Pampering, pups, and profits
1) Drybar Inks Multi-Unit Development Deal for Nine Shops
Drybar®, the leading blowout concept known for specializing in professional blowouts, recently signed a multi-unit development agreement detailing four new locations across Naples and Bonita Springs, FL, and the acquisition of five existing Drybar shops in the D.C. metro area.
The agreement was signed by established franchisee Julie Sterling, who brings more than 20 years of franchising experience with The UPS Stores to this venture. Sterling previously held the exclusive development rights for The UPS Stores in Northern Virginia for 60+ locations. The UPS Stores acquired her entire Northern Virginia territory in 2023, underscoring the market strength under her ownership. Upon selling her portfolio, Sterling turned to Drybar for her next venture. As a longtime client and fan of the brand and its membership model, Sterling plans to continue growing Drybar across these two key growth markets.
“Franchising has shaped my career, and after two decades in the industry, I know the power of a brand with a clear identity and loyal customer base,” said Sterling. “As a longtime Drybar client, I’ve seen firsthand how the experience resonates. The simplicity of the model and strength of the brand make it a smart, scalable opportunity—and I’m excited to bring it to new markets and communities across Florida.”
2) Massageluxe Celebrates 100th Location Milestone With Member Contest and $100 Wellness Package
MassageLuXe, a premier spa franchise specializing in high-quality massage, facial, and waxing services, is celebrating the opening of its 100th location with a national membership contest and a limited-time offer designed to make wellness more accessible than ever.
Beginning now, guests can purchase a $100 wellness package that includes a One Hour Standard Massage and an Express Facial, available online only for a limited time and redeemable at participating locations. The celebratory offer runs alongside the launch of MassageLuXe’s 2025 Member of the Year contest, honoring the loyal members who helped make this milestone possible.
“Our members are the reason we’ve reached 100 locations, and this is our way of saying thank you,” said Kristen Pechacek, CEO of MassageLuXe.
3) Dogtopia Partners with Powerhouse MUMBO of Wendy’s, Taco Bell and Jersey Mike’s in Multi-Unit Franchise Agreement
Joe Cugine is diversifying his portfolio with a franchise agreement to capitalize on the business opportunities presented by the booming pet care industry. Cugine currently owns 80 Wendy’s, 14 Taco Bell and four Jersey Mike’s Subs. His latest venture into the pet space will be taken on with his daughter, Carly, a next-generation entrepreneur and investor in three of his Wendy’s locations. Eager to diversify their portfolio and enter a reputable and mature franchise system, the pair was drawn to Dogtopia for its leadership, support, systems, and proprietary technology. The pair is currently operating one Dogtopia, in the process of purchasing a second, and has agreed to build additional locations in the tri-state area. They plan to lead the dog daycare centers together, with Carly overseeing day-to-day operations.
EXTRA SAUCE 💥
Beans & Brews Coffee House Announces New Additions to Leadership Team: Beans & Brews Coffeehouse is building on its strong foundation by enhancing its leadership team. Under the guidance of recently appointed CEO Doug Willmarth, the brand has welcomed several key hires—including Chef Becca McIntyre, who joins as Vice President of Supply Chain and Culinary.
Becca, a classically trained chef with deep experience in culinary development and operational strategy, is already making a significant impact. In May, she led the launch of Beans & Brews’ new cold brew flavors, a successful expansion of the brand’s already popular cold brew that doubled sales and attracted new guests across the system.
“This brand has a strong foundation and a clear vision,” said Becca McIntyre. “I’m thrilled to help shape the next evolution of our menu, focusing on high-quality, craveable offerings that are both exciting for customers and executable for our operators. It’s about elevating every part of the food and beverage experience.”
Dill Dinkers® in Sarasota Announces Davidson Kozlowski as Director of Operations and Sales: In the half year since opening, Dill Dinkers Sarasota has quickly risen locally for its fun, friendly and welcoming environment where players of all ages and skill levels can play, socialize and improve their skills. Today, they announced that Davidson Kozlowski, a world-class tennis and pickleball coach, will be joining the Dill Dinkers Sarasota team to share his expertise with Dill Dinkers members and local pickleball players visiting the club. He will work closely with Lance Martin, Director of Membership and Operations Manager, as well as Forest Dennis, the Director of Pickleball — both will report to Kozlowski.
Dill Dinkers is happy to welcome Davidson Kozlowski, who brings a wealth of experience from collegiate and professional coaching. Kozlowski joins Dill Dinkers from DNA Pickleball in Fort Myers, where he managed operations and led the Pro Training and Development Program for current and aspiring professional players. Before transitioning to pickleball, Kozlowski served as the Head Coach of Men’s Tennis at Drake University for 12 years, where he led the program to success. Building on his collegiate coaching success, Kozlowski has become a respected figure in the professional pickleball world. He has coached top players such as PPA World #1 Federico Staksrud, Zane Ford, Mya Bui and APP World #1 Megan Fudge, along with Ryler DeHeart and Ronan Camron. He also serves as Captain of the Fort Myers Flamingos in the All Florida Pickleball League.
Heart to Home Meals Signs First U.S. Franchise in Raleigh, NC: Heart to Home Meals is proud to announce the signing of its first U.S. franchise in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Heart to Home Meals is redefining senior care through food, making it easier for older adults to remain independent in their own homes. Most importantly, Heart to Home Meals brings the medically aligned, nutritious meals straight to the consumer’s door, with a dedicated team of drivers going above and beyond to help each senior, often delivering straight to their freezer.
Checkers and Rally’s Bring New Look and Leadership to Five Locations: Checkers and Rally’s, the iconic double drive-thru brand known for its legendary taste, undeniable value, and game-changing innovation, has announced that five stores in New Orleans transferred ownership to seasoned operator Rakesh Kalotra. The addresses of these locations include 5300 Jefferson Hwy, Harahan, 3222 S. Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, 810 West Airline Hwy, LaPlace, 3555 General DeGaulle, New Orleans, and 2560 Hwy 190 N, Covington. The newly acquired restaurants will soon undergo a remodel, reintroducing the community to the bold, modern look of the iconic Checkers and Rally’s brand.
Rakesh Kalotra is a seasoned multi-unit franchisee with more than three decades of experience in the restaurant industry. His journey with Checkers and Rally’s began in college, when he joined the team as a part-time employee, a role that sparked his long-term passion for quick-service dining. Since then, he has built a portfolio that includes eight Checkers and Rally’s locations across Maryland and Virginia as well as one Church’s Texas Chicken location. Kalotra is known for his hands-on leadership and operational expertise, and he will continue to expand his footprint while staying true to his mission of serving great food with exceptional customer service.
Barberitos Two Multi-Unit Development Agreements: Barberitos is expanding its presence in Georgia with two new development agreements with existing franchisees. The deals will bring six locations to the state – three to Savannah and three to Athens.
In Athens, long-time franchisee David Weeks has signed a three-store agreement to grow his Barberitos portfolio. Weeks is a seasoned multi-unit, multi-brand operator with 21 restaurants around the Athens area, including nine Barberitos, eight Dunkin’ and four Newk’s Eatery.
In Savannah, Azat Nasretdinov is expanding his ownership with a three-store agreement following the success of his first location in Vidalia, which he acquired in 2024. After spending seven years as a Corporate Comptroller overseeing accounting functions for a local business, he made a career switch to entrepreneurship. With a deep understanding of business operations, he is focused on bringing dining to Savannah and neighboring communities.
La Madeleine Signs Deal to Bring 3 New Cafes to Houston and College Station, Texas: French-inspired bakery and café la Madeleine has signed an agreement with SM Franchise LLC to develop three new locations in Houston and College Station, Texas, over the next two years.
SM Franchise LLC is owned and operated by Sultan Mahmood, a seasoned multi-unit operator with nearly 25 years of experience in restaurant franchising. He started in the industry with Denny’s in 2003, building his portfolio to six Texas locations and developing a team of more than 200 employees.
Batteries Plus and Customers Help Plant Over 35,000 Trees Across the Country: Batteries Plus is proud to announce the results of its first-ever “Buy a Pack, Plant a Tree” initiative, launched in partnership with Energizer and the Arbor Day Foundation. Thanks to its generous customers, the brand will help the Arbor Day Foundation plant 35,332 trees across the U.S. in the coming months, with each tree representing a step toward a greener, healthier planet.
The initiative marked the launch of Batteries Plus’s philanthropic platform, Power with Purpose, designed to unify all of the brand’s charitable work under one name. Batteries Plus will make a donation to plant one tree through the Arbor Day Foundation for each of the 35,332 24-packs of Energizer MAX® AA or AAA batteries sold in stores between April 1 and May 31.
Furthering the initiative, these Energizer MAX® batteries were sold in new packaging that’s 100% recyclable and plastic-free* – a sustainable innovation from Energizer that also makes the batteries easier to open and store.
Restaurant Redesign Yields Big ROI for Wingers Alehouse: Wingers Alehouse is getting a new look. And, the newest franchise store, which showcases the restaurant redesign prototype, has broken a franchise sales record. The Burley, Idaho, Wingers Alehouse tallied more than $100,000 in sales its first week. “That’s a huge, huge sales week, particularly when you have a brand-new staff, so kudos to them!” says Wingers Alehouse founder and CEO Eric Slaymaker. In the three months it’s been open, Burley continues to be among the top five performing Wingers Alehouse locations systemwide, says franchise owner Brad McDougal.
The Burley location features an eye-catching façade of stone and wood with glossy red metal panels extending up each corner. The interior is warm and comfortable with an industrial-chic vibe and décor by local artists that pays homage to regional craft breweries and the local community.
Qdoba opens its 800th restaurant in Miami: Qdoba Mexican Eats has opened its 800th restaurant in Miami, the company said Tuesday.
The San Diego, Calif.-based fast-casual brand said the new restaurant is in North Miami Beach at 14583 Biscayne Blvd.
“With 2025 included, we’ve averaged double-digit system sales growth over the past five years,” John Cywinski, CEO of Qdoba, said in a statement. “Qdoba is a powerful brand with big-time momentum and an unbelievably bright future. It’s not surprising we continue to attract some of the best franchise partners from QSR and casual dining as they seek to diversify into the most attractive category in the restaurant industry.”
