia launches U.S. store expansion push Eco-friendly footwear brand Vivaia has opened its second U.S. location, at Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City, N.Y., with another NYC metro area location set to open on May 10, at Garden State Plaza in Paramus, N.J. Seven more locations are set to roll out during the year.
•Layne's Chicken Fingers to continue nationwide expansion — here's where The Texas-based chicken tender chain added more than 50 new restaurants to its development pipeline in the first quarter of the year. The new franchise partners span Victoria, Texas; Sacramento and Fresno, Calif.; northeastern Pennsylvania; and Charlotte, N.C. (a 27-unit agreement). Layne's also continued expansion with existing owners, including new deals signed for Oklahoma, Arkansas and San Antonio.
•First Look: Smoothie King unveils updated store design; 200 stores in pipeline The smoothie chain is building on its 50-plus-year legacy with a new “brand evolution” plan that includes an updated store design and expanded menu offerings. As part of the plan, Smoothie King, which has more than 200 new store commitments in its development pipeline, is introducing a refreshed store design that offers a contrast from its more stark, functional aesthetic of the past.
•Lululemon to expand in Mexico; founder Chip Wilson launches athletic-brand venture The athleisure giant plans to open eight stores in Mexico this year (out of 15 total planned North American openings). By the end of its fiscal year, Lululemon expects to operate more than 30 stores in Mexico. In addition to physical expansion, the brand is launching an e-commerce site in Mexico.
•BJ’s Wholesale Club makes Texas debut — more locations in the works The membership warehouse club has kicked off its Texas operations with the opening of its first-ever store in the Lone Star State, in Forney, which is in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The new location is BJ’s 264th club overall (and 202nd gas station). The company plans to open three more stores in Texas in the coming weeks — in Waxahachie, Southwest Fort Worth and Grand Prairie.
•Walmart to remodel 650-plus stores in 2026; details new openings The retail giant plans to remodel more than 650 supercenters and Neighborhood Markets in 2026, and open approximately 20 new locations this year and in early 2027. (In 2025, Walmart opened nine new stores across Alabama, California, Florida, New Jersey, Texas and Utah.) The 2026 remodeling schedule includes (but is not limited to) 72 stores in Texas, 58 in Florida, 56 in California and 37 in North Carolina.
•Sheetz to enter Indiana; plans 100 stores over 10 years The Pennsylvania-based convenience chain is set to expand into Indiana next year, with its first stores in the state planned for the Indianapolis area. Overall, Sheetz plans to build 100 store locations over the next 10 years in the Hoosier State, investing nearly $1 billion in total.
•Wayfair to open large-format store at Galleria Fort Lauderdale The online home furnishings giant will open its first large-format store in Florida at Galleria Fort Lauderdale as part of the center's comprehensive redevelopment. Scheduled to open in late 2027, the Wayfair store will span approximately 94,000 square feet across two levels, offering guests an extensive assortment across key home categories, including furniture, decor, housewares, appliances and more.
