Franchise News from Club Pilates, Taco Bell, Woof Gang and More
- Jersey Mike’s Subs finished first in the American Customer Satisfaction Index’s fast-food rankings, knocking Chick-fil-A off its longtime perch.
- A Club Pilates franchisee has signed up to develop an additional 70 units of the fitness brand in multiple states.
- The bankrupt Popeyes franchisee Sailormen Inc. has sold 97 of its restaurants.
- A Taco Bell operator has sold 43 of its Ohio units.
- Great Hill Partners has invested in Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming.
- On the Border has closed all of its corporate-owned restaurants.
Jersey Mike’s Subs finished first in the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) ranking of large quick-service restaurant chains, knocking Chick-fil-A out of the top spot, which had led for the previous 11 years. Jersey Mike’s scored 84 out of a possible 100 points, edging past Chick-fil-A’s 83, according to Fast Company and USA Today.
This was Jersey Mike’s debut appearance in the ACSI rankings (which began in 1994) because the 70-year-old brand previously lacked enough market share to qualify for assessment. Chick-fil-A still ranked first among fast-food chicken restaurants.
In other findings from ACSI’s survey of 16,464 respondents, Papa Johns led the pizza arena with an 80 score, Starbucks topped the coffee and bakery list at 79, and Burger King and Culver’s tied in the burger category at 78 apiece.
Club Pilates Signs 70-Unit Deal
Franchisee Saber Ammori has signed on for 70 additional Club Pilates units in Maryland, Michigan and New York. Ammori already operates 14 units in the New York City area.
As part of the development deal, Ammori and Cohere Capital have formed Renew Fitness to operate and develop the existing and future locations. A news release noted that Ammori is the managing member, co-CEO and co-founder of Wireless Vision, which owns and operates over 450 T-Mobile locations nationwide. Ammori also has invested in car washes, real estate and consumer services.
Bankrupt Popeyes Franchisee Sells 97 Units
Popeyes franchisee Sailormen Inc. has found buyers for 97 of its restaurants, according to a bankruptcy filing in Florida. The franchisee, with 136 locations in Georgia and Florida, filed for bankruptcy in January, per a report from Nation’s Restaurant News.
The online magazine said Popeyes corporate is paying $9.6 million for 16 Miami-area stores, and Pulse Restaurant Group, created by Sailormen CEO David Damato, will pay $2.69 million for 50 of Sailormen’s restaurants in Tampa, Tallahassee, Pensacola and Jacksonville, Fla.
RFI Ventures LLC is buying 23 Orlando-area restaurants for $2.5 million, and 61 Biscuits LLC will pay $1.11 million for three West Palm Beach, Fla., stores. Five Savannah, Ga., locations will go to SBH Foods PLK LLC for $650,000.
Taco Bell Franchisee Sells 43 Ohio Restaurants
Taco Bell franchisee Mas Restaurant Group has sold 43 Ohio restaurants to Southpaw, another franchisee, a Thursday, June 25, news release said. Mas will still operate 36 Taco Bells in the Houston area, although earlier in June, it had sold 44 Texas restaurants to Ghai Restaurant Group, RestaurantDive.com reported.
Southpaw owns and operates more than 180 Taco Bell and Dunkin’ restaurants across six states, RestaurantDive.com said. In 2023, Southpaw bought 40 Taco Bells in the Atlanta area and now has 200-plus units in Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Ohio.
Great Hill Partners Invests in Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming
The Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming franchise on Tuesday, June 23, announced that Great Hill Partners has taken a stake in the pet franchise. According to a news release, Great Hill said it planned to strengthen the franchisee-support infrastructure, expand into new markets and invest in digital capabilities to grow Woof Gang.
Woof Gang, established in 2007, sells pet products and offers salon-style grooming in 36 states. It has 450 U.S. franchise locations open or in development, the news release said.
On the Border Shuts Down Corporate Restaurants
On the Border has shut down all 27 company-owned locations. That leaves the Tex-Mex restaurant brand with five franchised U.S. locations in California, Florida, Nevada and South Dakota, plus one franchise in South Korea, Nation’s Restaurant News reported. Those restaurants are expected to stay open.
On the Border had 80 restaurants in March 2025, when it was acquired out of bankruptcy by Pappas Restaurants; at that time, Pappas said it planned to modernize the restaurants as well as revise the menu and its operations. A news release from On the Border leadership said the future of the brand is being evaluated.
More Franchise News and Brand Updates
- The Kilwins franchise, known for decadent ice creams and chocolates, was selected as the nation’s No. 1 Dessert/Treat Chain by USA Today.
- Aussie Pet Mobile, turning 30 in 2026, is rebranding as Bark & Mane. It’s part of the Home Franchise Concepts portfolio of service brands.
- To celebrate America’s 250th birthday, McDonald’s has brought back its fried apple pie and erected a 35-foot fried apple pie on Route 66 near its Chicago headquarters, Fox Business reported. The giant pie will stay up through Saturday, July 4.
- In another nod to the big birthday, doughnut franchise Shipley Donuts has launched its Patriotic Pack of doughnuts with red, white and blue icing and sprinkles. They’re available singly or in half- and full-dozen packs through Sunday, July 5.
