• Chipotle Mexican Grill filed for a trademark on the term “Better Burger,” signaling its interest in launching a chain of burger restaurants. The company already has two offshoots: the Southeast Asian–themed ShopHouse, and the Italian Pizzeria Locale.
• Buffets LLC, operator of 150 restaurants, will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company, which operates the Country Buffet, Fire Mountain, Old Country Buffet, Ryan’s, Tahoe Joe’s Famous Steakhouse and Hometown Buffet banners, says it is seeking to restructure, to strengthen operations by closing certain weaker restaurants, and to recapitalize.
• Fast-food retailer Subway started listing calories on all U.S. menu boards last month. The Milford, Conn.–based chain, which operates 27,000 restaurants in the United States, said the data will make it easier for guests to make informed menu choices. “For years it has been a priority for Subway sandwich shops to share full nutrition information with our guests,” Lanette Kovachi, Subway dietitian, said in a press release.
• Birmingham, Ala.–based entrepreneur Jim Watkins’ Steel City Pops is growing throughout the Southeast. Launched in the Birmingham suburb of Homewood in 2012, the chain now operates 12 shops, including units in Dallas; Louisville, Ky.; and Tuscaloosa, Ala. The chain uses only natural ingredients, no refined sugars and local produce when possible.
• Dave & Buster’s is looking at moving into former Macy’s, Sears and Sports Authority spaces as it expands. The chain opened 10 locations in fiscal 2015 and plans another 10 or so in 2016. “Mall developers are pivoting towards a bit more entertainment,” said CEO Steve King, “and so we are an attractive alternative for them.”
• Drugstores and convenience stores are stealing Millennial market share from fast-food chains with pre-prepared meals. Research firm Technomic surveyed 1,500 U.S. consumers and found that 49 percent of all respondents — and 60 percent of Millennial respondents — are visiting fast-food restaurants less often as a result of their increased purchases of such meals. Nearly half of respondents age 18–34 purchase prepared meals at convenience stores and at least once a week. Drugstore meals have a loyal following; though just 19 percent of those surveyed said they have ever purchased meals from drugstores, 43 percent of those who do purchase it said they buy it at least once a week.
• Cat cafés, popular in Japan, are catching on in the U.S. as well. Entrepreneur Julia Grueskin decided to launch her own in Albuquerque after visiting restaurants in Austin, Denver and New York City where patrons dine on vegeterian fare with their felines. In order to satisfy health codes, the recently opened Gatos y Galletas occupies two adjacent shops. One door leads to the café, where the food is prepped and served. Customers who want to interact and/or eat with a gang of cuddly cats can venture into a separate door marked “Purrs & Meows,” which has charges a $3 admission fee. All of the cats are from local shelters and are available for adoption.