Illinois

Savvy Sliders now operates over 50 locations across seven states with a growing national presence and an expanding pipeline of new operating partners.

Big Blue Swim School is opening its ninth location in Lincoln Park, Illinois, within the Riverpoint Center at 1730 W. Fullerton Avenue.

Addus HomeCare Corporation experiences decline in personal care census due to caregivers' desire for 40-hour workweeks, leading to staffing difficulties.

This Yemeni coffee cafe strives for authenticity, starting by sourcing beans grown in Yemen, where the founder's family has been cultivating arabica coffee for eight generations.

Founded in 1989, Scramblers is likely one of the older chains on this list, but it is spry, with sales growth of more than 10% last year.

BurgerFi brings back the Conflicted Burger for $5 on Election Day.

I-Tail Corporation PCL (ITC), part of Thai Union Group, has completed the acquisition of Phelps Industries, commonly known as Phelps Pet Products.

FullSpeed Automotive has two brands on Franchise Times Top 400.

Paris Baguette opens new café in Schaumburg on September 17.

Moe's Southwest Grill is a fast casual TexMex restaurant franchise that serves customized burritos, tacos, nachos, and other Mexican and Southwestern-themed options in a friendly, seat-yourself dining room.

Fitness Premier is a health and wellness franchise offering 24/7 access, full-service fitness offerings, recovery suites and training/nutrition services.

Dunn Brothers Coffee expands to Illinois and Iowa with new franchise deal.

The brand signed a development agreement with new franchise partners Beans & Rice, LLC, led by Kevin and Michelle Ramirez.

Jeff's Bagel Run opens 40th and 41st locations in Georgia and Florida

Atomic Wings, the New York-born wing brand known for its fresh, never-frozen wings and bold flavor lineup, continued its national expansion in the third quarter, opening eight new restaurants across five states.

NEW YORK, Sept. 30, 2026 // PRNewswire // -- Atomic Wings continued its national expansion in the third quarter, opening eight new restaurants across five states.

Neighborhood Barre is accelerating its expansion efforts, opening seven studios over a roughly six-month stretch, expanding its footprint across North Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, and Illinois.

Jeff's Bagel Run offers free coffee on National Coffee Day.

Clementine’s Ice Cream, the St. Louis-born ice cream brand known for its handcrafted, small-batch Nice, Non-Dairy and Naughty creations, is serving up its next phase of growth with the launch of its franchise opportunity.

While the current federal SNAP program is mostly confined to grocery store purchases, there is a voluntary provision that affects restaurants: the Restaurant Meals program.

The chicken category has gotten awfully crowded as consumers continue to clamor for the protein.

Scooter’s Coffee has surpassed 900 locations following a rapid expansion phase, with the vast majority of its drive-thru-focused units operated by franchisees.

Newk’s Eatery is a fast-casual restaurant brand known for fresh ingredients, in-house preparation and a warm, community-driven dining experience.

New federal legislation aims to bar SNAP recipients from using benefits at participating QSR chains, potentially affecting major brands across nine states.