Arizona recently welcomed its first Buc-ee’s in Goodyear, but even a supersized travel center cannot compete with a pizza organ, rescue parrots and a steakhouse that cuts off customers’ neckties. These five restaurants embrace Arizona’s theatrical side. Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa At Organ Stop Pizza, the musical instrument is considerably larger than the kitchen. The Mesa restaurant houses what it describes as the [...]
Tennessee’s next Buc-ee’s targeted to open before Thanksgiving
Tennessee’s next Buc-ee’s is rapidly taking shape in Murfreesboro, and the company has confirmed that it expects to open before the end of 2026. The project is the next step in Buc-ee’s effort to expand from East Tennessee into the middle and western parts of the state. The travel center is being built beside Interstate 24 at the Joe B. Jackson Parkway exit, approximately 35 miles southeast of downtown Nashville. Plans [...]
Popular burger chain franchisee files for bankruptcy, putting dozens of Midwest restaurants at risk
Financial challenges continue to pressure restaurant operators across the country, and another major franchisee has now turned to bankruptcy protection. On July 9, 2026, one of the largest operators of Hardee's restaurants filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, underscoring the financial strain facing many franchisees. Hardee's franchisee seeks Chapter 11 protection Superior Star LLC, one of the largest Hardee's franchisees in [...]
Popular fried chicken chain closes more Florida restaurants as franchise bankruptcy expands
Restaurant closures continue to reshape Florida's dining landscape, with another well-known fast-food chain reducing its footprint across the state. The latest round of shutdowns comes as one of the brand's largest franchise operators works through a lengthy bankruptcy process. More Popeyes restaurants close in Florida Several additional Popeyes restaurants in Florida are permanently closing as Miami-based franchisee [...]
3 Wyoming restaurants diners are still missing in 2026
Wyoming does not have three verifiable restaurant closures from July, so calling this a list of places that “shut down this month” would be inaccurate. The state’s latest confirmed losses instead stretch from the end of 2025 into spring 2026. The closures still matter in a state where population and distance make expansion difficult for everything from local operators to major restaurant chains. Wyoming’s Rib & [...]
Washington’s 5 weirdest restaurants (including the Twin Peaks one)
Washington still lacks a giant beaver-themed travel center, despite persistent questions about what it would take for Buc-ee’s to finally open in the state. Fortunately, local restaurants already provide plenty of stranger experiences. Customers can eat inside a fictional television diner, visit a 14th-century village or attempt to finish a 12-egg omelet. Bizzarro Italian Cafe in Seattle Bizzarro is an appropriate [...]
