Greek From Greece Bakery-Cafe
Preferred Sq. Footage: 1,500-2,000 s.f.
Anticipated 12-Month Openings: 35
The Mediterranean chain will open five locations during the first half of the year. Two stores are planned in Philadelphia, one unit in Rye, N.Y., and one each in Lynnfield, Mass., and Weehawken, N.J. The chain is poised for rapid expansion through its new GFG Express Model after a merger with drive-thru convenience chain Dairy Barn. Watch for 30 Dairy Barn drive-thru locations to be converted into GFG Express units over the next year. Downtown or street-front sites are desired. All GFG’s products are made in Greece.
Mochi Donuts
Preferred Sq. Footage: 500-2,800 s.f.
Anticipated 12-Month Openings: 10-20
The Los Angeles-based donut shop is poised for rapid growth this year with new units planned in Texas, New Jersey, New York, Seattle, Las Vegas and Baton Rouge, La. The chain will be bullish in California with new units planned in Valencia, Westminster, Riverside, Diamond Bar, San Diego, Fresno and Cupertino. An Eagle Rock, Calif., location should open this month. Shopping center, regional mall or food court sites are targeted. The Hawaiian-style donuts are a mix of Japanese mochi and the traditional American donut.
The Cookie Plug
Preferred Sq. Footage: 1,300-1,500 s.f.
Anticipated 12-Month Openings: 2+
The California-based cookie chain plans to open two new units this month in Duarte and Whittier, Calif. The retailer opened four locations in the Inland Empire last fall, along with an East Los Angeles unit. Shopping center sites are desired. The dessert shop is known for its unique flavors and cookies baked fresh daily that are twice the size of most other cookies.
The Salty Donut
Preferred Sq. Footage: 2,000-2,500 s.f.
Anticipated 12-Month Openings: 2+
The Miami-based donut chain will add its second Texas location in Austin this spring. A Dallas unit opened in the Bishop Arts District last summer. Plans are also in the works for a unit in Orlando, Fla., along with additional national expansion. The chain started as a pop-up shop and offers non-traditional flavors such as margarita, horchata and cookies and cream. Downtown, street-front and freestanding pad sites are targeted.
Milo’s Hamburgers
Preferred Sq. Footage: 2,000-2,600 s.f.
Anticipated 12-Month Openings: 1+
The fast-food burger chain continues expansion throughout its home state of Alabama with plans for a new unit coming to Northport after a successful food truck test in the market last month. The chain — which has been around since 1946 — also recently opened a unit in Cahaba Heights, which took over a former Rite Aid spot, as well as a unit in Pell City, Ala. Freestanding pad and grocery-anchored sites are targeted.
