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 UNITED STATES FRANCHISE NEWS ARCHIVE
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: : December 2008
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Subway Ranks No. 1 for 16th Time. The Subway restaurant chain has once again been named the No. 1 franchise opportunity for 2009 by Entrepreneur magazine in its Annual "Franchise 500" rankings. The brand was also named the No. 1 global franchise opportunity. .... [more]
31 Dec, 2008
Cold Stone reaches out to franchise owners. With the economy worrying small-business owners, the executive management team of ice cream company Cold Stone Creamery is visiting local markets to share advice on how to market and remain successful during an economic slump. .... [more]
31 Dec, 2008
US hotel shares suffer in year of the 'staycation'. U.S. stocks plunged in 2008 as both consumers and businesses cut back on travel spending. .... [more]
31 Dec, 2008
Sizing Up Salaries Inside Franchisers. When it comes to making money in franchising, the focus usually is on what franchisees can pocket. Seldom is there discussion about the pay of those on the other side of the contract -- the franchisers. .... [more]
30 Dec, 2008
Rita’s Italian Ice coming to Houston. The Trevose, Pa.-based chain, which offers Italian ice, frozen custard and layered gelati as well as shakes and other creations, is planning to open 50 stores in the Houston area. .... [more]
30 Dec, 2008
Yum! Gets Into the Fitness Business. Yum! Brands, Inc. today announced that it is launching a free online fitness program starting January 1, 2009, to help people jumpstart their 2009 New Year's resolution to exercise more and get in shape. .... [more]
29 Dec, 2008
MaggieMoo's parent NexCen Brands sells Bill Blass clothing business. Troubled NexCen Brands has sold its Bill Blass apparel brand to Peacock International Holdings LLC for $10 million — news that more than doubled NexCen’s share price Monday. .... [more]
29 Dec, 2008
Moe's Co-Founder Opens Pizza Concept. Moe's Southwest Grill co-founder Matt Andrew, along with partner Tony Lewis, is opening a new made-to-order pizza concept called Maddio's Pizza Joint in Atlanta on January 1, 2009. .... [more]
29 Dec, 2008
United We Geek – Independent Owners Association of Geeks on Call America, Inc. Franchisees Responds to Claims Against Geeks on Call America, Inc. United We Geek, the Independent Franchise Owners Association of Geeks on Call America, Inc. announced today that 10 UWG members filed individual lawsuits against Geeks on Call America, Inc. and its parent company Geeks on Call Holdings, Inc. .... [more]
26 Dec, 2008
Franchising Index Weathers Recession in Third Quarter. The Rosenberg Center Franchise 50 Index weathered the brutal correction under way in the financial markets far better than the S&P 500 in the third quarter of 2008, dipping a mere .4 percent compared with a 9 percent drop in the S&P 500. .... [more]
23 Dec, 2008
Bookkeeping Express continues expansion. Since Bookkeeping Express got the OK this summer from the Federal Trade Commission to start selling franchises in almost every state, the company has sold 110 territories up and down the East Coast, including 26 local areas. .... [more]
22 Dec, 2008
Alamo Drafthouse to debut in Dallas soon. Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas -- a theater/restaurant concept based in Central Texas -- is ready to launch outlets for avid movie-goers in Dallas. .... [more]
22 Dec, 2008
Ruby Tuesday plans Hawaii expansion. Ruby Tuesday has no plans to close its four Hawaii restaurants, and local franchise owners are moving forward to open in Kapolei and Hilo. .... [more]
22 Dec, 2008
Wendy’s closes Oahu restaurant. Wendy’s abruptly closed its Wahiawa location on Saturday, leaving dozens of workers without jobs. .... [more]
22 Dec, 2008
Snap-on Tools tops Franchise 500 ranking. Snap-on Tools has received top honors among the country’s tool franchises in the annual “Franchise 500 Ranking” by Entrepreneur magazine. .... [more]
22 Dec, 2008
Subway reaches $645,000 settlement with 3 counties. The Subway sandwich chain has reached a $645,000 settlement with three counties who sued for misleading advertising and overcharging. .... [more]
20 Dec, 2008
Ruby Tuesday will close about 70 locations. Ruby Tuesday announced it will incur costs of close to $70 million in 2009 tied to about 70 restaurant closures and declining sales. .... [more]
19 Dec, 2008
Laid-off turn to franchises. Downsized by the mortgage meltdown, Al Cooper suddenly was forced to find a new job... Welcome to the franchising world in a sour economy. Cooper joins other former executives from around the country who have decided to become franchisees. .... [more]
19 Dec, 2008
Court Dismisses BK Lawsuit. Burger King Corp. is pleased that the court has dismissed the trans fats lawsuit brought by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) against the company. .... [more]
19 Dec, 2008
More than $100K in Seven Days. In the face of an avalanche of bad economic news in the U.S. and abroad, Carl's Jr. is making news of a different kind; the new Carl's Jr. restaurant in Marysville, Washington, posted a record-setting $105,063 in sales in its first seven days. .... [more]
19 Dec, 2008
For Eateries, Oatmeal Is Hotter. The smoothie chain Jamba Juice plans to add oatmeal to the menu at its Chicago locations Thursday, the latest sign of how restaurants are trying to give the old-fashioned breakfast food an upscale makeover. .... [more]
18 Dec, 2008
Local Waffle Houses To Be Saved From Bankruptcy. TAMPA - It looks like the "scattered, smothered and covered" hash browns at Waffle House may have found a financial savior. .... [more]
18 Dec, 2008
Overland Park franchisee is buying Denver area Pizza Huts. NPC International Inc. of Overland Park, the world’s biggest Pizza Hut franchisee, has agreed to buy 42 Denver area Pizza Huts from Pizza Hut Inc. for $19 million. .... [more]
18 Dec, 2008
Geeks On Call Partners with Molly Maid. Geeks On Call Holdings, Inc. announced today that Molly Maid has joined its Value-Added Benefit co-marketing program for franchisors, creating a new endorsed vendor relationship with the company. .... [more]
18 Dec, 2008
Top Pizza Franchisees Honored. Pizza Patron honored the outstanding business achievements of several of its franchise partners when it held its second annual Franchise Conference in South Padre Island, Texas. .... [more]
18 Dec, 2008
Brooke Founder Declares Bankruptcy Trying to Save Companies. Robert Orr filed personal bankruptcy yesterday after pledging his family fortune trying to save Brooke Capital Corporation and Aleritas Capital Corp. .... [more]
17 Dec, 2008
Java Detour Increases Franchisee Network. Java Detour, Inc. is proud to announce that it has sold two of its corporate-owned stores, in Yuba City and Marysville, to a new franchisee, Java NorCal LLC. .... [more]
17 Dec, 2008
Firehouse Subs opens 50th location in 2008. Firehouse Subs has opened its 50th restaurant for 2008 in Columbia, S.C. .... [more]
16 Dec, 2008
Aaron Rents buys Rosey Rentals' stores. Aaron Rents Inc., which sells and rents furniture, said Tuesday it has bought all the stores of its franchisee Rosey Rentals L.P., in an all-cash deal. .... [more]
16 Dec, 2008
Steak Escape franchisee in bankruptcy. David Giesen, an entrepreneur who built Steak Escape and Johnny Rockets restaurants in Denver, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. .... [more]
16 Dec, 2008
Stratus adds L.A. franchise. Stratus Building Solutions has awarded a new franchise to serve the northwest Los Angeles area. .... [more]
15 Dec, 2008
Krispy Kreme Is Looking Small To Grow. While once again warning it may shutter a "significant" number of stores, Krispy Kreme said on Thursday's earnings call that operators in New York and Phoenix have opened smaller stores with lower labor, supply and other costs, ones that could be a future model for the system. .... [more]
12 Dec, 2008
Cookie and Ice Cream Franchisor Faces Delisting by NASDAQ. It's never a good sign when The Nasdaq Stock Market moves to delist a company for failure to file quarterly earnings reports or meet minimum bid price requirements. It's even worse when a company is cited for both. .... [more]
12 Dec, 2008
LA Weight Loss Centers suddenly close up shop. Charlotte-area LA Weight Loss Centers closed abruptly this week, leaving some customers with hundreds of dollars tied up in the diet centers. .... [more]
12 Dec, 2008
FBI investigating bankrupt Brooke. As allegations of fraud swirl around bankrupt Brooke Corp., the FBI has launched an investigation of the once-booming Overland Park-based franchiser and financier of insurance agencies. .... [more]
11 Dec, 2008
What Happens at the McD's in Vegas... McDonald's today announced the opening of Viva McDonald's, the company's new technology-inspired restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip. .... [more]
11 Dec, 2008
Geeks On Call Rejects Claims. Geeks On Call Holdings, Inc., announced today that the Company had been served with individual lawsuits from several franchisees. All of the suits were filed by the counsel for a recently formed franchise association. .... [more]
10 Dec, 2008
Squeezed Restaurants Shed Jobs. Restaurant jobs, a reliable fallback for many unemployed and immigrant U.S. workers, are shrinking almost as fast as tips left on tables. .... [more]
10 Dec, 2008
Nigel Travis to lead Dunkin’ Donuts. Nigel Travis, who last week left his post as president and CEO of Papa John’s International Inc., today was announced as the new CEO of Dunkin’ Brands Inc., the parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts donut and coffee shops and Baskin-Robbins ice cream stores. .... [more]
10 Dec, 2008
Church's Ignores Economy. Church's Chicken continues to see a successful fifth-year stride of positive same-store domestic sales. Company officials attribute Church's strong performance to breakthrough marketing strategies and aggressive expansion domestically and internationally. .... [more]
9 Dec, 2008
Camp Bow Wow Launches New Pet Sitting Business. Camp Bow Wow, the leading franchisor of dog day care and boarding facilities, today announced the launch of a new franchise opportunity targeting the in-home pet care market. .... [more]
9 Dec, 2008
Clockwork Home Services names franchise director. Clockwork Home Services Inc., the owner and franchiser of home repair businesses, said it has promoted Bryan Richards to director of franchise development. .... [more]
9 Dec, 2008
Don Pablo’s to franchise. Rita Restaurant Corp. said Monday it wants to franchise its 40 company-owned Don Pablo’s restaurants plus new ones in the first franchising program for the brand. .... [more]
8 Dec, 2008
Lawsuit Spurs Franchise Meltdown. A bankruptcy filing by a besieged Princeton-based confectionery company may throw a wrench into a lawsuit launched by its franchisees, according to an attorney involved in the legal proceedings. .... [more]
8 Dec, 2008
The Human Bean coffee chain expands. The Human Bean has opened a coffee drive-thru franchise in Mesa, Ariz. This brings the total to 50 stores for Medford-based The Human Bean, which opened its first store in Ashland in 1998 and began franchising in 2002. .... [more]
8 Dec, 2008
McDonald's same-store sales jump in November. McDonald's says sales at established locations jumped 7.7% worldwide in November as consumers in the U.S. bought more of the chain's burgers, fries and breakfast biscuits. .... [more]
8 Dec, 2008
Yum releases corporate responsibility report. The average KFC restaurant produces 500 pounds of spent cooking oil each month, and the fast-food chain’s owners are taking steps to convert the leftover grease into something useful. .... [more]
8 Dec, 2008
SKYShades awards eighth franchise. SKYShades has announced it has awarded a franchise in Charlotte, N.C., the eighth the company has awarded since it started franchising its tension-membrane shade systems a year ago. .... [more]
8 Dec, 2008
AHC/Zeros Subs Continues Franchise Growth Despite Poor Economy. AHC/Zero’s Subs continues to buck the declining economy by opening four new restaurants in California by the end of the first quarter, with a fifth under contract. .... [more]
8 Dec, 2008
Waffle House’s Future Questioned. Norcross, GA-Locally based Waffle House Inc., which has 1,500 never-closed restaurants throughout half the US, does not appear to be affected by bankruptcy filings by two of its major franchisees in the Southeast. .... [more]
7 Dec, 2008
Former Petland franchisees suing chain. Former Petland Inc. franchisees are suing the Chillicothe chain for fraud, alleging the stores are doomed from the start – and the company knows it. .... [more]
5 Dec, 2008
Coney Beach Opens First Franchised Restaurant. Beautiful Brands International (BBI), parent company to Coney Beach, announced today the opening of its first franchised Coney Beach restaurant in El Paso, TX. .... [more]
5 Dec, 2008
President of Prudential franchiser resigns. Laurie Keenan, president of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates Inc., a franchise network with about 2,100 offices and 64,000 sales associates as of June 30, has announced that she will leave the company around the close of first-quarter 2009. .... [more]
5 Dec, 2008
Fresh Palates for Burger King. Next week, Burger King kicks off a major ad campaign that involves a unique twist on the tried-and-true marketing technique of taste testing. The campaign is already generating controversy. .... [more]
4 Dec, 2008
Subway Sets Green Example for Big Chains. The Subway restaurant chain, which has made a commitment to make its restaurants and operations more environmentally accountable, is pleased to announce that the brand's first Eco-Store, located in Kissimmee, Florida, received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) silver certification. .... [more]
4 Dec, 2008
Papa Bello Defies Bad Economy. Papa Bello Enterprises will continue to expand its franchise units with the opening of a second Alabama store. .... [more]
4 Dec, 2008
Panera opening first Memphis store Dec. 9. Panera Bread is opening its first Memphis-area location at 9 a.m. on Dec. 9 at Trinity Commons Shopping Center on North Germantown Parkway. .... [more]
4 Dec, 2008
Bally Total Fitness again files for Chapter 11. Bally Total Fitness filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Wednesday for the second time in less than two years, hindered by debt and limited refinancing options amid the credit crunch. .... [more]
3 Dec, 2008
Papa John’s named a top franchise for minorities. The National Minority Franchising Initiative has named Papa John’s International Inc. one of the top 50 franchises for minorities for the second consecutive year. .... [more]
3 Dec, 2008
Ruth's taps new leader of Fish Market chain. Ruth’s Hospitality Group Inc. has appointed a former executive of several national chains to head up its Mitchell’s Fish Market division. .... [more]
3 Dec, 2008
Just Pizza headed to Sarasota, Vegas. Just Pizza Inc. may soon be adding locations in Sarasota and Las Vegas. The Buffalo-based chain is completing negotiations with two separate franchisees that could see its chain expand to both cities. .... [more]
3 Dec, 2008
Boxing-themed men’s hair salon coming to Houston. Knockouts Haircuts for Men is planning to open 33 locations in the Houston market. .... [more]
2 Dec, 2008
Smashburger inks expansion deals. The fast-growing, Denver-based hamburger chain made two major announcements, both of which will lead to the building of more Smashburger restaurants. .... [more]
2 Dec, 2008
Rastafarian can sue over Jiffy Lube hair policy. A Rastafarian man who refused to shave off his beard or cut his hair to comply with a Jiffy Lube employee grooming policy can take his religious discrimination case to trial, Massachusetts' highest court ruled Tuesday. .... [more]
2 Dec, 2008
Franchises look for ways to battle recession, tight credit. With sales in almost every sector dipping and a credit market in shambles, the burden is falling to franchisers to shore up existing franchisees and create incentives to sell new outlets. .... [more]
1 Dec, 2008
Carl's Jr. Adds 51 New Units. CKE Restaurants, Inc. today announced three franchise agreements that will result in the opening of 51 new Carl's Jr. restaurants in Nevada and Idaho over the next decade. .... [more]
1 Dec, 2008
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