While some restaurant chains are shrinking their footprints, Whataburger is continuing its push into new markets. The Texas-born burger brand has announced additional openings and development plans as it works to bring its signature orange-and-white restaurants to more communities nationwide. Whataburger expands beyond its Texas roots Founded in 1950 in Corpus Christi, Texas, Whataburger spent decades building a loyal [...]

Culver’s has reached a major milestone, surpassing 1,000 restaurants across the United States as the Wisconsin-based chain continues its steady expansion into new markets. The company, known for its ButterBurgers and Fresh Frozen Custard, celebrated the achievement after growing from a single restaurant in Sauk City, Wisconsin, to one of the nation's largest fast-casual chains. The first Culver’s opened on July 18, 1984, [...]

Restaurant closures are becoming increasingly common, but few developments have been as dramatic as the complete disappearance of two longtime casual dining brands. In 2026, both Smokey Bones and Bahama Breeze announced plans that ultimately resulted in every remaining location either closing or being converted to another concept. Smokey Bones abruptly ceases operations Smokey Bones, the barbecue-focused chain founded in [...]

Wyoming does not need chain restaurants to create memorable dining. In fact, it is one of only six states without a Cracker Barrel. Instead, diners can eat surrounded by horror-movie monsters, taxidermy, bison herds and more Old West history than most museums contain. Here are five of Wyoming's weirdest restaurants. Little Shop of Burgers in Casper Little Shop of Burgers is a horror-themed restaurant inspired [...]

“Just. Not worth it.” That was how one frustrated Reddit user summed up a recent Cracker Barrel meal, saying the food no longer felt worth the cost of taking a family out to eat. Cracker Barrel has long built its reputation on comfort food, road-trip nostalgia, rocking chairs, country-store gifts, and a familiar old-fashioned atmosphere. But online, some diners say the restaurant does not feel as dependable as it once [...]

Trader Joe’s may be known for keeping things simple, but shoppers are still seeing plenty of changes at the beloved grocery chain. The company is opening new stores, releasing limited-edition products that can draw lines and sell out quickly, and continuing to lean into a shopping experience that looks very different from many other national grocers. At a time when other chains are adding delivery, pickup, loyalty programs, [...]