East Coast Wings + Grill and 19 More Restaurant News Headliners of the Past Week

East Coast Wings + Grill, Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, Chili Shack, Shawarma Press, and Wings and Rings lead RestaurantNews.com’s Top 20 stories for the week ending November 16, 2025.

 

1) East Coast Wings + Grill in Clemmons, NC Announces New Ownership
The East Coast Wings + Grill in Clemmons, NC, now has deep restaurant roots and family loyalty at the helm, as it transitions to new ownership by hospitality experts Gregory and Dafni Ballas.

 

2) Rita’s Expands North Texas Footprint with New Multi-Unit Franchise Agreement
Good news, North Texas: Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard is sweetening up the Dallas–Fort Worth area with a new multi-unit franchise deal, promising to bring three new shops to Dallas, Plano, and Frisco.

 

3) Chili Shack Plots National Growth with New Franchise Offering
Denver’s beloved Chili Shack, known for its bold Mexican-American flavors and famous signature green chili, is ready to launch 100 new franchise locations nationwide, starting with Arizona, California, and Florida.

 

4) Popular Mediterranean Franchise Shawarma Press Opens First Kansas Location in Lawrence
Shawarma Press has landed in Lawrence, Kansas, near the KU campus, serving up delicious Mediterranean food including classic shawarma wraps and exciting fusion dishes like the Spicy Tandoori Press Chicken.

 

5) Wings and Rings Rolls Out New Seasonal Sips, Menu Items and Holiday Gift Card Bonuses for Winter Limited-Time Offer
Wings and Rings just dropped its cozy winter menu featuring new rich and savory Creamy Garlic Asiago Wing Sauce, amazing loaded fries, festive seasonal sips, and a generous holiday gift card bonus.

 

6) Layne’s Chicken Fingers Signs 44-Unit Deal, Reaches Near-Total Market Saturation Across Home State
Layne’s Chicken Fingers, the Texas-based franchise famous for its iconic chicken fingers and secret sauce, just signed a 44-unit deal with developer Eli Cohen, bringing them to near-total market saturation across the Lone Star State.

 

7) Sunset Chicken Celebrates Grand Opening of Corporate-Owned Location in Cape Coral, Florida
Sunset Chicken has officially brought its unbelievably exceptional chicken tenders, freshly squeezed lemonade, and signature Sunset Sauce to the Sunshine State with the grand opening of its new corporate-owned location in Cape Coral, Florida.

 

8) Sip Into the Holidays With Applebee’s $6 Sleigh Bell Sips
Applebee’s is making spirits bright with the return of its popular $6 Sleigh Bell Sips Mucho Cocktails, featuring the familiar Tipsy Reindeer and the NEW Sleigh All Day Rita margarita, both topped with a Santa gummi.

 

9) ‘Tis the Season for Toppers Cheeseburger Pizza
You don’t need a grill to enjoy a cheeseburger this winter: the Toppers Cheeseburger Pizza has returned for the holidays! Order this comfort food favorite for delivery with the special Coca-Cola bundle.

 

10) Q&A With Armando Perez, Director of Operations at Taziki’s Mediterranean Café
Meet Armando Perez, the Taziki’s Director of Operations who went from immigrant cook to leading 13 locations in Middle Tennessee, proving that “leading with heart” is the recipe for success in the Mediterranean cafe world.

 

11) BIGGBY COFFEE Named No. 2 Best Coffee Chain in the Nation by USA Today
Your morning brew just got recognized: BIGGBY COFFEE was officially voted the No. 2 Best Coffee Chain in the Nation by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, beating major players like Starbucks and Dunkin’.

 

12) Denny’s Brings Back Holiday Turkey Bundles for Thanksgiving
Skip the holiday kitchen stress because Denny’s is bringing back its popular Holiday Turkey Bundle for just $54.99, featuring tender carved turkey breast, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and all the classic Thanksgiving sides for easy at-home feasting.

 

13) Restaurant Marketing Ideas for December
Many restaurant owners have been making their marketing lists and checking them twice, knowing that shoppers are hungry for special holiday dining deals and experiences.

 

14) BIGGBY COFFEE Cracks Top 200 on Franchise Times Top 400, Climbing More Than 100 Spots in Four Years
BIGGBY COFFEE is officially one of America’s top coffee franchises, celebrating a massive jump of over 100 spots in four years to land at No. 188 on the prestigious 2025 Franchise Times Top 400 list.

 

15) J. Alexander’s Opens its Doors in Arizona with Chandler Grand Opening
J. Alexander’s, the upscale dining destination famous for its wood-fired cuisine, handcrafted cocktails, and signature Steak Maui, is celebrating the grand opening of its first-ever Arizona location in Chandler on November 17th.

 

16) P.F. Chang’s Hires Restaurant & Hospitality Leader Jim Mazany as Chief Executive Officer
P.F. Chang’s has tapped proven restaurant turnaround and growth expert Jim Mazany as its new CEO to lead the global expansion and innovation of the beloved modern Asian dining brand.

 

17) Cheba Hut Launches New Spot for Sub Slingin’ in Bernalillo
Cheba Hut “Toasted” Subs is bringing its chill vibes and bold flavors to a new Bernalillo location on November 14th, featuring a riverside patio, trippy murals, and a chance to win free subs for a year!

 

18) Paris Baguette Welcomes Zac Sulma as New Chief Operating Officer
With extensive hospitality and multi-unit leadership experience, Sulma joins the team as the global bakery café brand amidst an impressive growth push toward the 1,000-unit mark in the U.S.

 

19) Treat Yourself to Applebee’s NEW Sizzlin’ Cookie Dough Pie and Cozy Comfort Favorites this Holiday Season
Cozy up to the decadent NEW Sizzlin’ Cookie Dough Pie this holiday season at Applebee’s, which is also serving its signature 2 for $25 deal featuring the NEW Grilled Cheese Cheeseburger and Chicken Parmesan Fettuccine.

 

20) Red Lobster Drops New Flavors Into Fan-Favorite Seafood Boil Lineup, Plus New Entrées and Festive Cocktails
Red Lobster is dropping three incredible new flavors, including Lemon Pepper and OLD BAY & Butter, into its viral seafood boil lineup, alongside comforting new entrées like Shrimp & Sausage Jambalaya and festive winter cocktails.