Chain Operating Report for Oct. 12

Published on Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Written by The Editors

From a Chapter 11 filing to new restaurant openings to jumping jacks to franchisees of the year being named, this edition of FE&S' Chain Operating Report runs the gamut of restaurant news.

BRIO Tuscan Grille, a BRAVO | BRIO Restaurant Group (NASDAQ:BBRG) concept, opened a location in Marlton, N.J., its second operation in that state. This is the fifth BRIO Tuscan Grille to open in 2011.

Carl's Jr. will open a location in Garland, Texas, on Sept. 15. This is the quick-serve burger chain's fiftieth Texas location.

Friendly Ice Cream Corporation and its subsidiaries, including its restaurants, voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. As part of the filing, Friendly's will enter a 363 sale process with an affiliate of its current owners, Sun Capital Partners, to quickly restructure the company. As part of this endeavor, Friendly's has closed 63 restaurants, while 424 remain open for business. Friendly's has secured approximately $70 million in debtor-in-possession financing, which when paired with the business' cash flow is expected to provide the working capital necessary to meet ongoing obligations during the restructuring, according to a company release.

IHOP named Mike Ruben its U.S. Franchisee of the Year, and Ed Jeske its International Franchisee of the Year. A 15-year IHOP veteran, Ruben owns and operates 18 restaurants throughout Illinois and Indiana. Jeske, a 36-year IHOP veteran, owns and operates 13 restaurants throughout British Columbia, Canada.

As part of the 2011 "Let's Jump! Team Up for a Healthy America" jumping jacks event, Jamba Juice is hosting jump sites in more than 60 stores across California as well as in select stores in New York, Maryland, Florida, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, California, Hawaii and Louisiana. The event kicks off at 3 p.m. on Oct. 11 and 12 and is a mass attempt to break the Guinness World Record title for the "Most People Doing Jumping Jacks." To break the record, more than 20,425 people need to complete one minute of jumping jacks between 3 p.m. EST October 11 and 3 p.m. EST October 12, 2011. 

Red Robin will open a location in Deer Park, Ill., on Oct. 17.