franchising

Philadelphia – October 21, 2026 -- PrimoHoagies has signed seven new franchisees in 2026 and has roughly 10–15 existing restaurants available for acquisition, most of them in greater Philadelphia and South Jersey. The Italian specialty sandwich chain is courting qualified operators who want to enter established markets and build toward multi-unit ownership.

The system counts about 80 franchise owners, 20 of them multi-unit operators, and more than 120 restaurants. This year's recruits include operators with backgrounds in national restaurant franchises, airport concessions and real estate.

Andover, Minnesota – October 21, 2026 -- Beef 'O' Brady's has named Andover franchisee Bradley Dethmers its 2026 Franchisee of the Year, and he also took the brand's Marketer of the Year Award at parent company FSC Franchise Co.'s 2026 conference. The family sports pub chain operates 120 locations in 21 states.

Dethmers bought the Andover restaurant in May 2021 with nearly 30 years of hospitality experience

The Andover restaurant marks 18 years in business on October 6. Before becoming a Beef 'O' Brady's franchisee, Dethmers opened restaurants around the world and worked with several franchise brands. That background shapes his focus on hospitality and guest relationships.

Atlanta – October 14, 2026 -- Slutty Vegan has converted its Fulton Street restaurant in Brooklyn, New York, into its first operating franchised location, handing ownership to Destiny Correa, the general manager who ran the site for nearly five years.

Founder gifts the store and waives two fees

Founder and CEO Pinky Cole Hayes gifted Correa the store outright. Slutty Vegan also waived both the initial franchise fee and the recurring marketing fee that new franchise partners typically pay. The brand cited Correa's years-long commitment as the reason.

Correa helped build Fulton Street into one of the brand's flagship restaurants. The location now operates under her ownership.

"I walked into this store five years ago as a manager, and now I'm walking back in as the owner," Correa said.

Vancouver, Wash. – October 13, 2026 -- Shoot 360 has set a goal of 200 locations open or in development across Asia by 2030, after opening its eighth international site in Quezon City, Manila, on September 17, 2026.

The Manila debut brings the technology-powered basketball training franchise to eight international locations across five countries: Canada, the Republic of Georgia, Japan, the Philippines and Taiwan.

Japan and the Philippines each expected to add at least two locations within a year

Shoot 360's Asia master franchisee is leading the regional expansion. Hong Kong, Indonesia and Thailand are among the markets targeted for future development.

Asia CEO Sean Cheng said development opportunities are now progressing in China, Indonesia, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand. He described the model as a basketball community built around technology and coaching, serving young players, returning adults and families.

CHARLESTON, S.C. – – September 21, 2026 -- VIO Med Spa has signed a three-unit development agreement to enter South Carolina for the first time, with the first Charleston-area location targeted to open in 2027. Site selection is currently underway.

Former CVS Health Executive Leads Local Development

Ted Loya, who spent more than 23 years at CVS Health in its pharmacy benefits business working with national employers, will spearhead the brand's build-out across the Charleston area. New to franchising and medical aesthetics, Loya cited VIO's established infrastructure, financial backing, and existing East Coast footprint in North Carolina and Georgia as deciding factors in bringing the brand to South Carolina.

Deal Extends Brand's East Coast Footprint

Ryan Rao, Chief Development Officer at VIO Med Spa, said the Charleston entry strengthens the company's presence in the Southeast and supports further expansion along the East Coast.

Dublin, Ohio – September 18, 2026 -- Little Diggers, the construction-themed indoor sandbox playspace chain, has signed more than 50 franchise locations across the U.S. and now operates six corporate-owned stores, with additional openings planned before year-end.

Franchise pipeline swells after 2025 launch

Since opening its franchising arm in 2025, the company has fielded thousands of inquiries from all 50 states and more than 85 countries. Signed or in-development locations now span 21 states, including Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin. Little Diggers plans to expand into California, with location details to be announced.

Las Vegas – September 15, 2026 -- Oakwell Beer Spa has signed its first-ever franchise agreement, bringing the Denver-born wellness concept to Las Vegas through husband-and-wife operators Andrew and Gina Lanzino. The deal marks the Colorado-based brand's initial expansion outside its home state since it began offering franchises earlier this year.

Dallas – September 09, 2026 -- TGI Fridays has signed a development agreement with Devolli Group to build 10 restaurants across Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia, marking the American casual dining chain's first entry into the Balkans.

Devolli Group secures exclusive sub-franchise rights across three Balkan markets

Under the agreement, Devolli Group will develop the 10 units and holds exclusive rights to sub-franchise the TGI Fridays brand throughout the territory, creating a platform for further expansion across Southeast Europe.

Greenville, N.C. – September 07, 2026 -- Replay Sports Cards, the first national franchise dedicated exclusively to the sports card hobby, has signed a franchise agreement with father-son duo Jim and Jake Whitehurst to open a location in Greenville, North Carolina, before the end of 2026.

Deal marks Replay's return to its home state's eastern half

Replay was founded in North Carolina and built its early presence in Charlotte before expanding nationally to a current footprint of three shops across the U.S. The Greenville agreement extends that footprint into eastern North Carolina, linking regional collector communities that Jake Whitehurst says currently lack a central hub.