Summer 2026 Restaurant Labor Law Updates
Stay compliant with key restaurant labor regulations in Summer 2026, including minimum wage increases, scheduling laws, and retirement requirements.
Jul 24, 2026
Stay compliant with key restaurant labor regulations in Summer 2026, including minimum wage increases, scheduling laws, and retirement requirements.
Jul 24, 2026
Discover how restaurant apps help owners manage labor, payroll, inventory, food safety, reporting, and back-office operations more efficiently every day.
Jul 24, 2026
Cicis Pizza’s systemwide sales have surged over 50%, fueled by digital innovation, modern operations, and a revamped franchise strategy. Learn what restaurant owners can take away from Cicis’ transformation.
Jul 24, 2026
Fogo de Chão has announced Daniel Duran as its new CFO, marking a strategic leadership transition designed to enhance global growth and financial innovation for the renowned restaurant brand.
Jul 24, 2026
Learn how to calculate, benchmark, track, and improve restaurant payroll percentage while balancing staffing costs, sales, service, and profitability effectively.
Jul 24, 2026
KFC Global has selected experienced leader Maria Cacciapuoti as its new Chief Operations Officer. Discover how her extensive expertise will help shape KFC’s global operations and franchise partnerships.
Jul 23, 2026
Portillo’s welcomes industry veteran Christopher Hansen as Executive Chef and Senior Director of Culinary Innovation to steer menu strategy and fuel national growth.
Jul 23, 2026
Ziggi’s Coffee welcomes Stacey Pool as Chief Growth Officer to spearhead national expansion and enhance franchise profitability as the brand celebrates a decade of franchising success.
Jul 23, 2026
Cinnabon grows 30% in U.S. units, adding 308 net stores as flexible formats expand into travel centers and convenience; 95 more openings forecast and 359 in pipeline.
Jul 22, 2026
QDOBA targets 2,000 restaurants in 10 years, powered by franchising and recent securitizations, aiming for $5B sales, $2.7M AUV, and 28% margins.
Jul 22, 2026
A family-led, 15-location plan steers Potbelly's New Jersey comeback through PBNJ, anchored in local ties and thoughtful franchising.
Photo by Razi Abramovich
Potbelly Sandwich Works is quietly reintroducing itself to New Jersey through a patient, community-first plan led by PBNJ. This eight-year horizon centers on 15 new Potbelly locations across North Jersey, signaling a brand that favors depth over haste. The Hart family anchors the effort: Kelly Hart now leads PBNJ as CEO and COO, while her parents remain active in the group, joined by a spouse, her brother, and longtime family friends. This arrangement, a governance model built on trust, continuity, and shared ambition, meets a market the family knows well. So, what does this arrival mean for North Jersey?
As the ink dries on the 15-unit pact, Potbelly sets a clear course: open 15 locations in North Jersey over eight years, making PBNJ a market pioneer. The deal also ties into Potbelly’s Large Area Developer 50/50 Incentive Program, designed to reward seasoned multi-unit operators with reduced upfront fees and favorable deposit terms as growth unfolds. In the leadership's own words, “It’s been several years since we've been to New Jersey, so it’s wide open for development, and it also complements our development that we have in New York City and Long Island.” and “How we operate, how we serve the customer and the experience we give our guests is going to be paramount because we’re going to grow a reputation for the brand and restaurants in this area. That’s got to come first.” Taken together, these statements signal a disciplined approach to growth, anchored in local knowledge and a superior guest experience as prerequisites for a successful rollout. The first store is anticipated to open toward the fall, with the broader rollout unfolding in the coming years.
Beyond the numbers, the arrangement feels deliberate, a signal that Potbelly’s reentry will be anchored in relationships rather than headlines. The Hart-led team emphasizes that patient, community-backed growth is the path to a trusted, neighborhood-rooted dining option.
This is more than a market entry; it is a deliberate, community-centered approach to growth. The Hart-led team frames the move as a thoughtful reintroduction that respects North Jersey’s neighborhoods and real estate rhythms, inviting guests to a familiar, nourishing rhythm that Potbelly has long offered.