Good News! - March 2020

SPECIAL NOTE: In August 2009, deep in the trough of the Great Recession and weary of the barrage of "Everything's going wrong! The world is about to end!!" daily news, we started this monthly roundup of what was still going right. We called it The Winner's Column. Today, COVID-19 has created a similar panic born of uncertainty - but with a critical difference: Everyone is susceptible this time around. No "best practices" or management jiujitsu will stop the virus, only slow its spread (or so we hope). So, in addition to our regular roundup of business growth and change, we've added a special section on how businesses are coping with the spread of the new coronavirus across the U.S.

Here's your chance to follow the leaders, every third Tuesday of the month!

And if you're not doing it already, send us your good news here!

Coping With COVID

Ad Age's Regularly Updated List of How Marketers Are Responding to Coronavirus

How Your QSR Brand Should Prepare for COVID-19

Major Publishers Temporarily Remove Paywalls for Coronavirus Coverage

Survey: 1,000 Restaurant Customers Tell What They Think About Coronavirus

NY State Requires Restaurants To Reduce Their Seating Capacity Starting March 13

Seattle: Small-Business Owners Sound Off on How COVID-19 Is Hurting Them

Starbucks CEO's Open Letter Details Effects of COVID-19 and Contingency Plans

Starbucks U.S. President Expands Catastrophe Pay for COVID-19 Care

Noodles & Company Announces Emergency Paid Sick Leave Policy at Company Stores

Dickey's Barbecue Pit Rolls Out Contactless Doorstep Drop-Off Delivery

KFC Offers Free Delivery March 14 through April 26

Blaze Pizza Cancels In-Store Pi Day Event; Swaps in $3.14 Reward for App Users

Grubhub Waives Fees for Independent Restaurants; Pledges Fund for Drivers

New Units/Growth/Expansion/New & Emerging Brands

Moe's Transfers 67 Franchised Locations to Quality Fresca

Scooter's Coffee Inks 3-Unit Deal in Kansas City, Missouri

7-Eleven Debuts Its Raise the Roost Chicken & Biscuits QSR in NYC Evolution Store

I Heart Mac & Cheese Inks 4-Store Deal in California

Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh Looks To Open 10+ Units, Ink 20 New Deals in 2020

Florida-Based Jeremiah's Italian Ice (23 Units) Aims for 15 Units in Phoenix Area

New Orleans' Dat Dog (4 Units) Targets West Florida for Expansion

3-Year-Old Motto Mortgage Closed More than $1.1 Billion in Loan Volume in 2019

The Human Bean Breaks Ground on Several New U.S. Locations

Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonade To Open 18+ Units in Arizona Under New Leadership

2019 Results & 2020 Plans

Del Taco Details Plans To Recapture Value Positioning in 2020

Chicken Salad Chick Targets 400 Stores by 2025

Mountain Mike's Pizza Looks To Exceed 350 Units in Next 3–4 Years

MOD Pizza's 2019 Systemwide Sales Grow to $493 Million, Up 24%

Planet Fitness SSS Increased 8.8% in 2019 as Brand Opened 261 New Stores

Texas Roadhouse Reports Positive 2019 Results

Famous Dave's CEO Plans Smaller Stores, More Brands

Odds, Ends & Trends

Pizza Inn Launches $1 Million Franchisee Incentive Program

San Francisco Passes Prop. D, Landlord Vacancy Tax To Fill Empty Storefronts

NRA Releases 2020 "State of the Industry Report" (Pre-COVID-19)

Dine Brands Expects Fewer Applebee's Closures in 2020

10 (Pre-Corona) Virus Operational Challenges for Restaurants in 2020

People, Awards, Milestones

Focus Brands Replaces CEO Steve DeSutter with Jim Holthouser, Former Hilton Exec

Checkers & Rally's Taps Frances Allen as CEO as Rick Silva Leaves After 13 Years

Subway Hires Mike Kappit, Former Carrabba's President, as COO & Insights Officer

Chipotle Founder Steve Ells Steps Down as Executive Chairman; Niccol New Chairman

Weed Man Celebrates 50 Years