US Restaurant Franchise Deals Target New Markets

Restaurant brands outlined new franchise development plans across the United States in February 2026, with Nevada attracting two first-time entrants and Dallas-Fort Worth securing a sizeable coffee agreement. Alongside those deals, Gregorys Coffee launched franchising and Mike’s Red Tacos announced agreements covering more than 200 planned locations. The announcements highlight several different routes to growth within the US franchise community.

Nevada attracts Chicken Salad Chick and Shipley Donuts

Chicken Salad Chick is preparing to enter Nevada through a six-unit franchise agreement in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, according to a report published by Retail & Restaurant Facility Business on 24 February.

The Atlanta-based fast-casual chicken salad concept described the agreement as its first development in Nevada. The move extends its expansion beyond the Southeast and into the Southwest, with the Las Vegas metropolitan area providing the focus for its state debut.

Shipley Donuts has also identified Las Vegas as a new market. In a separate announcement reported on 20 February, the Houston-based brand outlined four multi-unit deals spanning Las Vegas, New Orleans, Atlanta and Dallas-Fort Worth.

Its plans include three Las Vegas shops, which would become its first Nevada locations and its westernmost outposts. The other agreements cover five shops in New Orleans, three in the Atlanta-area communities of Alpharetta, Roswell and Sandy Springs, and three additional shops across Dallas-Fort Worth.

Together, Shipley’s four agreements account for 14 planned shops. The Nevada announcements from Shipley and Chicken Salad Chick represent development commitments rather than reports of completed openings, an important distinction when assessing their market presence.

Coffee brands take different expansion routes

Black Sheep Coffee and Gregorys Coffee announced distinct approaches to franchise growth on consecutive days in February.

Black Sheep Coffee secured a 20-store multi-unit development agreement for Dallas-Fort Worth, reported on 18 February. The international coffee brand plans to add those locations over five years as part of its Texas growth strategy.

Planned sites span Richland Hills, Bedford, Plano, Garland, Rowlett, Mobile City, Sunnyvale, Richardson and Sachse. That geographical spread makes the agreement a regional development commitment rather than an expansion confined to central Dallas or Fort Worth.

Gregorys Coffee, meanwhile, announced the launch of its franchise programme on 17 February. The New York City-born business had grown to more than 50 cafés after nearly 20 years before taking this step.

The contrast matters for prospective franchisees: Black Sheep’s announcement concerns a defined multi-unit territory and development period, while Gregorys’ announcement marks the opening of a new franchising route for an established café brand. Neither announcement should be read as evidence that the planned franchise expansion has already been delivered.

Mike’s Red Tacos outlines a national pipeline

San Diego-born Mike’s Red Tacos announced a national franchising initiative in a report published on 18 February, with development agreements totalling more than 200 planned locations.

The beef birria brand said a strategic investment and a team of restaurant business leaders were supporting the expansion alongside its original founder.

The agreements involve experienced franchisees associated with brands including Dave’s Hot Chicken, Jersey Mike’s, Blaze Pizza, Dunkin’, Little Caesars, Carl’s Jr and Wetzel’s Pretzels. Those names describe the franchisees’ backgrounds; they are not identified as corporate partners in the Mike’s Red Tacos initiative.

The scale of the announced pipeline distinguishes this launch from the smaller regional agreements elsewhere in the February announcements. However, the figure refers to planned locations under development agreements, not an operating estate of more than 200 restaurants.

What the announcements mean for franchise buyers

These announcements cover three different milestones: entry into a new state, expansion through a regional multi-unit agreement, and the launch of a franchise programme. Each offers useful information, but none on its own establishes the financial performance of an individual franchise opportunity.

For prospective franchisees, the practical takeaway is to distinguish signed development commitments from trading locations. Check the proposed territory, opening timetable and support arrangements, and assess the franchise disclosure document before treating a headline growth figure as an investment case.