OMAHA, NEB. — Plum Market Travel Services has been awarded a contract to operate 10 dining, retail and Gourmet Natural Market locations at Omaha Eppley Airfield (OMA) in Nebraska. The agreement, part of OMA’s $950 million terminal expansion and modernization plan, comprises the majority of the food-and-beverage offerings. Plum Market Travel Services is a subsidiary of Plum Market, a natural food, beverage and wellness essentials retailer. The 10 locations consist of nine brands spanning various cuisines and formats. Notable brands include Runza, Panda Express and Sambazon, along with several local Omaha restaurants such as Block 16 and Fernando’s. Additionally, Plum Market will open two of its own concepts: a full-service kitchen and bar with all-natural snacks and travel essentials, and a convenient grab-and-go, quick-service format. The terminal expansion is slated to open in 2027.
By Burdette Huffman, executive vice president, Blue Ox Group Why are people drawn to spend money and time at certain places in a city? What makes someone want to do their shopping, stop for coffee or plan a date night at one spot versus another? Sometimes, it’s a special location or an emotional connection to a particular vendor. But in many instances, the draw is entirely by design. It’s an intentional, strategic urban planning tactic that’s been around for decades, and it’s called placemaking. What Is Placemaking?The concept of placemaking has been around since the 1960s thanks to urban planning pioneers and was bolstered in the 1990s by the smart growth agenda of organizations like the Urban Land Institute. In modern parlance across the state, it’s not much different. Put simply, placemaking is about creating a special place where people want to be. Placemaking is about imagining and then developing a place where parents might want to grab coffee after dropping their kids off at school. Or it’s a place where date nights happen because there’s a great new spot for dinner and maybe space to take a walk or grab a drink afterward. If it’s executed correctly, it’s the …
NEWPORT BEACH, CALIF. — California-based pizza chain Mountain Mike’s has signed three multi-unit franchise agreements to open 11 new restaurants in Texas. The deals call for five restaurants in Austin, three restaurants in metro Houston and three restaurants in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) metroplex. Franchisees Rajeev Dewan, Ajay and Karina Gorde and Tim Fogarty will own and operate the units in Austin, metro Houston and DFW, respectively. Mountain Mike’s current portfolio includes four existing restaurants in the DFW area and one in greater Houston.
DALLAS — Duro Hospitality, the group behind brands such as The Charles, Mister Charles, Café Duro, Casa Duro and El Carlos Elegante, will open a new, 7,500-square-foot restaurant in the Preston Center area of North Dallas. The name and concept behind the restaurant were not disclosed, but the space is located on the ground floor of 8111 Douglas, a 225,000-square-foot office building owned by Lincoln Property Co. The restaurant opening is slated for late 2025.
KANSAS CITY, MO. — Wingstop has leased 1,600 square feet at Frolics Plaza Shopping Center in Kansas City. Jody Minder of Block & Co. Inc. Realtors represented the undisclosed landlord, while Andrew Sandburg of Lane4 Property Group represented the tenant. Construction will start immediately to devise the 3,250-square-foot space, with 1,600 square feet utilized for Wingstop and the remaining available for lease. Wingstop is expected to open in summer 2025. Frolics Plaza is home to Rainbow Chinese Restaurant, Ixtapa Fine Mexican Cuisine, Moti Mahal Indian Restaurant, ISmoke Vape Shop and Smoothie King. Block & Co. handles leasing and management of the property.
COCONUT CREEK, FLA. — Four new tenants have signed leases at Promenade at Coconut Creek, a shopping center located in Coconut Creek, approximately 15 miles north of downtown Fort Lauderdale. Fragrance store Orientica is now open at the property, within a 1,045-square-foot space. Karma Bath & Body Co. is scheduled to open a 1,868-square-foot store later this month, and My Phone Lab and Happy Monkey will occupy 1,801 and 1,000 square feet, respectively, beginning in October. Avison Young manages and leases Promenade at Coconut Creek on behalf of the owner, Charlotte-based Hill Partners Inc.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS — Cheeseburger restaurant chain Smalls Sliders has signed a new franchise deal to open six new restaurants in the Fort Worth metro area. Franchisee Brett Stewart will operate the restaurants, which are dubbed “Cans.” Locations will include Fort Worth, White Settlement, Weatherford, Granbury, Cleburne and Stephenville. The first of the new units is scheduled to open in 2025. Smalls Sliders was founded in 2019 and now has a portfolio of more than 300 restaurants currently open or under development.
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. — BurgerFi International (NASDAQ: BFI) has filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The Fort Lauderdale-based company operates under two brands: BurgerFi and Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza & Wings. The two entities have a total of 144 locations open across the United States, Puerto Rico and Saudi Arabia. The filing pertains to 67 corporately owned locations operating under both the BurgerFi and Anthony’s banners. The remaining 77 franchisee-owned locations are excluded from the filing, with the company’s total portfolio expected to remain open and continue normal operations. BurgerFi cited a drastic decline in post-pandemic consumer spending, sustained inflation and increasing food and labor costs as the key drivers in the decision to file for bankruptcy. The company joins a number of restaurants that have recently filed for bankruptcy protection, including Mediterranean fast-casual chain Roti, Italian dining chain Buca de Beppo and seafood chain Red Lobster. “We need to stabilize the business in a structured process,” says Jeremy Rosenthal, who has been named chief restructuring officer for the company. “We are confident that this process will allow us to protect and grow our brands and to continue the operational turnaround started less than 12 months ago and secure additional capital.” The company’s board …
The commercial real estate market, particularly in the retail leasing sector, has been navigating a complex and dynamic landscape over the past few years. With a blend of high demand, limited supply and fluctuating economic variables, the Orlando market presents both challenges and opportunities for developers, landlords and tenants alike. High demand, limited supply One of the most prominent trends in the Orlando retail leasing market is the high demand for quality retail spaces. Retailers are eager to establish and expand their presence in this thriving market, driven by a growing population and increasing consumer spending. However, the inventory of quality existing retail bays is incredibly scarce. This scarcity has created a competitive environment where desirable locations are quickly snapped up, often at premium prices. The supply-demand imbalance has pushed developers to sharpen their pencils and critically analyze the feasibility of new projects. Despite the strong demand, many deals struggle to pencil out due to the high costs of construction materials and labor. These costs have remained elevated, making it challenging for developers to achieve a satisfactory return on investment. As a result, some projects are delayed or shelved, further constraining the supply of retail space. Housing spurs development The …
MICHIGAN — Chick-fil-A has unveiled plans to open approximately 25 to 30 new locally owned and operated restaurants across Michigan by the end of 2028. The new restaurants will create over 2,500 jobs across the state. Chick-fil-A first opened in Michigan in 2015, and currently operates 28 locations in the state. In metro Detroit, Chick-fil-A plans to open in Chesterfield Township, Roseville, Taylor and Fort Gratiot this fall or winter. Additional growth includes a licensed location in the First National Building, and locally owned and operated restaurants in Detroit, Auburn Hills, Lincoln Park, Orion Township, Clinton Township, Canton and Ann Arbor. Two restaurants are slated to open in 2025 in Lansing/Jackson, as well as one restaurant in Saginaw and another in Benton Harbor. Chick-fil-A is the third largest quick-service restaurant company in the United States with more than 3,000 restaurants across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico.