Joe Carbonara

Barbie has been part of the pop culture scene for a long time, and now she is part of the dining scene. Mattel and Bucket Listers are partnering to produce a pop-up Barbie-themed restaurant in Chicago and New York City. In an ode to Malibu Barbie, the restaurant’s design draws inspiration from 1970’s Malibu, Calif., and features a sea of “poptimistic” Barbie hues, per a report in Block Club Chicago.

From navigating supply chain challenges to finding people to staff each new location, adding units has never been trickier for restaurant chains. Yet some chains continue to march onward. Such is the case with Scooter’s Coffee, a drive-thru chain that’s approaching 600 locations across 28 states. Clearly the caffeine-centric concept likes life in the fast lane as it has targeted a bunch of markets for expansion across the Eastern U.S. in the coming year.

While the pandemic challenged restaurants in ways that once seemed unimaginable, it also allowed operators to look at their businesses with fresh eyes and, in some cases, make changes that position their concepts for future growth. Such is the case with Margaritas Mexican Restaurants. Founded in 1986, the 25-unit chain features a mix of franchise and corporate-owned locations throughout Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.