Virginia's Buc-ee's era is officially expanding — but the chain's map across the commonwealth is getting more complicated. The Texas-based travel center chain opened its first Virginia location in Mount Crawford, in Rockingham County, on June 30, 2025. The store sits off Interstate 81 at Exit 240, near Harrisonburg, and includes the familiar Buc-ee's formula: a 74,000-square-foot convenience store, barbecue, Beaver Nuggets, [...]
CAVA Is Expanding in Columbus — and It Says a Lot About Where Faster Food Is Headed
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus, a hotbed of restaurant concept testing, just got another sign that the fast-casual restaurant wars are shifting beyond burgers, burritos, and chicken sandwiches. CAVA, the Mediterranean fast-casual chain known for customizable bowls, salads, pitas, dips, and spicy harissa-style flavors, has opened a new restaurant at 1370 Polaris Parkway in Columbus. According to the company's press release, the [...]
BBQ chain fully exits Massachusetts, abruptly closes final locations amid bankruptcy filing
Massachusetts has officially lost its last remaining Smokey Bones locations after the barbecue chain abruptly shut down its final two restaurants in the state, marking a complete exit from the market. Parent company FAT Brands confirmed that Smokey Bones locations in Tyngsboro and Taunton are now closed as part of the company’s nationwide shutdown. A spokesperson said all Smokey Bones restaurants ceased operations on April [...]
BBQ chain exits New York after closing final restaurant locations amid bankruptcy
New York has officially lost the last remaining locations of a longtime national barbecue chain after the company abruptly shut down its final restaurants in the state, marking a complete exit from the market. The closures were part of a broader nationwide shutdown on April 28, when parent company FAT Brands confirmed that all remaining restaurants had ceased operations. The move follows the company’s January 2026 Chapter [...]
California beer layoffs mount as breweries cut jobs
California’s beer industry is facing another round of painful cuts, with two well-known breweries announcing closures and layoffs in recent weeks as craft brewers battle slowing demand, higher costs, and intense competition. The latest moves affect workers in Los Angeles and Berkeley, adding to signs that even recognizable brands are not immune to the pressure facing the state’s once-booming craft beer market. Angel City [...]
Northwest food layoffs widen as plants cut jobs in Washington, Idaho and Colorado
Fresh layoffs are spreading across the western U.S. food and beverage sector so far in 2026, with companies in Washington, Idaho, and Colorado announcing major job cuts tied to plant closures, consolidation plans, and restructuring moves. The latest round affects bakery production, packaged foods, potato processing, and beverage distribution — underscoring how manufacturers and distributors are cutting costs while shifting [...]
