Cheba Hut, Wild Bill’s, Papa Murphy’s, Layne’s Chicken Fingers, and Juice It Up! lead RestaurantNews.com’s Top 20 stories for the week ending July 26, 2026.
1) Cheba Hut Plants Its Flag in Nebraska With First-Ever Lincoln Joint
Cheba Hut “Toasted” Subs is making its Nebraska debut in Lincoln’s Telegraph District, offering its signature cannabis-themed toasted sandwiches, munchies, and a full-service bar. The new restaurant features local custom artwork, a covered patio, and launch festivities including cash prizes and free food for a year for select opening-day guests.
2) Wild Bill’s Franchise Reaches 20 Operators, Expands Presence at Major Convention Centers
Wild Bill’s Craft Beverage Co. expanded its mobile franchise network to 20 operators while breaking into key markets like Cleveland, Salt Lake City, Washington, D.C., and San Diego. Driven by increasing demand at premier entertainment venues and private corporate functions, the brand is currently growing its fleet of handcrafted soda wagons to accommodate hundreds of upcoming events.
3) Papa Murphy’s Turns Up the Sweet Heat with New Hulapeño Pizza
Papa Murphy’s Take ‘n’ Bake Pizza has introduced the Hulapeño Pizza as a limited-time addition to its Papa’s Picks menu lineup. The sweet and spicy creation combines DOLE pineapple, pepperoni, jalapeños, and whole-milk mozzarella over traditional red sauce, all finished with a drizzle of Thai chili sauce for an oven-ready meal at home.
4) Layne’s Chicken Fingers Signs 24 Franchise Agreements, Reaches 50 Units Open in First Half of 2026
The Texas-born chicken tender concept accelerated its national presence by securing deals to bring dozens of new locations to key markets, including a major expansion into Oklahoma and a upcoming debut in California. This surge in development reflects strong momentum from both existing franchise partners taking on larger territories and experienced multi-unit operators joining the system.
5) Juice It Up! Delivers Double-Digit Systemwide Sales Growth and Builds Strong Brand Momentum Through First Half of 2026
Driven by increased customer traffic and successful protein-focused menu innovations, Juice It Up! achieved a 13% increase in total system sales alongside a 9.2% rise in same-store performance. This operational momentum pushed the handcrafted smoothie and bowl chain past its 100-location milestone while fueling new franchise development agreements across markets like Texas, Utah, and Nevada.
6) Zam’s Celebrates Grand Opening with Ribbon Cutting as Founder Dr. Sam Prince Returns to Pensacola
Zam’s, the globally inspired bowl-and-burrito concept from Zambrero founder Dr. Sam Prince, marked the debut of its first U.S. location in Pensacola, Florida, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and community festivities. The opening kicks off a month of local events featuring live music and food giveaways, all tied to the brand’s Plate 4 Plate initiative that donates meals to people in need with every event registration and menu purchase.
7) Nashville Coop Inks Multi-State Franchise Deals Across Minnesota, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania
Known for blending traditional Southern heat with an Ethiopian flavor profile, Nashville Coop has kicked off a multi-state franchise expansion with over ten locations in active development across Minnesota, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The Minnesota-born brand expects to double its development pipeline before the end of the year as it expands beyond its food truck origins into major East Coast markets.
8) Paris Baguette Expands Their Growing Footprint with First Café Opening in Washington, DC
Paris Baguette has debuted its first location in the District of Columbia, expanding its North American footprint under franchise owner Farid Shahmohammadi. The new bakery café serves the brand’s signature array of artisan pastries, cakes, breads, and handcrafted beverages as part of a larger plan to reach 1,000 North American units by 2030.
9) Restaurant Franchise Growth Slows as Emerging Brands Outpace Industry Giants
A new analysis from RestaurantData reveals that while unit expansion among the nation’s largest restaurant chains has slowed, smaller and emerging concepts are driving industry momentum with rapid store growth. By examining Franchise Disclosure Documents across major systems, the report highlights how mid-sized operators and fast-growing brands like Crumbl and Scooter’s Coffee are significantly outperforming established industry giants in percentage expansion.
10) Del Taco Named #1 Fast Food Restaurant and #1 Fast Food Fries in USA TODAY’s 2026 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards
Del Taco claimed top honors in USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, taking the #1 spot for Best Fast Food Restaurant for the second straight year alongside #1 for Best Fast Food Fries for the third consecutive year. The reader-voted accolades highlight strong consumer loyalty across the chain’s diverse menu, which also secured top rankings in breakfast and taco categories.
11) Velocity | Sim Racing Lounge Hits Full Throttle with Dallas Grand Opening
Velocity | Sim Racing Lounge has debuted in Dallas, bringing an immersive motorsport entertainment experience equipped with professional-grade racing simulators, full telemetry feedback, and high-tech cockpits. The multi-sensory destination combines realistic track competition with a chef-curated menu, craft cocktails, and private event spaces tailored for both casual groups and corporate gatherings.
12) Nick the Greek Opens Second Stockton Location
Nick the Greek expanded its Northern California footprint with the debut of a second restaurant location in Stockton, bringing its signature authentic Mediterranean street food to the local community. To mark the grand opening, the new spot welcomed guests with free entrees, including pitas, bowls, and gyro options, alongside a lineup of traditional Greek favorites.
13) Whataburger Serves Up a Taste of Summer with Two New Peachy Treats
Whataburger expanded its beverage line with two limited-time seasonal offerings focused on sun-ripened peach flavor. Guests can refresh with the Summer Peach Whatafresher, crafted with real freeze-dried fruit, or indulge in the Peaches & Cream Shake, which pairs sweet peach with rich vanilla.
14) The Peach Cobbler Factory Continues Texas Expansion with 19th Location in Cypress
The Peach Cobbler Factory expanded its Texas presence through a new franchise agreement to open a location in Cypress under multi-unit operators. Guests in the area can look forward to the brand’s expansive dessert menu, which features classic southern cobblers, banana puddings, cinnamon rolls, and premium ice cream treats.
15) VIVA Chicken Invites the Carolinas To Celebrate Peru’s Independence Day With a One-Day Peruvian Feast
VIVA Chicken is celebrating Peruvian Independence Day across all of its locations with a limited-time feast featuring signature charbroiled rotisserie chicken alongside classic sides like Arroz Chaufa and fried plantains. The one-day culinary celebration offers guests across North and South Carolina an authentic taste of traditional Peruvian flavors crafted from time-honored family recipes.
16) Detroit Wing Company Fires Up Carolina Gold Sauce Summer
Detroit Wing Company enhanced its summer menu lineup with the introduction of three limited-time items, featuring a rich chicken melt alongside loaded mac and cheese and seasoned fries. Each item is highlighted by the brand’s sweet and tangy Carolina Gold sauce, providing guests with a flavor-packed comfort food experience across all locations.
17) Brooklyn Water Bagel Banks on Timeless New York Craftsmanship to Win the Bagel Wars
Brooklyn Water Bagel is accelerating its brand expansion by bringing authentic New York-style bagel recipes and proprietary water-replication technology to sunbelt markets. The fast-casual concept combines scratch-made bagels, artisan spreads, and signature roasted coffees to deliver a genuine East Coast bakery experience across new geographic territories.
18) The Franchise Game 2026: The Nations Premier Franchise Symposium Returns to Yum! Brands HQ
The Franchise Game 2026 returned to Yum! Brands Headquarters as the premier national symposium and trade show focused on scaling minority-owned franchise concepts. The high-impact event brought together industry leaders, emerging founders, and seasoned operators for expert panels, networking, and actionable growth strategies across the restaurant sector.
19) East Coast Wings + Grill Expands in the Piedmont Area of North Carolina
East Coast Wings + Grill announced a new multi-unit franchise expansion across North Carolina led by experienced multi-generational operators. The growth agreement strengthens the casual dining brand’s regional footprint while reinforcing its disciplined, unit-level profitability model.
20) Angry Chickz Brings Its Signature Heat East With First Pennsylvania Restaurant Opening in Kingston
Angry Chickz is expanding into Pennsylvania with a new restaurant location in Kingston, marking a key milestone in the brand’s national growth strategy. Local guests can look forward to signature spicy fried chicken tenders, sliders, and customizable heat levels ranging from mild to extreme.
