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ST. LOUIS – BUSINESS WIRE

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW) announced today that Craig Leavitt has been appointed as Non-Executive Chairman of the Company’s board of directors. Mr. Leavitt, 57, will serve as a member of the Audit Committee and the Compensation and Development Committee.

Mr. Leavitt served as Chief Executive Officer of Kate Spade & Company, a publicly traded operator of global, multichannel lifestyle brands, from February 2014 until August 2017 when the company was acquired by Coach, Inc. From October 2010 until February 2014, he was Chief Executive Officer of Kate Spade New York, a division of Fifth & Pacific Companies, Inc. He served as Co-President and Chief Operating Officer of Kate Spade, LLC from April 2008 through October 2010. Prior to joining Kate Spade, LLC, Mr. Leavitt was President of Global Retail at Link Theory Holdings, where he had total responsibility for merchandising, operations, planning, allocation and real estate for the Theory and Helmut Lang retail businesses. Previously, Mr. Leavitt spent several years at Diesel, most recently as Executive Vice President of Sales and Retail. Mr. Leavitt also spent 16 years at Polo Ralph Lauren, where he held positions of increasing responsibility, the last being Executive Vice President of Retail Concepts. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Franklin & Marshall College and resides in New York.

“We are pleased to be taking actions to further enhance the strength of our board of directors. Craig will be joining our board as non-executive chairman after a lengthy selection process directed by our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee with assistance from Russell Reynolds Associates. He has extensive experience in the areas of strategic planning, product development and innovation, marketing, store operations, and real estate. With Craig’s background, including his service as Chief Executive Officer of a publicly traded company, we believe his insights and perspectives regarding strategic planning, leadership, stockholder relations, business operations, brand management, marketing, and business development will be tremendously beneficial to our success as we continue to execute our stated strategy that is focused on transforming our operating model to capitalize on changing consumer shopping patterns while diversifying and growing revenue streams that leverage the power of the Build-A-Bear brand,” said Sharon Price John, president and chief executive officer, Build-A-Bear Workshop. “Our directors continue to work with Russell Reynolds to identify additional talent for our board as we continue of our multiyear systematic process of evolving our board of directors to better align skill sets with our stated strategy to evolve to sustained profitable growth and drive long-term shareholder value.”

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO – PRNewswire

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (NASDAQ: RRGB), a full-service restaurant chain serving an innovative selection of high-quality gourmet burgers in a family-friendly atmosphere, today announced the appointment of Beverly Carmichael as executive vice president, chief people, culture and resource officer.

Ms. Carmichael is a recognized human resources executive and licensed labor and employment attorney. In her new role, Ms. Carmichael will be responsible for leading Red Robin’s human resource and legal teams. She will report to Denny Marie Post, Red Robin’s president and chief executive officer.

“Beverly has demonstrated success translating business and operational objectives into aligned HR strategies,” said Ms. Post. “In addition to her leadership skills, Beverly is a passionate ‘culture ambassador’ and thought partner who embodies our Company’s core values. Her talents will serve us well as we continue to grow our brand and ensure that Guests and team members alike are better for being here.”

Ms. Carmichael has more than 25 years of leadership experience in multiple industries. Prior to joining the Red Robin team, she most recently served as senior vice president and chief people officer for Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. She has also previously served in a variety of human resources and legal roles at some of the nation’s most high-profile brands, including Southwest Airlines and Ticketmaster.

She earned a Juris Doctorate and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., and currently serves as a Women’s Foodservice Forum (WFF) board member.

PEARLAND, TX – PRNewswire  

Entrepreneur Magazine recently unveiled its Top 10 Franchise Categories for 2018, highlighting the segments poised to dominate the franchise space this year. One category that is forecasted to shine in 2018 is Child Enrichment franchises. With parents increasingly willing to pay for their children to learn while having fun, it’s clear why this segment has become one of the fastest-growing franchise categories.

One brand reaping the benefits of this surge in popularity is Code Ninjas, a startup kids coding franchise. Although it just launched its franchise opportunity in February 2017, the brand has already cemented itself as the fastest-growing kids coding franchise by entering 2018 with more than 100 franchise agreements sold.

“2017 was a year of incredible milestones for us and we have no plans to slow down in 2018,” said David Graham, CEO and founder of Code Ninjas. “We’re positioned to double our current signed agreement pipeline in the first half of 2018, helping us achieve our goal of closing out the year with at least 300 units sold.”

With its flagship location in Pearland currently operating and 21 locations slated to open in Q1 of 2018 alone, Code Ninjas anticipates at least 50 units operating by the end of Q2 and 100 operating by the end of the year. To achieve this goal, Code Ninjas seeks qualified franchise partners looking for a personally and financially rewarding business opportunity that positively impacts America’s youth. Interested candidates do not require previous coding experience. The Code Ninjas leadership team brings decades of experience in the software development and franchising fields, and offers significant support for marketing/sales, operations, and extensive training.

“Our mission is to teach children to think and problem-solve like a coder, as well as obtain skills to achieve future professional success,” added Graham. “We’re humbled by our success thus far and look forward to fostering growing relationships with parents and children in communities across the nation to achieve our mission.”

As a low-cost investment opportunity in the thriving children’s enrichment sector, Code Ninjas franchisees can expect an investment ranging from $108,000 to $223,000. The brand looks to further expand its footprint in existing markets throughout Texas, as well as break into new territories. Specifically, the brand is targeting Chicago, Denver, Phoenix, Washington, D.C., among more.

Reading, CA – BUSINESS WIRE

Black Bear Diner, the fast-growing, family dining concept that offers a one-of-a-kind experience and home-style comfort food classics in a fun, bear-themed atmosphere, today announced it has signed a multi-unit development agreement with its existing franchise partners, Karan Gogri and Sanjiv Patel of National Restaurant Inc. This new agreement will bring an additional 19 units over a six-year period to both new and existing markets.

The agreement will bring new Black Bear Diner locations to the San Diego and Marin areas of California, as well as expand upon the brand’s upcoming entrance into Texas. The team will bring the brand to Austin and San Antonio, Texas for the first time, executing on the brand’s vision to expand eastward over the next several years. Gogri and his family currently own two Black Bear Diner locations in the San Francisco Bay Area.

“Karan and Sanjiv have been very strong partners to Black Bear Diner and their commitment, enthusiasm and proven ability to execute make them exceptional partners to grow the brand in these new and existing markets,” said Bruce Dean, co-founder and CEO of Black Bear Diner. “As we execute upon our plans to expand eastward, we will continue to seek out well qualified, committed multi-unit franchise partners who share our core beliefs and values.”

Gogri added: “As the son of restaurant franchise owners, I have grown up in this industry and have long valued the opportunities that come from identifying the right brand to partner with. Sanjiv and I have found this in Black Bear Diner, a brand that serves up exceptional food and strong values, and as a result has provided tremendous opportunity for us, along with several of our classmates from U.C. Santa Barbara who are now devoting their professional lives to growing this great brand as a part of our franchise group.”

Gogri and his college classmates will be instrumental in driving the day to day operations under this new development agreement. In 2018, the group is expecting to open one location in Marin County and two in San Diego, California. For more information on Black Bear Diner and its franchise visit https://blackbeardiner.com/franchising/

CLEVELAND, OH – PRNewswire

HealthSource, America’s largest group of clinics specializing in holistic healthcare, is kicking off the New Year by offering a free 10-Point Body Check-Up to help gym-goers keep their 2018 fitness resolutions. Those who complete the Check-Up at one of more than 250 participating HealthSource clinics will receive a free 7-day pass at participating Anytime Fitness gyms. If the individual decides to continue working out at Anytime Fitness, the initiation fee will be reduced by 50 percent and ongoing monthly fees by 10 percent.

Chicago, IL  (

Mamoun’s Falafel, the fastest growing Middle Eastern fast-casual restaurant in North America, is bringing their iconic falafel to Chicago. The popular Middle Eastern concept has announced the sale of a multi-unit franchise deal with franchisee Sagar Patel to bring five Mamoun’s Falafel stores to the Chicago area over the next 5 years.

Patel is an experienced franchisee with a long career in operating coffee and breakfast fast-casual concepts. At one point in his career, he managed 20 different retail locations simultaneously. His experience and success in the restaurant industry, coupled with his passion for the Mamoun’s concept, encouraged his decision to bring the beloved Middle Eastern concept to Chicago.

“My family and I are long-time fans of Mamoun’s and would always visit when we traveled to New York City,” said Patel. “I developed a real affinity and passion for the brand, and was immediately interested in joining the Mamoun’s Falafel legacy when I heard they were franchising.”

Mamoun’s Falafel was established in 1971 in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village by founder Mamoun Chater. The flagship location has been serving up authentic Middle Eastern cuisine ever since. Mamoun created the menu using traditional Syrian recipes, ingredients, and spices in order to deliver the most authentic Middle Eastern cuisine possible. The menu offers a variety of meat and vegetarian entreés, including falafel and shawarma sandwiches, chicken kebobs, lentil soup, and grape leaves, as well as traditional Middle Eastern pastries like baklava.

Mamoun’s is the ‘oldest falafel restaurant in New York City’ and has gathered numerous accolades in its 46-year run, including ‘Best Falafel’ by New York Press, one of ‘NYC’s Most Iconic Sandwiches’ by Eater NY, and has been featured in the book “1,000 Places to See Before You Die” and on the Food Network and Travel Guide Channel. The concept has also garnered praises from numerous actors, musicians, comedians, and other celebrities throughout the years.

Mamoun’s currently operates 6 locations in New York City, New Jersey, and Connecticut, with stores coming soon to Dallas and Chicago. In an effort to ensure the high-quality freshness of the menu, Mamoun’s uses a commissary that adheres to strict production system standards, and has also partnered with Cuisine Solutions, pioneers in the sous-vide cooking method, to ensure quality production of all of Mamoun’s authentic menu items. The concept has also partnered with U.S. Foods for distribution so that the menu can be properly duplicated all over the country, no matter the location.

The concept has teamed up with Fransmart, the industry leading franchise development company behind the explosive growth of brands like Five Guys Burgers and Fries, The Halal Guys, and Qdoba Mexican Grill, as their exclusive franchise development partner to grow the brand . Mamoun’s Falafel is currently looking for franchise partners to help introduce its menu to customers in major media markets across the country. To learn more about franchising with Mamoun’s Falafel visit: http://go.fransmart.com/mamounspr.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe, the leading fast casual cafe concept known for its better-for-you food and smoothies with a tropical twist, announced today its largest franchisee DYNE Hospitality Group has signed a multi-unit agreement that will bring 26 new cafes to the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas and Savannah, Georgia markets. The brand has made significant strides with franchise development and is experiencing tremendous momentum on the heels of a successful 2017, with their aggressive efforts resulting in the execution of more than 180 agreements.

Anchored by existing franchisees Glen Johnson and Nick Crouch, DYNE Hospitality Group will bring 22 Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations to Dallas-Fort Worth and four to Savannah over the next several years, with the two cafes slated to open in Fort Worth during the first quarter of 2018.

“2017 was a year of incredible growth for us, as we significantly expanded Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s presence in several markets across the country,” said Mike Rotondo, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe. “With Glen Johnson and Nick Crouch joining forces and the execution of DYNE’s 26-unit deal for new locations in Texas and Georgia, we’re confident that we’ll not only sustain, but surpass, last year’s success in 2018.”

Johnson and Crouch merged their entities in December 2017 to form DYNE Hospitality Group, which now stands as Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s largest franchisee. The now partners are two of the brand’s top-performing operators and have continued to expand their portfolios since joining the company more than five years ago. Their decades of experience and ongoing success in the industry have inspired DYNE’s mission, which is to create opportunities through operational excellence, a practice they’ve learned through their partnership with Tropical Smoothie Cafe.

“With a proven business model, unparalleled service, wide menu variety and incredible corporate support, it’s no wonder Tropical Smoothie Cafe has established itself as a leader in the fast casual segment,” said Glen Johnson, Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchisee and co-CEO of DYNE Hospitality Group. “I’ve continued to grow my business since signing my first agreement in 2011 and have watched firsthand the brand consistently achieve tremendous success. Nick has followed a similar path and with our strong desire to open several more Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations, a partnership between us was a natural fit.”

Today, DYNE Hospitality Group owns and operates 41 Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations throughout Florida, Georgia, Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma. The company has an additional 12 in development that will open in 2018 and set an overall goal to have 100 operating cafes in five years.

“Glen and I are eager to combine our experience and resources to build an exceptional company and further fuel Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s growth nationwide,” added Nick Crouch, Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchisee and co-CEO of DYNE Hospitality Group.

The food and smoothie franchise currently has franchise opportunities across the U.S. in markets such as Indianapolis, Kansas City, Houston, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis and Columbus, among others. Fueled by its ongoing product innovation and consistent positive comp sales, Tropical Smoothie Cafe has experienced a surge of franchise development throughout the state that reinforces the brand’s role as a leader in the fast casual segment. By 2020, Tropical Smoothie Cafe plans to have 1,000 stores open across the U.S.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe is looking to add qualified franchisees to its growing brand. Candidates should have business experience; $125,000 in liquid assets and a minimum net worth of $350,000; and an initial investment of between $222,770 and $525,400. The better-for-you food franchise currently boasts an average unit volume (AUV) of more than $662,000 — the highest in the company’s 20-year history — with the top 50 percent reporting an AUV of more than $846,000.

For more information about opening your own Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise, please visit www.tropicalsmoothiefranchise.com.

WACO, Texas 

Recognizing another record-setting year, Restoration 1^®, one of the fastest-growing and most-trusted restoration franchises in North America, is ringing in the New Year with momentum from an aggressive franchise and service expansion in 2017. Highlights from last year included the acquisition of bluefrog Plumbing + Drain^®, the addition of key members to the leadership team, and growing Restoration 1 by 70 locations across the United States.

With a goal to continue aggressively growing the brand, and after welcoming their largest training class in history, Restoration 1 expanded to 31 states last year. The number of open locations grew from 106 to 176, with the largest area of growth in North Carolina.

Restoration 1 also expanded its service offerings with the introduction of the Contents Cleaning Program in 2017. A service that restores customer belongings after damages, the program allows participating franchisees to add an additional revenue generator to their existing business while offering expanded services to customers.

Last July also marked a key milestone for the brand as Restoration 1 acquired a complimentary service brand, Phoenix-based bluefrog Plumbing + Drain (bluefrog).Gary Findley, CEO of Restoration 1 and bluefrog, has started replicating the process used to grow Restoration 1 to similarly expand bluefrog across the United States.

“We celebrated another year full of monumental growth and development,” said Findley. “We reached new milestones with our national presence. The acquisition of bluefrog marked an exciting time for our team and an immense opportunity for our franchise networks across both brands. With our talented franchisees and dedicated corporate staff, we expect both brands to continue to push the boundaries of the restoration, remediation, and plumbing world in 2018.”

The leadership team expanded to help service both brands as well. Kurt Lee Hurley was hired as Vice President and Director of Marketing for both Restoration 1 and bluefrog, Thomas Dougherty joined as the Vice President of Sales Training, Todd Bingham assumed the duties of Vice President of Business Development, and Dan Thrush was appointed as Restoration 1 Franchise Consultant.

Restoration 1 was also honored by Entrepreneur when the brand earned its highest ranking in company history on the prestigious Franchise 500^® list where it jumped from #383 in 2016 to #96 in 2017. Additionally, Restoration 1 earned its first placement on Entrepreneur’s Fastest Growing Franchises List when they ranked #72.