The Future 50: Restaurant Chains That Will Soon Take Over the World
These chains might not be in every town in America just yet, but they're getting there.
Grub Street
All Grub Street Posts Tagged:
‘chain restaurants’
Buffalo Wild Wings Coming to Evanston
The north suburbs gets the latest outpost of the sit-down chicken chain.
On The Farm With Steve Ells of Chipotle
Chipotle Mexican Grill earns raves for its addictive guacamole and forearm-sized burritos, but as this video from ABC's Nightline reveals, founder Steve Ells started the chain with the intention of serving high-quality, naturally-raised meats (sourced from happy pigs like...
Buffalo Grove Wendy's Employee Single-Handedly Brings Down Drive-Thru Crime Syndicate
An employee at a Buffalo Grove Wendy's is being applauded as "quick-thinking" for thwarting what police believe to be the latest in a string of attempts to steal a fast-food order from the drive thru, Chicago Breaking News reports: "About...
How Many Phoebe's Cupcakes Can You Handle?
When the Wall Street Journal — a publication not really known for its extensive journalistic interest in Chicago-based cupcake bakeries — profiled Wrigleyville newcomer Phoebe's Cupcakes, we perked up. The restaurant got off the ground thanks to a capital investment...
Rita's Ice Wants To Hit 600 Stores
It turns out that Rita's Ice is a big Philly export: the chain has spread as far as Texas (where they just opened store no. 556) and wants to open no. 600 by the end of the year. Since...
This Is Why You’re Fat
A new book, by the man who fought big tobacco as FDA commissioner, tells us why we crave Chili’s (wait, we crave Chili’s?).
Bankrupt Bakers Square Restaurant Group Sold
We're not sure if this is one of those recession silver linings or not: Vicorp, the bankrupt owner of Bakers Square, has sold the restaurant chain to an investment partnership backed by Fidelity National Financial and Providence Equity Partners,...
The Sun-Times is Blackmailing Steak 'n Shake
Sun-Times columnist Mark Brown once called Steak 'n Shake "the very best burger chain in the country" in a rant about how the restaurant doesn't have a location in Chicago proper (they've been in the 'burbs for a long while)....
Potbelly Sandwich Works Curtailing Chicago Expansion
Via Crain's comes news that Potbelly Sandwich Works (last featured here for their plan to raise prices) is cutting back on their planned doubling of Chicago-area stores. A spokesman says “In light of what is going on in our economy,...
Everyone's Hating On Five Guys
When we saw Chicagoist's dismissal of Five Guys Burgers & Fries, we were all "hell naw, must be an off day." One of our all-time top burger experiences was a Five Guys one, visiting a college friend at school...
Pinkberry Knockoffs Reach Critical Mass
Over at MP:Philly, editor Elsa marvels at the proliferation of Pinkberry knockoffs — all frozen yogurt joints, all playing by the same [color]+[fruit] naming formula. From Blue Mango to Kiwiberri, it's a calvacade of creative knockoffs. Chicago's own Starfruit gets...
Giordano's Ranks Third for Customer Satisfaction
Congrats are due to Giordano's Pizza, who ranked third overall for customer satisfaction in a survey of fast-service chains put together by Sandelman & Associates. The stuffed pizza mecca got ratings of "excellent" from 56% of survey respondents —...
Mr. Beef on Orleans Having Financial Trouble
ABC 7 News reports (via Crain's) that Mr Beef on Orleans is facing some serious money problems. They're in debt to the tune of $650,000 — according to the creditor, Midwest Bank, the owners of the restaurant have failed...
Starbucks Launches Value Meals
Starbucks has unveiled the "value meal" that we wrote about last week, and it's a combo promotion. The Wall Street Journal reports that Under Starbucks's new $3.95 promotion, customers can get a 12 oz. latte with oatmeal or coffee cake...
The McRib Locator [Helpful Services]
Appropriate for a warming Thursday morning: The McRib Locator! This bit of Web 2.0 is exactly what it sounds like — a user-driven map with pushpins indicating McRib sightings (dubious or verified) within the past 10 days. My predecessor on...
Potbelly Sandwiches Planning To Raise Prices, Expand Menu
As long as we're talking business news — Crain's Chicago Business reports that prices will be going up at Potbelly Sandwich Works. Along with the price increase (from $4.15 to as high as $4.50), the Chicago-based chain will start offering...
The Whopper Sacrifice: 'Lord Of The Flies' For the Burger Set
We don't talk too much about Burger King on this blog. This is in part because we don't list their menu, and in part because their promotional gimmicks are just so completely and obviously setting themselves up to be blog-fodder...
National: Buca Di Beppo's Ridiculously Delicious Garlic Mozzarella Bread
For all its kitsch and national ubiquity, we remain dedicated fans of Buca Di Beppo, the family-style redsauce Italian chain known for their planet-sized meatballs and overwhelming wall decor. The chain was recently bought by the folks behind Planet...
Smoke & Fire: Bacci Pizza Arson Intrigue
The Trib is reporting that Robert Didiana, the owner of numerous Bacci Pizzeria establishments throughout the state (including six in Chicago), was arrested on suspicion of arson at his former Western Ave location. Shady restaurauteurs, no news there. But this...