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IN BRIEF

Mom-and-pops still hurting

After the worst restaurant recession in more than a decade, mom-and-pop operators are still hurting, particularly in the Southeast, says Michele Schmal, vice president for food management at consulting firm NPDFoodworld. Smaller chains and independents bring in 58 percent of the industry’s net sales and make up 72 percent of actual brick-and-mortar restaurants, but “during weak economic times chains tend to take market share from independents,” Schmal said. She points out that independents and small chains are strongest in the Northeast, where Italian restaurants, bagel shops and delis proliferate. In the West, Asian and Mexican restaurants drive a strong independent segment. But in the Southeast, national chains dominate and are driving many independent restaurants out of business, she said.

New food court for Metropolis

Ivanhoe Cambridge opened the renovated, 1,000-seat food court at its Metropolis at Metrotown property in Burnaby, British Columbia. The new food court, which features kiosks grouped around the perimeter to resemble stalls at an open-air market, is part of a two-phase, $80 million redevelopment integrating two malls into a 1.7 million-square-foot retail-entertainment complex. The redevelopment is scheduled for completion this spring.

Cosi comes to Dadeland Mall

Fast-casual dining chain Cosi opened an in-store café at the Macy’s in Dadeland Mall, Miami. Through a deal with Federated Department Stores, Cosi will open nine more in-store cafés at Macy’s stores in such markets as Atlanta; Memphis, Tenn.; and Seattle. The New York City-based chain operates 85 full-size cafés.

Chevys buy puts Real Mex on top

Real Mex Restaurants says it’s the No.1 U.S. operator of full-service Mexican restaurants now that it has acquired the 106-unit Chevys Fresh Mex and the 10-unit Fuzio Universal Pasta chains from Chevys for $90 million. Based in Long Beach, Calif., Real Mex also operates the El Torito and Acapulco casual-dining chains, which comprise 124 restaurants.

Starbucks keeps expanding

Starbucks says it expects earnings growth of 20 percent to 25 percent over the next three to five years. The chain plans to nearly quadruple its global store count to 30,000 from the current 8,500. Most of those new stores will be overseas, the company says, but some will open in smaller U.S. markets.

Nationwide Realty cuts rents to help eateries weather NHL strike

Nationwide Realty Investments, of Columbus, Ohio, cut rents to help the restaurant tenants at its mixed-use Arena District survive a National Hockey League players’ strike. The restaurants, located around the Nationwide Arena downtown, received a 50 percent break on rent starting Oct. 1 and lasting indefinitely until the Columbus Blue Jackets resume their playing season. Observers predict that the lockout could stretch into January and maybe through the entire 2004-2005 season.

Yum! expects international growth

International business will make up 60 percent of Yum! Brands’ growth over the next few years, the company says. Yum Brands, which operates KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, says 30 percent of that growth will probably come from China alone. In the past two years, the company has doubled the number of its Chinese KFC units to 1,100 and says it expects to operate as many as 5,000 there eventually.

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