It’s been nearly two decades since the taco began its star-studded journey across menus, categories and cuisines. No longer restricted to Mexican and Tex-Mex-leaning concepts, the now ubiquitous carrier is as seamlessly filled with bulgogi or tikka masala as it is with carnitas or al pastor. By contrast, the taco-adjacent quesadilla has remained on the fringe in terms of innovation, beloved and craveable as it may be.
Jun 12, 2025, 11:23am EDT Jun 12, 2025, 08:51pm EDT
National Lobster Day is celebrated on June 15. While steamed lobster on a plate is always appealing – isn’t this holiday a great opportunity to kick the creativity up a notch? Restaurants nationwide are giving lobster the special treatment, as it so richly deserves. Spicy, fried, or with pasta – there’s endless creative and delicious ways to enjoy the most luxurious of crustaceans as you never have before.
A star of the new summer menu at Friendly’s restaurants, this seafood-centric upgrade on the classic quesadilla is made with mixed cheese, lobster, and shrimp wrapped in flour tortillas, served with salsa, sour cream, of course, a side of fries.
Just in time for the sunny season, Friendly’s is turning up the heat (and the nostalgia), celebrating 90 years of delicious memories with the launch of its Summer Sizzle Menu, available now through September 30. This limited-time lineup brings back fan-favorite flavors, bold new bites and some particularly jaw-some treats fans have been awaiting the return of!
Back by very popular demand, and after countless social media requests, this wildly popular drink is swimming back onto the menu — the Shark in the Water is a sweet, bubbly ocean-blue mix of Sprite, blue raspberry syrup, gummy sharks and a splash of shark bait for the ultimate summer sip and fruity bite. Also making a splash is the Shark Fribble, our famous vanilla shake turned deep-sea treat with gummy sharks swimming in blue raspberry waves and drizzled with shark bait.
“Friendly’s Famous Fried Ravioli,” is a new dish offered on the 90th anniversary menu: “Legacy in Bloom” (COURTESY FRIENDLY’S)
By Sally Cragin | Correspondent
PUBLISHED: June 4, 2025 at 1:04 AM EDT
“Save room for ice cream” — was there ever an exhortation more hopeful or sublime? Since 1935 — the dark heart of America’s Depression — Friendly’s restaurants have offered good food at an affordable price. And this season, they continue to celebrate their 90th birthday with a new seasonal menu: “Legacy in Bloom.”
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moothies and frozen yogurt are coming to Prosper with two restaurants in one: Smoothie Factory + Kitchen and co-branded Red Mango is now open at 1470 W. Frontier Pkwy. #102, with a grand opening celebration on May 17.
On the Smoothie Kitchen side, they’ll serve smoothies, juices, fruit power bowls, toasts, and grilled sandwich folds.
On the Red Mango side, they’ll serve frozen yogurt with a self-serve model featuring four flavors, two additional swirl combinations, and 13 toppings.
Smoothie Factory was founded in the 1980s; Red Mango was founded in Dallas in 2007 had has 60 locations in the U.S. and internationally. The concepts are siblings — both part of the franchise portfolio of Dallas-based franchising company Brix Holdings, LLC.
Local smoothie and frozen yogurt brands announce new store opening event featuring giveaways, raffles and fun promotions
Smoothie Factory + Kitchen, a smoothie and kitchen QSR, is celebrating the grand opening of its newest co-branded Red Mango in Prosper, Texas. The opening event is on May 17 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at 1470 W. Frontier Parkway, Suite 102. In celebration of the opening, guests can expect day-of promotions, giveaways and activities for all to enjoy.
Clean Juice Celebrates Earth Day. Clean Juice recognized and the first and only national USDA certified organic juice bar franchise offers and Earth Day Deal.
Every year, the Fischetti family hosts a posthumous birthday gathering for matriarch Genevieve in her honor.
The Fischetti family celebrated Genevieve Fischetti’s 100th birthday posthumously at Friendly’s in February 2025.Courtesy Trisha Burke and the Fischetti Family
March 21, 2025 // Franchising.com // DALLAS — Clean Juice is helping customers enhance their wellness routines with the launch of “The Relaxation One.” The new lavender-infused smoothie is designed to promote relaxation and better sleep in line with the popular “sleepmaxxing” trend.
Available for a limited time, The Relaxation One is crafted with USDA-certified organic ingredients that create a delicious and soothing blend of almond milk, blueberries, banana, avocado, honey, collagen and lavender.
Plus innovation at BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, Chip City Cookies, Clean Juice, HTeaO, Krispy Krunchy Chicken, Kura Sushi, Moxies, Next Level Burger, Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom, Playa Bowls, Portillo’s, Salad & Go, South Block, Tacodeli, Thirsty Lion, Tim Hortons, Torchy’s Tacos, Tous Les Jours, Velvet Taco, and Ziggi’s Coffee.
Valentine’s Day, one of the busiest days of the year for restaurants, is upon us and many chains have special items, some just for a day or two, such as BJ’s, which has a special version of its signature Pizookie and of its rotating lineup of cocktails in a bathtub with a rubber duck. (more…)
Clean Juice, the original USDA-certified organic juice bar, revealed today its plans for strategic expansion and entry into new markets in Central Texas. This move includes cities such as Austin, Waco, Bryan/College Station, Temple/Killeen and as far south as San Antonio. The expansion presents entrepreneurs with the opportunity to provide health, wellness and nutrition to their communities with a proven business model. The brand has plans to open 10 stores across the region over the course of the next 3 years.
Orange Leaf, a quick-service frozen yogurt brand, is celebrating the grand opening of its newest co-branded Humble Donuts location in Pharr, Texas. The event will take place at 1511 E Nolana Loop, Suite 110 on Saturday, November 16 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. In celebration of the new opening, the event will feature activities for the whole family to enjoy.
Today, women own or co-own 31% of franchises, but that number is growing. In the newest edition of QSR, we explored two diverse paths to ownership within the same brand.
Mack started in linguistics, and Phillips went to school for marketing, but their passion for people drew them to become successful business owners. hashtag#WiRLPower
Read more about their journey and advice for others HERE
Multi-brand franchisor Brix Holdings signed a multi-unit agreement to open locations featuring two of its concepts in Arizona. Franchisee Richard Stassi, also a Jimmy John’s operator, plans to open three Smoothie Factory + Kitchen and Red Mango co-branded stores in the Phoenix and Scottsdale markets over the next three years. Brix is also working on franchise restarts for three of its other brands, Clean Juice, Friendly’s and Orange Leaf.
Despite a slower dealmaking market this year so far, several major acquisitions closed in the first half of 2024. Private equity firm Roark Capital bought Subway after a reported FTC investigation, Orangetheory Fitness and Self Esteem Brands merged, and Blackstone bought 1,400-unit Tropical Smoothie. Franchise Times rounded up seven of this year’s biggest deals so far. (more…)
Cibolo’s Orange Leaf frozen yogurt shop to host grand opening on Saturday, August 10.
Orange Leaf Cibolo
From rivers to chilly treats, Texans are always searching for ways to cool down as the state has become synonymous with its heat. Cibolo area residents can call off the hunt as a new frozen yogurt shop is set to open its doors this week.
Orange Leaf will hold a grand opening event for its newest location in Cibolo from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 10. The shop is located at 646 W. FM 78, Suite 145, Cibolo, Texas 78108.
Beginning in the early 2000s, we wondered if we were experiencing the slow and painful death of the chain restaurant. Restaurant goers were looking elsewhere for healthier options, and younger generations increasingly craved unique and trendy over reliable, cheap, or convenient. Even thousands of locations and global expansion couldn’t guarantee success for struggling chain restaurants. Confronted with the ever-expanding market of curbside pick-up and food delivery apps, if a family-friendly chain didn’t keep up with the times, it was all too easy to fall into bankruptcy, or worse, fade into irrelevance.
New location kicks off 2024 openings for the froyo brand
OMAHA, Neb., June 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Orange Leaf, a frozen yogurt pioneer and iconic family-friendly brand specializing in frozen yogurt, smoothies and power bowls, announces the grand opening of its newest Omaha, Neb. store located inside the Holiday Inn at 1420 Cuming St.
The Orange Leaf in Omaha is owned by business partners Kirt Trivedi and Dr. Deepak Gangahr. Together they own Anant with Trivedi serving as the president and Dr. Gangahar as the chairman. The company specializes in real estate development, operations management, and construction. They manage more than 14 properties within the hotel, apartment and restaurant industry. Trivedi has decades of development and operations management experience and an eye for attractive opportunities to expand his business offerings. The Orange Leaf investment was a strategic development to offer a familiar, delicious, and family-friendly treat for guests at his hotel properties under a simple, flexible and innovative labor model for his employees.
From left to right, Mike Higby, sons Bryce and Austin, and wife Yvonne Higby.
Posted
By ZACH FREEMAN
AZLE — Mike Higby, a United States Air Force veteran, will soon open an Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt shop in Azle. Higby is from a third-generation military family who has lived almost everywhere in the country. A considerable amount of his time was spent growing up in Alaska, where much of his family still lives. He first joined the U.S. Air Force in 1996 and served until 2019. In that time, Higby lived in California, Spain and Germany before eventually settling in Azle. He worked as an aircraft mechanic, maintaining large aircraft platforms.
Now back in civilian life, Higby hopes to use his military experience to succeed as an entrepreneur. He had never heard of Orange Leaf until he discovered a location in nearby Lake Worth. He and his wife quickly made the place a regular weekend habit.
CHARLOTTE — Charlotte-based Clean Juice is being acquired by BRIX Holdings LLC.
The Dallas-based multi-brand franchising portfolio has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the organic juice chain’s assets, with the deal set to close within the next several weeks. Terms were not disclosed.
Clean Juice has more than 75 existing locations and a dozen in development. Its stores sell organic juices as well as acai bowls, toasts, wraps, sandwiches and protein smoothies.
The popular eatery caters to a growing population of consumers.
One of the fastest growing trends in the food and beverage industry is the health-conscious movement, which may be easy to miss if you don’t know what you’re looking at.
Browse the shelves at your local grocery store and you may notice more organic and less-processed foods than you might have seen several years ago. Nearly every large grocery chain stocks some sort of in-house or generic organic brand.
Stores like Stop & Shop and Giant stock Nature’s Promise organic goods, which includes everything from canned goods to produce. Publix carries Greenwise, which includes produce, yogurt and breakfast cereal. Kroger (KR) stocks Simple Truth, also featuring organic produce, pasta and packaged goods like spaghetti sauce.
But it’s easy to miss these products unless you take the time to look at labels, most of which tend to be green but subtle. Many customers in big-box grocery stores are seeking the best prices and tend to be less concerned about organic goods, which largely are pricier.
The acquisition is expected to close in the next several weeks.Clean Juice, the North Carolina-based organic juice bar franchise, is landing under new ownership. Last week, Brix Holdings, a multi-brand restaurant portfolio company, announced that it will acquire the chain.
This acquisition will add more than 75 existing Clean Juice locations, plus a dozen more in development, to Brix’s portfolio. It will also bring the company’s store count to 300 locations across eight brands. These include Friendly’s, Orange Leaf, Red Mango, Smoothie Factory + Kitchen, Humble Donut Co., and Pizza Jukebox.
Friendly’s Restaurants Co. LLC, the family-dining chain, is highlighting a menu of late-night budget items Sunday through Thursday, the company said.
The Addison, Texas-based brand, which is owned by Brix Holding Inc., said it recognized customers’ “nighttime munchies” so would be offering special prices on some its popular snack items.
By Jennifer Thomas – Senior Staff Writer, Charlotte Business Journal
Updated
Charlotte-based Clean Juice is being acquired by BRIX Holdings LLC.
The Dallas-based multi-brand franchising portfolio has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the organic juice chain’s assets, with the deal set to close within the next several weeks. Terms were not disclosed.
Clean Juice has more than 75 existing locations and a dozen in development. Its stores sell organic juices as well as acai bowls, toasts, wraps, sandwiches and protein smoothies.
The BRIX portfolio includes brands such as Friendly’s, Red Mango and Orange Leaf. Clean Juice will give it more than 300 locations across eight brands.
Mansfield, Texas scores a touchdown with the opening of a Smoothie Factory Juice Bar® owned and operated by former Dallas Cowboys player Charlie Williams and his wife Sharonda. The store, located at 1681 East Broad Street, will offer nutritious smoothies, fresh-squeezed juices, nutritional products and more.
After months of waiting, Bay View will officially be getting a new pizza place this weekend. RedBrick Pizza—an artisan pizzeria located at 2202 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. in a ground floor retail space in Vue Apartments—recently announced it will open for business beginning Sunday, September 1.
DALLAS — (March 25, 2019) – Red Mango® Yogurt Café, Smoothie & Juice Bar is reaching customers in new locales with its recent development agreement with Bolla Markets, an upscale convenience store chain in the greater Long Island/New York Metro area. Red Mango has added frozen yogurt and smoothies to nine Bolla Markets since mid-2018, with more set to open this year.
Dallas, TX — (February 18, 2019) – Red Mango Yogurt Café, Smoothie & Juice Bar is ringing in the new year with a major accolade, claiming the 2019 title for the Best Frozen Yogurt in Long Island by Bethpage Best of LI.
DALLAS — (February 11, 2019) – Red Mango® Yogurt Café, Smoothie & Juice Bar is reaching customers in new locales by rapidly increasing its special venue store count, with over 75 special venue, or “non-traditional” locations in airports, train stations, convenience stores, and college campuses. (more…)
“Friendly’s Famous Fried Ravioli,” is a new dish offered on the 90th anniversary menu: “Legacy in Bloom” (COURTESY FRIENDLY’S)
By 
Today we’re highlighting Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt franchisees, Allison Phillips and Mandy Mack 🧡 🍦
Today, women own or co-own 31% of franchises, but that number is growing. In the newest edition of QSR, we explored two diverse paths to ownership within the same brand.
Mack started in linguistics, and Phillips went to school for marketing, but their passion for people drew them to become successful business owners. hashtag#WiRLPower
Read more about their journey and advice for others HERE