Chain Profile

Each month, FE&S spotlights a new prototype or kitchen design from a chain restaurant.

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Rebranding usually looks to a restaurant’s future, but the shift of Rotolo’s Pizzeria to Rotolo’s Craft & Crust also pays homage to the chain’s past.

Russian chain banks on quality ingredients and familiar flavors as it moves into New York City.

It would be fair to describe Melt Shop founder and CEO Spencer Rubin as a meticulous person. After setting his sights on a career in the restaurant industry as a child, he has spent much of his life building the skills necessary to be a success.

New prototype moves nearly all food prep and production to the front of the house for this healthy eating fast-casual chain.

This comfort food specialist relies on a franchisee-friendly kitchen and simple operations to fuel growth.

This fast-casual operation has changed its name, design and culture in a quest to upgrade its food choices.

Offering what it deems the best of all the regional barbecue styles, this fast-casual outfit commits to authenticity in both design and cooking.

After a period of same-store sales decline, this fast-casual chain is betting on new menu items, a new service model and a new prototype to turn its fortunes around.

With a hip yet low-frills design and limited equipment package, this fast-casual pizza chain was developed with franchising in mind. Three years in, the plan is working.

Most Millennials probably don’t know it, but they’re among the darlings of the restaurant world. Chains roll out features like community tables and smartphone apps with the hope of drawing in these younger diners. Ultimately, the goal is to build long-term relationships with them and their discretionary dollars.

With a new design, this fast-casual operation ups the emphasis on dine-in service and food quality through an open kitchen.

This fast-casual chicken chain is counting on Southern hospitality and efficient operation to help it add more than 500 stores in the next decade.

With an open kitchen and more sophisticated look, this fast-casual concept’s design matches its food.

The buffet chain dropped "pizza" from its name, moved away from the commodity feeder look and developed a smaller, far more efficient kitchen.

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