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Tag: Restaurants

  • Inside PepsiCo’s Project Helping Local Restaurants | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Restaurants are racing to go digital, and PepsiCo wants to help them get there.

    To the world, PepsiCo is a global brand known for bold flavors, iconic ads and entertainment partnerships. To restaurant owners, it is also a growth partner offering tools to strengthen their businesses.

    André Moraes, who leads global digital marketing for PepsiCo, explains how the multinational food and beverage corporation has been building a digital powerhouse for restaurant partners. “Restaurants are at the center of our lives,” Moraes tells Shawn Walchef of Restaurant Influencers. “If they succeed, the whole community does.”

    The initiative includes the Digital Lab, Menu Pro, Local Eats and Media Pro, all designed to make restaurants stronger in the digital age. “Everything that we offer to our customer partners is completely free,” Moraes adds.

    That commitment has already scaled in a big way. Through its Menu Pro program, PepsiCo has worked with more than 200,000 restaurants and optimized over one million menus worldwide. It can share insights from one market to another, giving local operators access to the same expertise that benefits national chains. The data collected from this global reach has helped restaurants improve ordering experiences and grow sales.

    The results, Moraes noted, are measurable.

    “We continue to see double-digit growth in overall digital sales for our restaurant partners,” he says. “Through it, we see growth in beverage sales as well, but it’s profitable growth, which is what we’re really excited about.”

    PepsiCo also makes sure the support is hands-on. Digital leads across the country work directly with restaurant operators, helping them improve their menus, adopt new tools and stay on top of changes.

    For many operators, it is the kind of one-on-one guidance they would not be able to afford on their own. Proprietary AI systems monitor menus continuously, ensuring items, prices and photos stay accurate across platforms.

    For Moraes, the outcome matters most. “Guests are ordering and going to our restaurants, [and they’re] excelling through the tools and services and partnerships that we’re offering,” he says. “We are truly coming through as the growth partner for our restaurant partners.”

    Related: People Line Up Down the Block to Try This Iconic NYC Pizza. Now, It Could Be Coming to Your City.

    Why local matters

    PepsiCo’s impact goes further than digital tools. The company is investing directly in local restaurants and the communities they anchor.

    That is where PepsiCo’s Local Eats program comes in. “Local Eats is our program specifically focused on local restaurants,” Moraes says. “If you’ve got one location to even upwards of 100 locations — but focused on local markets — we’re here for you through the Local Eats program.”

    Local Eats drives awareness, traffic and loyalty for independent and regional restaurants. The program invests in digital ads, out-of-home campaigns and even connects restaurants to PepsiCo’s national marketing. When PepsiCo shows food in ads, it often highlights a partner restaurant’s story.

    Inside the restaurant, PepsiCo provides branded assets to enhance the guest experience. Online, the company buys search and maps ads that put local restaurants at the top of results when hungry customers are deciding where to eat.

    The impact was on display at the National Restaurant Show with Russell’s Barbecue, a partner PepsiCo guided through a Local Eats transformation. “What you see here is a bit of the before and after, and you’ll see what their business looks like today,” Moraes says. The results included sharper branding, stronger digital traffic and more in-person visits.

    Related: He Went from Tech CEO to Dishwasher. Now, He’s Behind 320 Restaurants and $750 Million in Assets.

    “Local Eats is about reaching, converting and retaining guests for our partners,” Moraes says. “We want to make sure we are not just driving traffic, but helping restaurants keep customers coming back.”

    There is also a community element. Local Eats includes a digital and delivery community program, where operators join live courses with PepsiCo experts and peers to learn best practices and build long-term strategies together.

    Diners still want to eat out, connect and be part of a local scene. And for PepsiCo, success means being part of that journey. By investing in digital tools, marketing support and hands-on partnerships, the company is showing that it is not only a beverage brand but also a growth partner committed to helping restaurants thrive in their communities.

    Related: His Sushi Burger Got 50 Million Views — and Launched an Entire Business

    About Restaurant Influencers

    Restaurant Influencers is brought to you by Toast, the powerful restaurant point-of-sale and management system that helps restaurants improve operations, increase sales and create a better guest experience.

    Toast — Powering Successful Restaurants. Learn more about Toast.

    Related: Von Miller Learned About Chicken Farming in a College Class – And It Became the Inspiration for a Business That Counts Patrick Mahomes as an Investor

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    Shawn P. Walchef

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  • ‘Is this mandatory?‘: Olive Garden customer warns against sitting in the ‘corner’ at the restaurant after her experience

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    Going out to eat can be an exquisite experience. It can also be atrocious. Your enjoyment level depends on mood, food, and more.

    As one family at Olive Garden recently learned, even the location of your table can directly impact the quality of your experience.

    The issue that Krystal Griffith (@griffith1023) had with their table wasn’t something many people outside the restaurant industry may be aware of. As they dined at the spot known for unlimited salad and breadsticks on a recent summer day, they kept hearing the same refrain from waitstaff passing by: “corner.”

    In Griffith’s one-minute, 15-second TikTok, servers can be heard saying “corner” at least 19 times.

    Her caption says there were “soooo many more.” She also asks, “Is this a mandatory thing to say?” and warns in the text overlay, “Your reminder to never sit next to the ‘corner’ at Olive Garden.”

    86-ing the corner at Olive Garden

    Griffith can be forgiven for not being aware of this bit of restaurant lingo. If you’ve never worked in one, you may have never heard it.

    As many pointed out in the comments, restaurant workers are required to say “corner” when going around one for safety reasons. Wait staff, busboys, bartenders, and others are often moving extremely fast and carrying heavy trays full of hot food and fragile dishware. Slam into someone one time and you too will loudly proclaim “corner” each time you go around one.

    “Coming from a server… this SAVES US,” wrote a user with the screen name Peyton. “Don’t know many times I’ve ran into someone because they didn’t say it!”

    Another explained it’s “so we don’t crash into each other.”

    “There’s many accidents that can happen,” wrote a third, prompting Griffith to respond, “I get why they do it…still made us giggle. They could add a mirror though.”

    Two people disagreed with her suggestion about mirrors. One said that checking the mirror is a distraction and opined that reaction times are better when someone says “corner.” Another, who apparently works in a house of corners, said they’d have to buy dozens of mirrors for their restaurant.

    “Corner” isn’t the only lingo specific to restaurants. As others shared in response to Griffith’s post, industry terminology includes 86, behind, on the fly, and heard.

    “Eighty-six” means something is no longer available. “Behind” means someone is behind you. “On the fly” is said to indicate that an item needs to be prepared quickly, in which case a cook or bartender may reply “heard” so you know the message was received.

    Griffith didn’t immediately respond to a direct message sent via TikTok.

    @griffith1023 ??? there were sooooo many more. Is this a mandatory thing to say? @Olive Garden #foryoupage #fyp #eating ♬ original sound – Griffith1023

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

    Image of Claire Goforth

    Claire Goforth

    Claire Goforth is a contributing writer to The Mary Sue. Her work has appeared in the Guardian, Al Jazeera America, the Miami New Times, Folio Weekly, the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, the Florida Times-Union, the Daily Dot, and Grace Ormonde Wedding Style. Find her online at bsky.app/profile/clairegoforth.bsky.social and x.com/claire_goforth.

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    Claire Goforth

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  • Festival staple Taste of Chicago takes over Grant Park for 45th anniversary

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    Starting his business was tough for Jorge Ferreyra, the owner of Thimi’s Empanadas in Little Italy.

    “We started with no money at all,” he said. “The first day, I remember we sold like eight empanadas. We had no money for advertising or marketing mappings.”

    Then one day, Ferreyra said, a customer who worked for the Chicago Blackhawks came in and said he’d be able to help boost the business. Apparently something worked, as since then, Ferreyra has gained more customers and done pop-ups at breweries — which led to him getting a call to participate in this year’s Taste of Chicago.

    This weekend marked the 45th anniversary of Taste of Chicago, a beloved summer tradition that gives attendees the chance to expand their palates with food from diverse backgrounds, and provides businesses the opportunity to get wider exposure and new customers. Ferreyra said that over the three days at the Taste, his business has seen the most customers it’s ever had.

    Founded in 1980, the Taste has been a staple in Chicago summers for decades. Historically held in July, it was moved to a week after Labor Day in 2023 when the NASCAR Chicago Street Race was introduced. This year, thousands from across the city and suburbs came out for the food, live music and views of downtown despite fears of Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids that permeated the region over the weekend.

    The city of Chicago deployed salt trucks to the festival on Saturday, a routine practice to support public safety efforts at events where large crowds are present, a spokesperson for the Department of Streets and Sanitation said Sunday. Rumors circulating on social media over the weekend suggested the fleet of trucks had been deployed to block off federal immigration activity.

    More than just eating took place at the Taste. Headlining music acts included Chicago-born, Grammy Award-winning rapper Lupe Fiasco on Friday, R&B-pop singer JoJo on Saturday and “Suavemente” smash-hit singer Elvis Crespo on Sunday.

    On Saturday, in partnership with HOKA, the Taste hosted Run Mag Mile. Fiasco, with “The Bear” and “Chicago Med” actress Sarah Ramos, helped cut a 1,000-pound birthday cheesecake at Buckingham Fountain to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Eli’s Cheesecake. Saturday also closed out with the festival’s first drone light show.

    Beat Kitchen Cantina at Navy Pier was another restaurant that had its first vendor opportunity at the Taste. The cantina is an extension of Beat Kitchen but has more tacos and empanadas, said Victor Avelar, the head chef.

    Avelar’s father is one of the owners of the restaurant, and kept him in the kitchen since he was 5 years old, Avelar said.

    His parents couldn’t find a babysitter for him, so Avelar spent time in the corner where his dad used to work.

    “I would just be peeking at what my dad would be doing, and then I just fell in love with the kitchen, with the food,” Avelar said.

    People order from food trucks near Buckingham Fountain on Sept. 7, 2025, during the Taste of Chicago in Grant Park. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

    He saw the compliments his dad would get, and that drove him to want to be like his father. As soon as he got his worker permit at 16 years old, he started getting his hands on meals.

    “I want to make people happy with the food I make, that’s my ultimate goal,” Avelar said. Sunday’s menu included lobster empanadas, soft shell crab tacos and steak tacos.

    He was promoted to head chef when he was 21 years old, and this weekend was his first time leading the restaurant at the Taste.

    Now 24, Avelar was noticing things aren’t the same as they are at the Navy Pier restaurant.

    “It’s really a new experience,” Avelar said. “It’s totally different from being in the kitchen.”

    In advance of the three-day festival in Grant Park, Taste of Chicago also hosted a series of summer neighborhood pop-ups, held in Marquette Park in June, Pullman Park in July and Albany Park in August. The festival closes at 9 p.m. Sunday in Grant Park.

    Road closures include:

    • Columbus Drive from Monroe Street to Balbo Drive
    • Jackson Avenue from Michigan Avenue to Jean Baptiste Point du Sable Lake Shore Drive
    • Ida B. Wells Drive from Michigan Avenue to Columbus Drive

    Roads are expected to be opened by 4 p.m. Monday.

    Chicago Tribune’s Adriana Perez contributed.

    Originally Published:

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    Cam'ron Hardy

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  • Hooters plans to make iconic orange shorts less revealing as part of brand rebirth

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    NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

    For decades, the orange shorts worn by Hooters waitresses have been a calling card for the American restaurant chain.

    They’ve served as a beacon for the so-called original “breastaurant” establishment and are part of what makes Hooters, as its slogan claims, “delightfully tacky.”

    But to Neil Kiefer – the CEO now leading the group seeking to reclaim the Hooters brand – the uniforms aren’t just fabric. They’re ingrained in Hooters’ identity, and he wants to dial them back from risqué to “athletic.”

    HOOTERS ABRUPTLY CLOSES RESTAURANTS IN MULTIPLE STATES AMID BANKRUPTCY RESTRUCTURING: ‘NEVER EASY’

    “You don’t want to have a butt cheek in your plate,” Kiefer told Fox News Digital earlier this year.

    Kiefer said he wants to take back a look rooted in the 1980s.

    The Hooters shorts, originally designed to be sporty, have evolved since the 1980s. (Carsten Rehder/picture alliance via Getty Images)

    Hooters shorts were originally conceived, he said, as dolphin shorts – a sporty, running-inspired style that men and women once wore.

    Kiefer is the CEO of Hooters Inc., the Clearwater, Florida-based company that founded the Hooters concept in 1983.

    HOOTERS DITCHING BIKINI NIGHTS FOR OVER-60 CROWD AND FAMILIES

    He told Fox News Digital this spring that his group, along with another franchisee, plans to take over the remaining corporate Hooters locations that were operated by Atlanta-based Hooters of America, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year.

    That means changing the iconic orange shorts that “went to the more revealing” look under Hooters of America, said Kiefer. 

    “The [shorts are] supposed to be sized to fit appropriately,” Kiefer said. “They’re supposed to be athletic, not so much sexual.”

    Four Hooters waitresses pose for a photograph.

    The CEO of the founder-led group behind the original Hooters concept wants to go back to their roots with the uniforms. (Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)

    The public perception of Hooters and what the founders believe is sustainable for its future are key to the chain’s next chapter.

    FLORIDA HOME TO AMERICA’S TOP BEACH BARS AS DAYTONA BEACH SPOT LEADS THE LIST

    The uniforms, Kiefer argues, are a nostalgic nod to Hooters’ roots, tempered by what he calls the “youthful, athletic look of the female servers” that makes families, women and everyday customers feel comfortable.

    ‘They make sure everything’s good’

    Alli Lamb has no complaints about the uniform. The 21-year-old Hooters waitress and bartender started working at the Boca Raton, Florida, location – which is independently owned and operated by the original franchisee – while she was in college.

    Hooters did not provide Fox News Digital with its uniform requirements, but Lamb told Fox News Digital in an April interview that trying on the outfit was part of the orientation process. 

    “They make sure everything’s good and that you’re comfortable in it,” Lamb said.

    A Hooters waitress wearing her uniform smiles at the camera while seated.

    Alli Lamb, who works at the Hooters in Boca Raton, Florida, said trying on the uniform was part of the orientation process. (Peter Burke/Fox News Digital)

    As far as the uniforms go, Lamb said, “nothing really came as a surprise to me.” 

    “This is kind of what I expected,” she added.

    She said she’s heard from some who don’t like the Hooters dress code, which includes no colorful fingernails or visible tattoos.

    CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

    “But honestly, I think it makes it a little bit more professional,” she said.

    Lamb also appears on the back cover of the 2025 Hooters swimsuit calendar. She said she likes the uniform.

    “Everything’s covered,” she said. “Nothing’s out that doesn’t need to be out.”

    A Hooters waitress poses for a picture outside the Boca Raton, Florida, location.

    Lamb said she likes wearing the Hooters uniform. “Nothing’s out that doesn’t need to be out.” (Peter Burke/Fox News Digital)

    Kiefer was quick to point out that the appeal of Hooters isn’t just to young men.

    “I can guarantee you there’s a bunch of senior citizens there, male and female, at 2 in the afternoon,” he said. 

    MORE FROM FOX NEWS LIFESTYLE

    An indicator of that is the recent opening of a Hooters in The Villages, Florida, an age-restricted community about 45 miles northwest of Orlando.

    Customers lined up outside the doors to the restaurant for the grand opening in May.

    Customers and waitresses are shown inside a Hooters.

    Seniors dine at the new Hooters location in The Villages, Florida, during its grand opening. (Alex Fowler/@thealtemlife)

    For Kiefer, that mix of regulars proves Hooters works best when the attire feels approachable – sporty enough to be “delightfully tacky” but not so revealing that it alienates customers who are there for the wings, beer and camaraderie.

    “There may be those still out there that are upset that the shorts aren’t going to be as short, but that’s just not what the brand is,” Kiefer said. 

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    “So, there may be some of those, but we’re really not worried about that. This is not that type of drastic change.” 

    Peter Burke is a lifestyle editor with Fox News Digital. He covers various lifestyle topics, with an emphasis on food and drink.

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  • Don & Jo’s Sees Boost in Business After In-N-Out Opens in Ridgefield – KXL

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    Photo: Don & Joe’s Facebook

    RIDGEFIELD, Wash. — Don & Jo’s Drive-In has been doing what they do since 1968.  The family owned restaurant serves burgers, fries and shakes but also other soups and food and drink.  And their Operations Manager Courtney Zumstein tells KXL’s News Partner KGW they’ve been pretty much swamped ever since national burger giant In-N-Out added a location in their town of Ridgefield.

    She says instead of hurting their business, the long lines at In-N-Out have provided Don & Jo’s the chance to serve some new people.

    The family owned restaurant has been run by family members like Courtney for years.  She says they are currently training the next generation to keep the Don & Jo’s tradition alive for years to come.

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    Brett Reckamp

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  • Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Sneak Peek at Craft Pita’s Latest, a Pickle Fest and Fruity Pebble Waffles

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    Here’s a look at this weekend’s tasty food and drink happenings:
    Friday, 11 a.m.
    420 East 20th

    Ahead of launching a new menu item at its Briargrove and West University locations, Craft Pita is previewing its new Mediterranean-meets-American creation at Third Place this Friday. Hit it up to get a first taste of the Toum Chicken Caesar Wrap: shredded shawarma rotisserie chicken, romaine, za’atar-baked pita chips and toum Caesar dressing wrapped in Lebanese pita and served with za’atar fries and hummus.

    Japanese Festival Houston at Hermann Park

    Saturday–Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    6001 Fannin

    Hit Hermann Park to celebrate Japanese culture via music, dance, martial arts, crafts, and of course, tasty food and drink. Local food vendors will serve up favorites like takoyaki, yakitori and mochi, alongside performances and cultural demos includinging a tea ceremony, ikebana, origami and bonsai. The event is free and open to the public with vendor pricing varying.

    In a Pickle Festival at Town Center Park

    Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    8 North Main

    Pickle enthusiasts will want to head to Kingwood for this annual pickle fiesta, with samples of everything from pickle pizza and pickle beer to pickle cotton candy. Enjoy tastings from 20+ canning vendors, shop 175+ pickle-themed booths and catch contests like pickle eating, pickle juice drinking and a pickled pet parade. Entry is free.

    Saturday–Sunday, opens at 11 a.m.

    It’s NFL opening weekend, with the Texans facing off against the Rams on Sunday afternoon.
    Christian’s Tailgate will have the Texans game on at all locations, with sound on at each except Midtown. Game Day specials include $20 buckets of domestic beer, with $5 Bloody Marys and $2 Mimosas on Saturdays and Sundays. Each location also has dedicated watch parties featuring college and NFL teams, plus a special drink menu—Highway 6 features UT Austin and NY Jets; the Heights has the University of Houston and Baltimore Ravens; Kirby West U foots for Ohio State Buckeyes and Washington Commanders; and Midtown cheers on the Buffalo Bills.

     All month long
    1540 West Alabama, 1835 North Shepherd, 10615 Fry

    The weekend begs for waffles, and The Waffle Bus is ready to sweeten your plans with its new September specials. Try the Strawberry Cheesecake Stuffed Waffle ($8.88) or Fruity Pebble Waffle ($7.77) at any of its three Houston locations, including the new Cypress spot, available daily through the end of the month.

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    Brooke Viggiano

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  • McDonald’s CEO is grappling with a ‘two-tier economy’ as he slashes prices on value meals—and signals backing for a minimum wage increase

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    McDonald’s is banking on burgers and fries to tell a bigger story about the American economy. Chief executive Chris Kempczinski is slimming down the cost of the fast-food giant’s value meals as he grapples with what he calls a “two-tier economy”—a widening divide between consumers who are still spending freely and those who are pulling back.

    For years, dating back to the 2022 inflation wave, McDonald’s and its fast-food rivals have contended with shopper frustration over rising menu prices, with combo meals increasingly breaking into double digits. Customers at the higher end of the income spectrum continue to order premium products and use delivery apps at healthy rates. Lower-income diners, however, are cutting back, Kempczinski argued in an interview on CNBC’s Squawk Box, treating fast food less as a daily convenience and more as an occasional splurge. He told the anchors that McDonald’s has been on a “value journey” over the past year or so.

    “Particularly with middle- and lower-income consumers, they’re feeling under a lot of pressure right now,” Kempczinski told the CNBC anchors. ”There’s a lot of commentary around, ‘What’s the state of the economy, how’s it doing right now?’ And what we see is, it’s really kind of a two-tier economy. If you’re upper-income, earning over $100,000, things are good … What we see with middle- and lower-income consumers, it’s actually a different story.” He cited traffic for these demographics being down double digits, and they’re skipping breakfast or eating at home.

    Kempczinski was pressed on some political issues by the CNBC anchors, including whether McDonald’s fits in with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) goals, and the policy around no taxes on tips. Kempczinski said he personally supported the no taxes on tips policy, but clarified that it didn’t help McDonald’s much, as it doesn’t allow tips. A tips restaurant requires a minimum wage of just $2.13 per hour, he added, which hasn’t changed since 1991, calling this an “uneven playing field” as “you’re essentially getting the customer to pay for your labor,” plus the tax-free benefit. He called for one federal minimum wage for all kinds of restaurants, and then said McDonald’s was “open” to raising the federal minimum wage, adding that the company was “in dialogue” with the White House about several issues including this one.

    The current federal minimum wage in the United States is $7.25 per hour, a rate that has gone unchanged since July 24, 2009. This long-standing rate has held for over 16 years without a federal increase, the longest period in U.S. history without an update to the minimum wage. However, many states and localities have adopted higher minimum wage rates, some reaching as high as $18 per hour, such as in the District of Columbia.

    In 2025, significant new legislation called the Raise the Wage Act was introduced in Congress. This proposed law would incrementally increase the federal minimum wage to $17 per hour by the year 2030, phasing out subminimum wage rates for tipped workers, workers with disabilities, and youth workers. Additionally, a Senate bill was proposed to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour starting Jan. 1 of the first year after its passage. These legislative efforts indicate active momentum at the federal level to increase the minimum wage after more than a decade of stagnation.

    Different from the Great Recession

    Kempczinski added that this isn’t like what McDonald’s saw during the Great Recession, “when everyone traded down.” And so McDonald’s has to be creative to play both sides of the issue. Increased accessibility for lower-income consumers now comes in the form of a revamped $5 meal bundle, along with more aggressive price promotions in flagship markets. Advertising campaigns are leaning heavily on the theme of value, a message designed to resonate with cost-conscious families forced to make sharper trade-offs in their daily spending.

    The strategy underscores a balancing act for McDonald’s. As one of the few global chains with the size and procurement power to cut prices without immediately crippling profitability, the company can play offense where smaller rivals cannot. Still, franchisees—who operate most U.S. locations—are wary that thinner price points could turn into margin squeezes just as wages, rent, and insurance remain high. Still, Kempczinski told the CNBC anchors that the move toward more value was “almost unanimous” among franchisees, to a surprised reaction.

    The broader retail picture

    McDonald’s dual-track strategy echoes a broader split visible across much of the U.S. economy. Big-box retailers like Walmart and Target report a similar trend that Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos put his finger on in March: “Many of our customers report that only have enough money for basic essentials.” Delta Air Lines, a proxy for demand among the affluent consumer cohort, has largely gone from strength to strength as America’s most profitable airline, although it has lowered guidance during 2025, owing to uncertainty from the Trump tariff regime.

    The trends recall an economic pattern established during the pandemic: the “K-shaped” economy. As Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY-Parthenon, explained to Fortune in 2023, this means that middle and lower-income consumers are one leg of the “K,” pointing down and to the right, while the upper-income cohort is doing better and better.

    McDonald’s, though, has to master the “K” to get the most out of its consumers. That means fighting to maintain its decades-old position as the go-to spot for an affordable meal, even as it courts higher-margin opportunities to keep shareholders satisfied. Whether that balancing act proves sustainable may depend on just how long America’s two-track consumer economy sticks around.

    For this story, Fortune used generative AI to help with an initial draft. An editor verified the accuracy of the information before publishing. 

    Fortune Global Forum returns Oct. 26–27, 2025 in Riyadh. CEOs and global leaders will gather for a dynamic, invitation-only event shaping the future of business. Apply for an invitation.

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    Nick Lichtenberg

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  • ‘Detroit-style’ sushi bar opens in Detroit Shipping Co.

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    After decades of winning over Detroit-area diners with Thai cuisine at her Bangkok 96 restaurant, acclaimed chef Genevieve Vang is expanding into what she calls “Detroit-style” sushi.

    To that end, Vang, an immigrant from Laos, has partnered with chef Jasmine White of Detroit to lead Sushi Lounge, a new sushi restaurant in Midtown. Sushi Lounge is set to open on Saturday, Sept. 6 in the Detroit Shipping Co. food hall, where Vang also runs the Bangkok 96 Street Food stall, an offshoot of her popular Bangkok 96 restaurant in Dearborn.

    Vang was nominated for the James Beard Award in 2019 in the Best Chef: Great Lakes category for her work at Bangkok 96.

    Meanwhile, White trained at the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas and cooked at Wolfgang Puck and Benihana, later becoming head sushi chef at Detroit’s former Maru Sushi.

    “This is a dream I’ve been chasing for years,” White said in a statement. “To bring my style of sushi to my hometown in a way that’s fun, approachable, and truly reflects Detroit — it feels like everything has come full circle and I’m so excited to finally show my city what I can do.”

    “I see Jasmine fight, her passion, her love for sushi,” Vang said. “All my life in kitchens, people underestimate me because I am a woman. I see myself in her, and I believe she deserves this chance to show Detroit what she can do.”

    Rebecca Simonov / Booth One Creative

    The Whatuproll! by Sushi Lounge includes fried crab, cucumber, roasted red pepper, asparagus, avocado, and Fresno chili.

    One thing that separates Sushi Lounge from many other sushi spots is its 100% gluten-free menu, substituting soy sauce for tamari and using gluten-free tempura batter.

    And as for “Detroit-style” sushi, Sushi Lounge features a menu with some Motor City references including “The Big Three Roll” (fried lobster, shrimp tempura, torched scallop, avocado, pickled daikon, and scallions) and the “Whatuproll!” (fried crab, cucumber, roasted red pepper, asparagus, avocado, and Fresno chili).

    The menu features other items like “Sushi Bombs,” or colorful bite-sized sushi balls, and a “Sushi Stack & Snack,” a three-layer tower of diced sashimi served with gluten-free chips.

    The menu is rounded out with daily nigiri selections, onigiri rice balls, desserts like green tea mochi ice cream, and sake options.

    Sushi Lounge opens to the public with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. on Saturday followed by a live DJ. 

    More information is available at sushiloungedetroit.com.

    The Detroit Shipping Co., a food hall and entertainment venue built from shipping containers, opened at 474 Peterboro St., Detroit in 2018.

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    Lee DeVito

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  • Here’s Where Prince St. Pizza Is Opening Next | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Lawrence Longo is certain about one thing: America needs a great national pizza brand.

    Not just a chain that cranks out slices, but a name that stands for quality, heritage and the kind of flavor people will travel for. “Our goal is to be that premium slice shop in America,” he tells Restaurant Influencers host Shawn Walchef.

    That mission is at the heart of his work growing Prince St. Pizza from a single shop into a brand with locations across the country.

    The story started on a block in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood, where the original Prince St. Pizza has been drawing crowds for years. Its pepperoni square slice is an icon: crispy-edged, overflowing with curl and dripping with flavor.

    Longo was a fan before he was a partner. “I used to go in as a customer,” he says. “I loved the pizza; I loved the energy in the shop. I could feel how much it meant to people.”

    Related: He Went from Tech CEO to Dishwasher. Now, He’s Behind 320 Restaurants and $750 Million in Assets.

    That connection turned into conversations. Longo got to know the owners, learning not just about the recipes but about the pride and history behind them. “We started talking about what it could be,” he recalls. “I told them, ‘This isn’t just a slice shop. This is a brand that could mean something in every city.’”

    Eventually, that dialogue became a partnership, grounded in a shared commitment to keep the product and culture intact. Now the expansion is real. This interview took place inside a new Prince St. Pizza in Las Vegas, just steps from the Strip.

    The crowd here is a mix of locals and visitors, but the slice in their hands tastes just like it would in SoHo. “That’s the goal,” Longo says. “No matter where you are, when you bite into it, it should feel like you’re in New York.”

    The Las Vegas shop is just one of several new locations, each chosen carefully. “We don’t just go anywhere,” he explains. “We look for cities where Prince St. can fit in and still stand out. And then we build the right team to protect what makes it special.”

    For Longo, it is not simply about growing bigger. It is about creating a national pizza brand without losing the soul of the original.

    Related: His Sushi Burger Got 50 Million Views — and Launched an Entire Business

    The next great American pizza brand

    Prince St. Pizza’s footprint is getting bigger, and the momentum is real. New locations are opening in markets like Miami and Dallas. Each one matches the quality and culture of the original SoHo shop. Celebrity customers have become part of the story. Usher. Adam Sandler. Dave Portnoy. They aren’t there for photo ops. They come in because they like the pizza.

    “They try, and they come back, and they like the brand,” Longo says. Being in cities like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago means crossing paths with people who live for good food, whether they are famous or not.

    Growth also brings noise. “The bigger you get, the more haters you get,” Longo says. “You can’t listen to the noise. You want to listen to everybody, but you gotta just keep your head down, worry about yourself, do the best job you can and focus on your customers.”

    Related: Von Miller Learned About Chicken Farming in a College Class – And It Became the Inspiration for a Business That Counts Patrick Mahomes as an Investor

    That mindset is what allows Longo to keep expanding without losing the flavor and culture that made Prince St. Pizza a destination in the first place.

    Every new store is another chance to prove that a premium slice shop can scale nationally without losing what made it special.

    “Every time you open a new restaurant, you learn something new about your brand,” Longo says, “and we’re only getting better.”

    It’s the same goal he set from the start — to take Prince St. Pizza from a single shop in New York to a true national brand. And for Longo, the recipe for getting there is simple: protect the product, protect the culture and keep serving slices worth traveling for.

    Related: This Restaurant CEO Created His Own National Holiday (and Turned It Into a Business Strategy)

    About Restaurant Influencers

    Restaurant Influencers is brought to you by Toast, the powerful restaurant point-of-sale and management system that helps restaurants improve operations, increase sales and create a better guest experience.

    Toast — Powering Successful Restaurants. Learn more about Toast.

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    Shawn P. Walchef

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  • Cracker Barrel has been a staple for comfort food fans for decades, but lately the chain has been making headlines for other reasons.

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    Cracker Barrel has been a staple for road trippers and comfort food fans for decades, but lately the chain has been making headlines for reasons beyond its biscuits and gravy.

    Earlier this summer, the company rolled out a surprise rebrand with a new logo and updated menu.

    The shift didn’t sit well with its most loyal customers. Many criticized the branding change online, saying it stripped away part of what made the restaurant feel homey.

    CNBC reported that Cracker Barrel even had to issue an apology, reassuring guests that fan-favorite menu items like Uncle Herschel’s Breakfast weren’t going anywhere. Still, the old “country store” tagline was gone for good, and longtime fans felt the chain was moving away from its roots.

    The backlash went beyond social media, too. Some servers reported customers withholding tips on the day of the rebrand, claiming they were upset with the company’s decision.

    But even if the logo and menu are changing, diners still expect their meals to show up the same way they always have: warm, comforting, and reliable. And according to one TikTok creator, that isn’t always the case.

    Strange discovery in a Cracker Barrel hash brown casserole

    TikTok user @inktations_, who goes by Savvy, shared a video of a recent visit that left her confused. Her post has been viewed more than 57,400 times.

    In the clip, she cuts into a hash brown casserole. She pulls out what looks like a plastic or paper-like sheet layered across the top. “Maybe don’t order the hash brown casserole from Cracker Barrel,” she wrote in the video’s text overlay.

    She explained in the caption that her server did the right thing and comped the meal. However, the experience still had her asking: “Whatttt is thissss?”

    What could it have been?

    Viewers were quick to speculate in the comments. Some thought it was packaging material left behind from portioning.

    “Look like plastic packaging, they might have it portioned out,” one person suggested.

    Others pointed to how the food might be prepared.

    “They are microwaving all of the food, instead of the fresh they used to have, the cat is out of the bag, ask any employee,” a commenter wrote.

    Another chimed in more lightheartedly: “I’m that person still eating the fried okra in the back.”

    “It is parchment paper! It is used to separate the sides when they are portioned,” a fourth writes, offering a different explanation. “Definitely not supposed to be in there when it’s served tho.” 

    @inkantations_ they did comp that plate but still like whatttt is thissss #crackerbarrel #ew #food #whatisthat #restaurant ♬ eww brother what is that – z’m

    The Mary Sue has reached out to Savvy and Crackel Barrel for more information. 

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

    Image of Ljeonida Mulabazi

    Ljeonida Mulabazi

    Ljeonida is a reporter and writer with a degree in journalism and communications from the University of Tirana in her native Albania. She has a particular interest in all things digital marketing; she considers herself a copywriter, content producer, SEO specialist, and passionate marketer. Ljeonida is based in Tbilisi, Georgia, and her work can also be found at the Daily Dot.

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    Ljeonida Mulabazi

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  • Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: From an East End Burger Crawl to a Biergarten Bash

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    Here’s a look at this weekend’s tasty food and drink happenings:

    Galveston Island Wine Festival at Moody Gardens

    Friday–Sunday

    The Galveston Island Wine Festival makes its epic return to Moody Gardens, 1 Hope, with a three-day celebration of wine, food and live music. Folks can enjoy events lie the White Linen Seafood Extravaganza, Penguins & Pinot Grand Tasting and Sunday Wine Dinner at Shearn’s. Ticket pricing and hours vary by event.

    East End Burger Crawl at Rodeo Goat, Moon Tower Inn and Nickel City

    Friday–Monday
    2105 Dallas, 3004 Canal, 2910 McKinney

    A trio of Eat End burger joints are teaming up for the 1st Annual East End Burger Crawl. From Friday through Labor Day, burger fans can pop by any of the three — Rodeo Goat, Mount Tower Inn and Nickel City — to grab a punch card. Order a burger at each, then turn in your completed card at your final stop for a shot at winning one of three $100 gift cards.

    Houston Restaurant Weeks

    Friday–Monday

    It’s the last weekend of Houston Restaurant Weeks, as the Houston Food Bank’s epic annual fundraiser closes its run on Labor Day. Your choice of multi-course meals for brunch and lunch ($25) or dinner ($39 or $55) await at hundreds of local restaurants, with $1 to $5 from each going to support the fight against hunger so you can eat good for a cause.

    Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    2032 Karbach

    Karbach Brewing Co. is hosting its annual Biergarten Bash, a free, family-friendly event rocking a variety of activities including yard games, a hot dog eating contest, live mural painting, a petting zoo and local vendors – plus tasty Karbach suds and bites available for purchase.

    Sunday, 5 p.m.
    113 6th

    Pier 6 is celebrating the long weekend and sending off summer in style with a White Linen Party by the bay this Sunday night. Guests 21+ can sip a complimentary glass of Telmont Champagne and enjoy oysters and hors d’oeuvres, with a full cash bar available. Dress in crisp whites and take in live entertainment, a DJ, and unbeatable marina views. Dinner inside requires a separate reservation. 

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    Brooke Viggiano

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  • The 10 Most Pet-Friendly States in the U.S., Ranked

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    Traveling with a pet isn’t always simple. But some states make it easier than others, with hotels, restaurants, and activities that welcome your furry sidekick.

    Stanton House Inn, a boutique inn in Greenwich, dug into BringFido listings across more than 700 U.S. cities to uncover the most pet-friendly states.

    The ranking looks at density, how many pet-friendly options you’ll find in a given area, not just total numbers. Here’s how the top 10 shook out:

    10. New York

    With 7,240 pet-friendly hotels, 3,510 restaurants, and 1,205 activities, New York has plenty of options whether you’re in the city or upstate. Queens offers urban pet perks, while Lake Placid and Saratoga Springs give you trails and fresh air alongside pet-friendly stays.

    9. New Hampshire

    This smaller state punches above its weight with 1,652 pet-friendly hotels, 445 restaurants, and 306 activities. Bretton Woods, Bethlehem, and North Conway are standout spots for mountain scenery and places that actually welcome your four-legged friend.

    8. North Carolina

    North Carolina’s mix of beaches and mountains works in your pet’s favor. With more than 11,000 pet-friendly hotels, 3,150 restaurants, and over 1,000 activities, destinations like Banner Elk, Bryson City, and Carolina Beach let you balance hiking, water, and downtime with your dog in tow.

    7. Maryland

    Maryland logs 2,183 pet-friendly hotels, 1,282 restaurants, and 412 activities. Ocean City is especially popular for dog-friendly beaches, while Silver Spring and Annapolis add a mix of urban dining and waterfront adventures.

    6. Connecticut

    Connecticut has 1,091 pet-friendly hotels, 861 restaurants, and 366 activities. Towns like Stamford, Mystic, and New London give you everything from seaside walks to cozy, pet-friendly B&Bs.

    5. Florida

    With 22,835 pet-friendly hotels, 7,333 restaurants, and 1,629 activities, Florida is stacked with options. Orlando, Miramar Beach, and Naples all stand out for their dog parks, resorts, and year-round outdoor weather.

    4. Delaware

    Delaware might be small, but it ranks high with 808 pet-friendly hotels, 241 restaurants, and 92 activities. Rehoboth Beach, Bethany Beach, and Lewes are go-tos for laid-back, pet-inclusive trips.

    3. New Jersey

    New Jersey offers 2,250 pet-friendly hotels, 1,741 restaurants, and 482 activities. Cape May, Wildwood, and Ocean City are especially known for their dog-friendly lodging and boardwalk vibes.

    2. Massachusetts

    Massachusetts racks up 3,036 pet-friendly hotels, 1,442 restaurants, and 703 activities. Edgartown, Cambridge, and Provincetown are popular with pet owners, whether you’re aiming for coastal charm or city energy.

    1. Rhode Island

    Rhode Island tops the list, with 560 pet-friendly hotels, 355 restaurants, and 116 activities packed into a small footprint. Cranston, Westerly, and Newport lead the way, making this the most accessible pet-friendly state in the country.

    If you’re curious about pet-friendly travel beyond just the state level, I’ve also rounded up the most dog-friendly cities in the U.S.—perfect for planning your next road trip with your pup. And for pet parents who really want to take things to the next level, check out BARK Air, the world’s first airline designed exclusively for dogs.

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  • He Went From Dishwasher to $750 Million in Assets | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    On his first day in the restaurant business, Andrew K. Smith was the dishwasher.

    Not the investor. Not the strategist. Not the guy fixing tech stacks or analyzing labor margins. Just the guy at the sink, scrubbing trays, rinsing off sheet pans.

    It wasn’t exactly what he had pictured when he told his wife he was ready for a new challenge.

    Today, Smith is the managing partner and co-founder of Savory Fund, a restaurant investment firm known for helping brands scale nationally. But before the boardrooms and portfolios, he started where few investors do: behind the dish pit.

    Rewind a year. His wife had launched a bakery, a fast-casual dessert concept that opened in the middle of the 2008 financial crash. Smith, still deep in his tech CEO role, didn’t exactly love the idea. “In my mind, I’m like, that’s the worst idea,” he now admits. “But you know what I responded? I was like, ‘I think it’s a great idea. Of course. And we should absolutely do that.’”

    It wasn’t sarcasm. It was marriage. And, as he puts it, “because of that, I just celebrated my 26th anniversary.”

    Related: His Sushi Burger Got 50 Million Views — and Launched an Entire Business

    Fast-forward a year, and his company was stable. The bakery was bustling. And Smith was ready to do something new. Something less theoretical. Something real. He called his wife and said, “I think I want to come join you in the restaurant business.”

    Her reply? “Perfect. My dishwasher just called out.”

    So that’s how Smith, a guy who had sold companies, raised millions and built tech startups, walked away from the boardroom and stepped straight into the dish pit.

    No business cards. No title. Just soap, steam and a head-first dive into restaurant life. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was the beginning. And eventually, it led to the creation of Savory Fund.

    Related: Von Miller Learned About Chicken Farming in a College Class – And It Became the Inspiration for a Business That Counts Patrick Mahomes as an Investor

    How storytelling became a growth strategy

    If your restaurant doesn’t have a story, it doesn’t have a brand. That’s Smith’s philosophy, and it’s baked into everything Savory Fund does. Before the systems, funding and growth playbook, there’s the story. Who are you? Why do you exist? And why should anyone care?

    “Storytelling is what galvanizes your consumer with your brand,” Smith says. “If you can’t explain your purpose, it’s a pretty hollow business.”

    At Savory, storytelling isn’t fluff. It’s foundational. It shapes how a brand communicates, hires, markets, scales and builds culture. From social media presence to internal training, it’s the thread that holds everything together.

    Related: This Restaurant CEO Created His Own National Holiday (and Turned It Into a Business Strategy)

    But make no mistake. Savory is more than a storytelling shop. It’s a serious growth engine.

    The firm combines more than $750 million in assets under management with a proven operational playbook developed over 16 years in the restaurant industry. Savory partners with high-potential, profitable, emerging restaurant brands and gives them more than capital. It provides hands-on support with operations, real estate, marketing, systems and training.

    Savory’s team of more than 85 people contributes directly to all aspects of growth. The goal is not just expansion, but sustainable replication. Founder involvement is a must. The early success of a restaurant often hinges on instincts and insights that only the founder can explain. Savory helps translate that into scalable systems without losing what made the brand matter in the first place.

    It’s a deeply personal mission for Smith. His wife, Shauna K. Smith, serves as CEO of Savory Fund and leads the charge on brand support and development. Together, they’ve built a company that doesn’t just invest in restaurants. It invests in the people who make them work.

    Family has always been central to that approach.

    When his sons were younger, Smith brought them into his world — taking calls on the way to football practice, asking what they noticed and learned. It wasn’t a balancing act between work and life. It was an intentional blend, designed to make both more meaningful.

    That mindset carries into how Savory works with founders. Business should be personal. And the best brands don’t just serve food. They serve a purpose.

    Related: They Opened a Restaurant During the Pandemic — But Locals Showed Up, and Celebrities Followed. Now, It’s Thriving.

    About Restaurant Influencers

    Restaurant Influencers is brought to you by Toast, the powerful restaurant point-of-sale and management system that helps restaurants improve operations, increase sales and create a better guest experience.

    Toast — Powering Successful Restaurants. Learn more about Toast.

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    Shawn P. Walchef

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  • Downtown San Jose’s swanky Rollati Ristorante is abruptly closing

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    In a stunning email to customers, the owners of Rollati — the sleek downtown San Jose dining palace that opened with much fanfare less than two years ago — announced Monday that the restaurant will close permanently after service on Tuesday, Aug. 26.

    Vine Hospitality, the ownership group, said it would be “taking this opportunity to refocus resources on our original San Jose locations” — Left Bank Brasserie, LB Steak and Meso Modern Mediterranean, all located at Santana Row.

    “We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support since the day Rollati opened. Every meal, every celebration, and every memory shared with us has meant the world,” the letter said. “While this chapter comes to an end, you can continue to enjoy unforgettable dining experiences at our sister restaurants in San Jose.”

    The ground-floor anchor for downtown San Jose’s highest towers, the Miro residences, Rollati was credited with ushering in a new era of upscale dining downtown. That opening, directly across from San Jose’s distinctive City Hall, was followed by Eos & Nyx last year on Paseo de San Antonio and The Pressroom at San Pedro Square earlier this year.

    And coming this fall to downtown is another high-end player. Poppy & Claro is scheduled to open in early October on the ground floor of the 50 W. San Fernando St. high-rise, the former home of KQED and the Capital Club.

    This is a developing story. Come back for updates.

    Details: 181 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose; www.rollatiristorante.com

     

    Originally Published:

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    Linda Zavoral

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  • Cracker Barrel says it ‘could’ve done a better job’ with release of new logo that angered some fans

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    Cracker Barrel is sticking with its new logo but apologizing to fans who were angered when the change was announced last week.

    “If the last few days have shown us anything, it’s how deeply people care about Cracker Barrel. We’re truly grateful for your heartfelt voices,” the company said Monday in a statement on its website. “You’ve also shown us that we could have done a better job sharing who we are and who we’ll always be.”

    Cracker Barrel took heat last week when it announced a simplified logo featuring only the chain’s name. Gone was the picture of an older man in overalls leaning against a barrel. The words “Old Country Store” were also removed.

    The change was part of a wider rebrand, which has seen Cracker Barrel update its cluttered, antique-filled restaurants with lighter paint and modern furniture.

    Many on social media, including Donald Trump Jr., criticized the new logo, with some threatening to boycott unless it was changed back. Sensing an opening, the rival chain Steak n’ Shake called the new logo “a cheap effort to gain the approval of trend seekers.”

    “Heritage is what got Cracker Barrel this far, and now the CEO wants to just scrape it all away,” Steak n’ Shake said in a statement on X.

    Cracker Barrel shares have dropped more than 10% since the new logo was introduced on Aug. 18.

    On Monday, the Lebanon, Tennessee-based company emphasized that many things about Cracker Barrel won’t change, including the rocking chairs on its front porches and vintage Americana and antiques scattered throughout its restaurants.

    Cracker Barrel also said it will continue to honor Uncle Herschel — the older man in the former logo, who represents the uncle of Cracker Barrel’s founder — on its menu and on items sold in its stores.

    But Cracker Barrel said it also wants to make sure that the business stays fresh and attracts a new generation of customers.

    “That means showing up on new platforms and in new ways, but always with our heritage at the heart,” the company said in a statement.

    The company said it will also keep testing, learning and listening to its employees and customers.

    Cracker Barrel shares fell less than 1% to close at $54.26 per share Monday.

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    Dee-Ann Durbin

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  • Big Chevy Chase food hall The Heights closes after less than 2 years – WTOP News

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    A food hall welcomed along the Chevy Chase, Maryland, border with D.C.’s Friendship Heights has closed after less than two years in the business.

    File photo of The Heights food hall. (Courtesy Common Plate Hospitality)

    An eclectic food hall that was welcomed along the Chevy Chase, Maryland, border with D.C.’s Friendship Heights and lunchtime-spare restaurant scene has closed after less than two years in the business.

    The Heights took over space formerly occupied by PF Chang’s restaurant, including a total of 10,000-square-feet with outdoor dining and a variety of food styles. Among the original tenants: both Michelin-starred chefs and a James Beard Award nominee.

    At its peak, the half-dozen food stalls also induced full-service restaurant Urbano and full-service Bar, The Heights Bar.

    The Heights’ last day, at 5400 Wisconsin Avenue, was Sunday, Aug. 24.

    “After many wonderful memories, The Heights Food Hall will be permanently closing our doors. This space was built for gathering, sharing food and creating moment together — and that is exactly what you all made it. We’ll carry those memories with us,” Food Heights posted on social media.

    Common Place Hospitality, the restaurant group behind Urbano, launched the food hall after it underwent months of delays in December 2023.

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Jeff Clabaugh

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  • Cracker Barrel didn’t ‘go woke.’ It just went broke.

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    Growing up in the South, Cracker Barrel felt a bit like a theme park attraction. Its down-home frills, Old Country Store merch, and cartoonishly indulgent comfort food embody a storybook spectacle of Southern life that doesn’t really exist anymore in popular culture. Which helps explain why the company’s decision to neuter its logo—axing the overalls-clad “Old Timer” leaning against the eponymous barrel—did not garner glowing reviews from some of the more vocal participants in the discourse.

    The criticism, from a slew of politicians and public figures, coalesced around a core theme: that the restaurant had fallen prey to the wokeness bug and would soon become another one of its casualties. Go woke, go broke, as the saying goes.

    There are a few reasons why that critique misses the mark. For one, it isn’t obvious how Cracker Barrel blandifying its logo is an apt example of wokeness, which is typically understood to mean an obsessive fixation with social justice and grievance mining. There’s an irony here: Central to the opposition to woke ideology is the notion that progressives tend to brand every societal ill as the product of an ism or a phobia: racism, classism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and on. But just as not everything progressives dislike is “racist,” not everything that irks conservatives is “woke.” Words have meaning.

    More importantly, though, the outrage misunderstands the order of operations here. Cracker Barrel’s logo change did not come out of left field, despite that some just noticed. It’s part of a sustained makeover effort to lift the company out of a fairly dire financial slump. That doesn’t mean the strategy will work—that the logo alteration sent the stock tumbling may very well be an indicator it won’t (although the jury is still out on its long-term effects). But Cracker Barrel didn’t need to “go woke” to go broke. Because it was, colloquially speaking, already broke.

    The company’s troubles—with or without the Old Timer—are reflected in its valuation. In April 2021, Cracker Barrel stock was selling for $175.09 a share, according to its market trajectory on TradingView. Earlier this month, prior to any logo drama, it was selling for $57.27—a plunge of more than two-thirds, which, by any standard, is pretty grim. That didn’t happen overnight, nor is it even Cracker Barrel’s nadir. The company has steadily sagged over the last several years, its value dipping as low as $37.33 per share last September.

    The chain is not alone. In February, Denny’s announced that it would close up to 178 locations by the end of 2025. Not long before, TGI Fridays and Red Lobster filed for bankruptcy. All of these restaurants can be classified under the same general umbrella as Cracker Barrel, with the exception that people cannot fault a misplaced controversy over wokeness for their failures. The biscuits could not even save Red Lobster. The business landscape is changing. It’s rough out there.

    Cracker Barrel, for its part, appears to be aware of this, and has been trying to adapt for a while. The logo is just the latest change. It has also updated its decor, for example, to give off a more modern vibe, and made changes to its menu. The effort, it seems, is tailored in part to attracting a younger demographic, who have never exactly been Cracker Barrel’s target market. (In one of its more seismic shifts, the company also began selling alcohol about five years ago.)

    The changes, at least at the moment, look to be fairly fruitless. Older customers—Cracker Barrel’s bread and butter—have been slow to return en masse post-pandemic. And the business likely always faced an uphill battle in trying to rebrand for a new audience, because the company’s appeal is so squarely married to its specific old-time charm. There is something to blame here, but it’s not wokeness. It’s the market, and its effects are understandably disappointing for those nostalgic for childhood Cracker Barrel visits (relatable) where it may have felt like stepping into a little Southern wonderland. Which makes you wonder: Have they been back recently?

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    Billy Binion

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  • Italian restaurants come to downtown Royal Oak with Bella Limone and Little Bella

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    Courtesy photo

    Bella Limone has opened at 100 S. Main St., Royal Oak.

    A long-standing building at Main Street and 11 Mile Road in downtown Royal Oak has been reimagined as sister Italian restaurants.

    The rooftop restaurant Bella Limone officially opened Thursday at 100 S. Main St., with plans to open Little Bella’s Pizza and Wine Bar below it this fall, as well as a banquet space that can accommodate large parties and events.

    The building is the former home to Pinky’s Rooftop, Pearl’s Deep Dive, and Bohemia. While those restaurants were all different concepts, restaurant group Royal Oak Good Times founder Adam Merkel says Bella Limone and Little Bella will augment one another, and be run by all-new staffs.

    “It’s a whole Italian complex,” Merkel says, adding, “They play off each other really well … they’re similar cuisines, but they’re completely different menus.”

    Merkel, who previously opened Cello Italian Restaurant in downtown Howell and is a partner in the new Big Rock Italian Chophouse in Birmingham, says he was inspired by a trip to Italy’s Amalfi Coast as well as Sunday family dinners hosted by his Grandma Rosie.

    “It’s just such a pure lifestyle with quality ingredients,” he says. “It’s simple, but the technique is advanced. It’s the way food should be.”

    Bella Limone means “beautiful lemon,” an ingredient featured heavily in the menu in dishes like Lemon Spaghetti, a Chicken Limoncello (with crispy herb crust, arugula, pecorino, pickled red onion, and lemon herb vinaigrette), and a house-made limoncello liqueur made using a traditional two-month process.

    Dishes are available in small portions for individuals as well as larger family-style portions to be passed around and shared.

    Merkel describes the menu as elevated yet approachable.

    “It is a great spot for an intimate date night but at the same time it’s casual enough to bring the family and the kids and come once a week,” Merkel says, adding, “It’s not pretentious. It’s not a white tablecloth place.”

    Bella Limone is located in the former Pinky’s Rooftop space. - Courtesy photo

    Courtesy photo

    Bella Limone is located in the former Pinky’s Rooftop space.

    The wine menu also features all bottles from Italy.

    “There’s so many underrated, amazing, affordable Italian wines,” Merkel says.

    To welcome diners, Bella Limone is offering 50% off its food menu through Sept. 30 as well as daily deals on select wines for the first hour of business each day.

    Merkel says his young daughter helped him decorate the spaces with furniture and artwork.

    “We went from here to Tennessee to all the coolest antique markets,” Merkel says. “We personally selected probably over 300 vintage pieces of art, and mirrors, all kinds of old-world Italian stuff. It’s got a lot of charm in it now.”

    He adds, “We had a lot of fun.”

    Regarding other projects, Merkel has partnered with Columbus-based Cameron Mitchell, who owns dozens of restaurants across the country. Mitchell operates Big Rock Italian Chophouse, which opened this summer in Birmingham’s former Big Rock Chophouse, and plan to also open a private dinner club in Naples, Florida, later this year.

    “Adam brings authenticity, creativity, and heart to everything he does,” Mitchell said in a statement. “Bella Limone captures that spirit beautifully, and I’m excited to see it thrive.”

    Initial hours for Bella Limone are 4-9:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 4-10:30 p.m. Friday, 3-10:30 p.m. Saturday, and 3-8:30 p.m. Sunday.

    More information is available at bellalimone.com.

    Image: Bella Limone

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    Lee DeVito

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  • Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: $3 Bao, 9-Year Beers and Epic Dinners

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    Here’s a look at this weekend’s tasty food and drink happenings:

     Friday, all day
    3419 Kirby

    Fat Bao is celebrating National Bao Day with a tasty deal. Score select baos — including Pork Belly, Bulgogi and Big Byrd — for just $3 each all day, and don’t forget to tack on Fat Fries, Avocado Chips, or onion rings to round out the feast.

    Saturday, noon
    941 West 18th

    Eureka Heights Brewing is marking nine years of beers with a taproom celebration, rocking live music from Dem Roots Music, food from Satellite of Pizza, The Burger Daddy, and Goode Co., open pinball play, a beer-themed vendor market and more. The free-to-attend event is 21 and up, with VIP tickets for $55 including access to open taps, guided flights of five beers plus a preview of a test batch, and brewhouse view seating.

    Sunday, 5 p.m.
    2000 Lyons

    Saint Arnold invites folks to its 15th annual Feast of Saint Arnold, a beer-fueled dinner where medieval flair meets contemporary goodwill. Expect courses piled high — think beef, pork, poultry and fish— all served family-style at once alongside Saint Arnold’s stellar lineup, including specialty taps just for the occasion. Tickets start at $150, with proceeds supporting Texas Children’s Hospital’s Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center. Kickoff is at 5 p.m. with the feast at 5:45 p.m.

    Pita “Alex vs. America” Anniversary Dinner at Craft Pita

    Sunday, 6 p.m.
    5172 Buffalo Speedway

    Craft Pita’s Buffalo Speedway location is celebrating the one-year anniversary of chef-owner Rafael Nasr’s appearance on Alex vs. America, offering a special dinner featuring dishes from the episode. Guests can enjoy the Lebanese Bolognese Pasta with a lamb base and the Grilled Shrimp Fattoush Salad, made with preserved lemon-marinated shrimp, vinaigrette, fried pita and pomegranate seeds. Dinner starts at $50 and includes a wine pairing. Reservations are available through Resy, with seating beginning at 6 p.m.

    Houston Restaurant Weeks

    All weekend long

    Houston Restaurant Weeks, the Houston Food Bank’s epic annual fundraiser, is coming to a close on Labor Day, Monday, September 1. Choose multi-course meals for brunch and lunch ($25) or dinner ($39 or $55), with $1 to $5 from each going to support the fight against hunger, at hundreds of local restaurants, including favorites like Bar Bludorn, Le Jardinier, Maison Pucha Bistro, Ostia and Soto Houston.

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    Brooke Viggiano

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  • 10 Best Sugar Daddy Sites & Apps for Real Dating in 2025

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    Looking for a sugar daddy? If you want mentorship, financial support, or a luxurious 

    relationship with clear expectations, sugar baby dating platforms can help you find what you’re looking for. These sites offer a safe and discreet way to connect while also encouraging meaningful relationships. The best sugar daddy websites feature verified profiles, clear communication, secure chats, and real-world compatibility.

    We’ve compiled a list of 10 trusted platforms that connect potential sugar babies with successful, generous partners. Whether you’re trying this for the first time or want to move on from outdated apps, this list will direct you to the best sugar dating sites available right now.

    Best Sugar Daddy Websites to Make Money & Find a Sugar Baby

    1. SugarDaddy.com – Best Sugar Daddy Website Overall (Best Choice)
    2. Ashley Madison – Best Sugar Daddy App for Quick Matches
    3. AdultFriendFinder – Best Sugar Baby Site for Verified Profiles
    4. MillionaireLove – Best for High-Income Matches and Global Dating Pool
    5. SugarBook – Best for Transparent Agreements & Upfront Communication
    6. Secret Benefits – Best for Private, Discreet Connections
    7. Elite Singles – Best Sugar Baby Site for Professionals Seeking Mature Companions
    8. LuxuryDate – Best for High-End Experiences and Lifestyle Matches
    9. Established Men – Best for Successful Men Looking for Younger Matches
    10. SugarDaddyMeet – Best App for Verified Profiles and Safety Features

    SugarDaddy.com – Best Sugar Daddy Website Overall (Best Choice)

    click to enlarge 10 Best Sugar Daddy Sites & Apps for Real Dating in 2025

    If you’re searching for the most reliable sugar dating sites, SugarDaddy.com stands out for its trustworthiness, security features, and solid reputation. It’s perfect for both new and experienced sugar babies who want a dependable platform to form real connections with wealthy individuals. With a large group of financially stable members and a sleek, modern design, SugarDaddy.com simplifies the process of finding the right match.

    Pros

    • Large user base of verified sugar daddies and sugar babies
    • Detailed profiles with lifestyle and relationship goals
    • Excellent search filters by income, intent, and location
    • Active moderation and anti-scam tools
    • Great for both casual and long-term sugar relationships

    Cons

    • Fewer free features for basic users
    • Mobile app is currently web-based, not native

    Pricing

    • 1-month: $39.95
    • 3-month: $89.85
    • 6-month: $119.70

    Ashley Madison – Best Sugar Daddy App for Quick Matches

    click to enlarge 10 Best Sugar Daddy Sites & Apps for Real Dating in 2025

    Want something fast, low-pressure, and easy to use? Ashley Madison is one of the best apps to quickly find sugar daddies. It started out as a discreet dating platform, but its new features and updated matching system now make it great for sugar babies who want quick connections and a mobile-friendly experience. The app’s clean design and quick response times make it stand out if you’re looking for an instant spark.

    Pros

    • Designed for quick and discreet connections
    • Real-time chat and private photo exchange
    • Great for sugar dating without long onboarding
    • High percentage of successful, established male users
    • Location-based matching for nearby arrangements

    Cons

    • Requires credits for messaging
    • Not exclusively a sugar dating platform

    Pricing

    • Message credit bundles: $59 (100 credits), $169 (500 credits), $289 (1000 credits)

    AdultFriendFinder – Best Sugar Baby Site for Verified Profiles

    click to enlarge 10 Best Sugar Daddy Sites & Apps for Real Dating in 2025

    AdultFriendFinder stands out as one of the best legit sugar daddy apps for safety-conscious users. Known for its robust verification tools and encrypted messaging features, this platform caters to individuals seeking real sugar dating without the guesswork. If you’re prioritizing privacy and identity protection, especially in early conversations, AFF is a smart choice.

    Pros

    • Strong emphasis on profile verification
    • Secure chat with anonymous username options
    • Includes private video chat and cam features
    • Variety of relationship types supported
    • Active moderation team combats bots and scams

    Cons

    • Some ads in free version
    • Mature interface can feel outdated

    Pricing

    • 1-month Gold Membership: $39.95
    • 3-month: $80.85
    • 12-month: $239.40

    MillionaireLove – Best for High-Income Matches and Global Dating Pool

    click to enlarge 10 Best Sugar Daddy Sites & Apps for Real Dating in 2025

    If you’re looking to connect with high-net-worth individuals across borders, MillionaireLove is a strong contender. This platform caters to successful, wealthy singles and attractive companions seeking luxurious, supportive relationships, no matter where they live. With a presence in over 30 countries, it’s ideal for sugar babies who want to date globally and enjoy lifestyle perks along the way.

    What makes MillionaireLove stand out is its refined focus on income-verified members and quality over quantity. Profiles here are more curated, giving sugar babies access to serious sugar daddies who are upfront about their success and expectations.

    Pros

    • International dating pool with affluent members
    • Focus on long-term and lifestyle-driven connections
    • Income verification adds trust and credibility
    • Elegant interface geared toward elite users
    • Discreet platform with strong privacy features

    Cons

    • Smaller community compared to mainstream apps
    • Limited features without upgrading to premium

    Pricing

    • 1-month: $39.99
    • 3-month: $89.97
    • 6-month: $129.99

    SugarBook – Best for Transparent Agreements & Upfront Communication

    click to enlarge 10 Best Sugar Daddy Sites & Apps for Real Dating in 2025

    SugarBook is one of the most upfront and communication-driven sugar dating platforms out there. Built with the belief that clarity leads to better matches, SugarBook encourages open conversations about expectations, boundaries, and arrangement terms right from the start.

    For sugar babies who value honesty and want to avoid playing guessing games, SugarBook offers a refreshing approach. You’ll find detailed user bios, strong verification practices, and a cultural emphasis on respectful sugar dating. The platform is especially popular in Asia, but it’s quickly growing in global popularity as more users seek honest, goal-aligned relationships.

    Pros

    • Prioritizes transparency and open agreements
    • Active global user base with growing reach
    • Real-time chat and quick messaging tools
    • Verified income for sugar daddies
    • Easy-to-use app interface and filters

    Cons

    • Some features region-restricted (based on availability)
    • Fewer high-income users in certain countries

    Pricing

    • Monthly membership: $39.95
    • Token system also available for unlocking features:
    • 100 credits: $59
    • 500 credits: $169

    Secret Benefits – Best for Private, Discreet Connections

    click to enlarge 10 Best Sugar Daddy Sites & Apps for Real Dating in 2025

    If privacy is your top concern, Secret Benefits is one of the best sugar daddy websites to make money without compromising your identity. Designed for discretion, the platform allows you to control who sees your profile, photos, and private details. Many sugar babies prefer Secret Benefits because it supports confidential, secure dating without the pressure of being publicly visible.

    Instead of a monthly subscription, the site uses a pay-per-interaction model, giving you more control over how and when you engage with sugar daddies. With real income earners, verified accounts, and a reputation for protecting users, it’s a go-to for those seeking low-profile but high-reward relationships.

    Pros

    • Private albums and customizable visibility settings
    • Token-based system for controlled messaging
    • Ideal for discreet and professional sugar dating
    • Verified profiles and income screening for daddies
    • Reputation for low fake-profile rate

    Cons

    • Can get expensive with frequent messaging
    • No mobile app (mobile site only)

    Pricing

    • Free to join for sugar babies
    • Sugar daddies purchase credits:
      – 100 credits: $59
      – 500 credits: $169
      – 1,000 credits: $289

    Elite Singles – Best Sugar Baby Site for Professionals Seeking Mature Companions

    click to enlarge 10 Best Sugar Daddy Sites & Apps for Real Dating in 2025

    If you value intellect, ambition, and meaningful conversation, Elite Singles is a top-tier option for sugar babies and daddies alike. This platform caters to educated, career-driven individuals, making it an ideal choice for those seeking emotionally mature, professional relationships with substance.

    Elite Singles stands out for its detailed personality matching system and emphasis on compatibility beyond just looks or lifestyle. Whether you’re looking for mentorship, long-term companionship, or a sophisticated connection, this site gives you the tools to find like-minded partners.

    Pros

    • Designed for working professionals and educated users
    • In-depth personality test and intelligent match suggestions
    • Strong safety protocols and data encryption
    • High percentage of members over 30 seeking serious connections
    • Great for sugar babies looking for mentorship or emotional stability

    Cons

    • Slower signup process due to profile depth
    • Limited daily matches without a premium plan

    Pricing

    • 1-month: $59.95
    • 3-month: $119.85
    • 6-month: $179.70

    LuxuryDate – Best for High-End Experiences and Lifestyle Matches

    click to enlarge 10 Best Sugar Daddy Sites & Apps for Real Dating in 2025

    For sugar babies who dream of private jets, designer shopping, and exotic getaways, LuxuryDate delivers on the promise of elite sugar dating. This platform is built specifically for high-net-worth individuals and glamorous companions who expect more than the average relationship.

    LuxuryDate doesn’t aim to be a mainstream dating app, it’s an exclusive community for people who value lifestyle as much as chemistry. The site carefully screens members and provides a luxury-first experience from profile creation to match suggestions.

    Pros

    • Curated user base of wealthy, high-profile members
    • Premium design and upscale interface
    • Matches based on lifestyle goals and income level
    • Private chat features and identity verification
    • Ideal for sugar babies seeking luxury and travel perks

    Cons

    • Premium membership required to interact meaningfully
    • More selective than general dating platforms

    Pricing

    • 1-month premium: $69.99
    • 3-month: $149.99
    • 6-month: $199.99

    Established Men – Best for Successful Men Looking for Younger Matches

    click to enlarge 10 Best Sugar Daddy Sites & Apps for Real Dating in 2025

    Established Men is a classic sugar dating site built around success-based relationships. It connects financially secure, confident men with younger women looking for guidance, luxury, and support. If you’re drawn to clear age-gap dynamics and appreciate the balance of experience and youthful energy, this platform may be exactly what you’re looking for.

    The interface is simple but effective, allowing sugar babies to browse based on lifestyle preferences and relationship goals. With thousands of verified sugar daddies on the platform, it’s a solid pick for women who know what they want.

    Pros

    • Specifically designed for age-gap dating
    • Simple interface for fast browsing and messaging
    • Strong focus on financial stability and lifestyle perks
    • Clear expectations help avoid misunderstandings
    • Active user base of generous, older men

    Cons

    • Fewer customization options in profiles
    • Limited access for free members

    Pricing

    • 1-month: $49.95
    • 3-month: $119.85
    • 6-month: $149.95

    SugarDaddyMeet – Best App for Verified Profiles and Safety Features

    click to enlarge 10 Best Sugar Daddy Sites & Apps for Real Dating in 2025

    If verification and trust are your top priorities, SugarDaddyMeet is one of the safest and most reliable sugar daddy apps available today. Unlike casual platforms, this app is designed exclusively for sugar daddies and sugar babies, with strong vetting standards and built-in safety measures.

    SugarDaddyMeet only allows users from the 20 richest countries, ensuring that most members meet a certain financial standard. Every profile undergoes manual review, and features like photo moderation, income verification, and private messaging help reduce scams and elevate user quality. It’s a fantastic choice for sugar babies who want serious arrangements with real, verified men.

    Pros

    • Strict profile verification process for all users
    • High concentration of successful men from wealthy countries
    • Emphasis on safety and privacy in every interaction
    • Members can browse anonymously and use blur tools
    • One of the most trusted sugar daddy apps for new users

    Cons

    • Membership is limited to select countries
    • Basic accounts have messaging restrictions

    Pricing

    • 1-month: $50.00
    • 3-month: $90.00
    • 6-month: $144.00

    What Is Sugar Dating?

    Sugar dating is a type of relationship where one partner, typically a successful, financially established individual known as a sugar daddy or sugar mommy, provides support, mentorship, or luxury experiences to a sugar baby in exchange for companionship. Unlike traditional dating, sugar relationships often operate on clearly defined expectations compared to traditional relationships and mutually beneficial arrangements.

    These relationships can be rooted in a variety of shared interests, from lifestyle mentorship and emotional support to travel and career advancement. What sets sugar dating apart is its focus on openness, trust, and negotiated boundaries, meaning both parties are upfront about what they want from the start.

    Importantly, sex is not a requirement in sugar relationships. Some sugar couples prioritize emotional connection and lifestyle compatibility, while others may develop romantic or even long-term bonds over time. Every sugar relationship is unique and shaped by mutual consent.

    Whether you’re looking for guidance, stability, or a touch of luxury, sugar dating provides a flexible space for building relationships that are honest, goal-driven, and empowering for ladies.

    5 Tips to Succeed as a Sugar Baby

    If you’re ready to dive into the world of sugar dating, having a smart, strategic approach can make all the difference. These five tips will help you navigate the scene with confidence, attract genuine sugar daddies, and set yourself up for rewarding, respectful connections.

    Choose a Legit Sugar Daddy Site with Verified Members

    Your safety and success start with where you sign up. Choose a reputable sugar daddy platform that verifies member profiles and prioritizes privacy to link you with trustworthy individuals . Sites like SugarDaddyMeet and SugarBook offer strong screening tools, income verification, and secure messaging features to ensure you’re talking to real, trustworthy sugar daddies, not time-wasters or scammers.

    Look for sugar daddy sites that publicly promote profile verification, clear communication, and safety features. These are the platforms where you’re most likely to find genuine, financially generous men.

    Create an Honest, Attractive Profile with Lifestyle Goals

    Your profile is your calling card. Make sure it reflects who you are, and what you’re looking for. Include high-quality, flattering photos that show both your personality and your lifestyle. In your bio, be specific about what type of arrangement or companionship you want, whether that’s mentorship, travel, or financial support.

    Avoid vague clichés. Instead, use your space to express your goals and show confidence in what you bring to a sugar relationship. Sugar daddies appreciate clarity and authenticity.

    Use Search Filters to Find Like-Minded Individuals

    Most legit sugar dating websites offer advanced search tools that let you sort and filter by income level, location, relationship goals, and more. Use these filters to narrow down your options and connect with sugar daddies who align with your expectations.

    This saves you time and helps you focus only on high-potential matches. If you’re looking for a long-distance arrangement, someone who travels often, or a partner in your city, filters make it easy to find exactly that.

    Start Chatting via Private Messaging or Video Calls

    Once you’ve matched with someone promising, take the conversation off the public feed. Use secure private messaging or video chats to get a better sense of the person before you agree to meet.

    This not only builds trust but also gives you a chance to screen for red flags. Many top platforms now offer encrypted chat, anonymous usernames, and cam options so you can stay safe while getting to know someone better.

    Be Upfront About Expectations and Boundaries
    Transparency is everything in sugar dating. Be honest about your expectations early on, whether you’re looking for a financial arrangement, mentorship, or something more long-term. The same goes for setting clear boundaries around your availability, communication style, and comfort levels.

    A sugar daddy who respects your boundaries, appreciates your openness, and is also looking for fun is far more likely to invest in a genuine, successful partnership.

    How to Find a Sugar Daddy?

    Finding a sugar daddy today is easier than ever thanks to online platforms, social media, and lifestyle communities. Whether you’re looking for a generous gentleman to help fund your goals or someone to spoil you in exchange for your time and companionship, the key is knowing where to look—and how to approach it.

    Where to Find a Sugar Daddy?

    Online sugar daddy sites and apps are the most popular places to meet sugar daddies in 2025. Platforms like SugarDaddy.com are designed to connect sugar daddies and sugar babies with clear expectations from the start. These websites are discreet, user-friendly, and allow you to filter by age, income, location, and interests, making the matchmaking process easier than ever.

    Beyond dedicated sugar dating platforms, social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter (X) can also be useful—especially if you curate a polished, confident, and luxury-leaning online persona. Many sugar babies attract attention simply by posting lifestyle content and engaging with wealthy followers in their niche.

    Some also find success in elite dating apps, which are known for attracting high-net-worth individuals looking for attractive, younger partners. While not specifically for sugar dating, they can open doors to high-income matches.

    Offline, sugar daddies often frequent upscale lounges, country clubs, charity galas, business conferences, and other luxury spaces. Cities like Miami, New York, Dubai, and LA are well-known sugar dating hubs due to their concentration of affluent professionals.

    How to Get a Sugar Daddy?

    Whether you’re looking for an online arrangement or a more traditional offline setup, here’s a quick step-by-step on how to get a sugar daddy successfully, even a millionaire, as an example. , including tips on education and relationship dynamics.

    How to Get a Sugar Daddy Online

    1. Choose the Right Platform: Start with a reputable sugar daddy website or app. Create an account on platforms that match you with verified, generous men.

    2. Build an Attractive, Honest Profile:       Upload flattering but classy photos, write a bio that showcases your personality and goals, and be upfront (but polite) about what you’re looking for in an arrangement.

    3. Set Your Standards and Filters:       Don’t settle. Use filters to find men who match your ideal age, lifestyle, and support level. Look for users with verified income or premium status.

    4. Start the Conversation:       Send friendly, confident messages. Ask questions, show interest in their lifestyle, and keep the tone flirty but respectful.

    5. Discuss Expectations Early:       Once there’s chemistry, shift the conversation toward arrangement types—financial support, frequency of meeting, gifts, travel, etc.—to make sure you’re on the same page.

    6. Meet Safely and Confidently:       When it’s time to meet in person, always choose public locations first and prioritize your safety. Trust your instincts and never rush into anything.

    How to Get a Sugar Daddy Without Online Dating Apps

    1. Frequent Upscale Locations: Hang out at places where high-net-worth men go—hotel lounges, golf clubs, art auctions, luxury networking events.

    2. Dress Well and Carry Yourself Confidently:       Presentation matters. Look polished, act self-assured, and be approachable.

    3. Start Conversations Naturally:       Sugar daddies aren’t always flashy. Start friendly conversations, show interest in what they do, and subtly steer the conversation to lifestyle or dating.

    4. Exchange Contact Details:       If there’s a spark, offer your number or social handle. From there, you can transition into discussing a possible arrangement.

    How to Get a Sugar Daddy to Commit

    While many sugar arrangements start with clear terms and casual expectations, it’s common for these connections to develop into deeper, long-term bonds. If you want to turn a sugar relationship into something more stable or even romantic, building trust and an emotional connection is essential.

    The first step is being transparent. Clearly state your goals from the start, whether you want long-term support, exclusive companionship, or something more emotionally committed. Sugar daddies appreciate honesty and are more likely to invest in someone who confidently expresses their needs.

    Consistency is another important aspect. Respond regularly, keep your promises, and show appreciation. Sugar daddies who feel valued and respected are more likely to go beyond the transactional and commit emotionally or financially for the long run.

    Lastly, focus on mutual communication. Ask about their life, goals, and expectations. The more interest you show in who they are, not just what they can provide, the more likely the relationship is to grow.

    Some sugar relationships have even turned into romantic partnerships and long-term love stories. It’s not about forcing anything; it’s about fostering genuine connections through honesty, warmth, and shared values.

    Safety and Privacy in Sugar Dating

    When it comes to sugar dating, safety and privacy should always be your top priorities. While many sugar daddy websites are legitimate and secure, not all platforms offer the same level of protection. It’s important to choose sites with strong verification systems and privacy controls.

    Start by selecting platforms that verify income and identity. Trusted sites are known for checking users and manually reviewing profiles. These measures help reduce fake accounts and keep interactions genuine.

    Secure messaging is another essential feature. Look for platforms that use encryption and let you control who can see your photos or message you. Private albums, nickname-only profiles, and anonymous browsing can help protect your identity, especially early on in a connection.

    If you’re new to this, avoid sharing personal contact details until you’ve had time to evaluate your match. Use the platform’s built-in communication tools and meet in public if you decide to take things offline.

    Ultimately, discretion and privacy are key to making sugar dating successful. Choose platforms that value these principles and allow you to control your experience from start to finish.

    Do Sugar Relationships Really Work?

    Yes, sugar relationships can absolutely work, and many do. While some people still view sugar dating through a narrow or outdated lens, countless sugar couples have formed lasting, emotionally fulfilling connections based on honesty, beauty, shared values, and clear expectations.

    What makes these relationships successful isn’t just financial support, it’s the mutual understanding that both parties are entering into something intentional and transparent. Sugar babies often find mentorship, travel opportunities, or lifestyle upgrades. Sugar daddies often enjoy companionship, emotional support, or a renewed sense of connection.

    In some cases, sugar dating relationships evolve into long-term romance or committed partnerships. These success stories aren’t rare, they’re a testament to how clarity, communication, and mutual benefit can lay the foundation for something deeper.

    Of course, like any relationship, success depends on compatibility, effort, and respect. The most rewarding sugar arrangements are the ones where both people feel understood, valued, and empowered.

    Whether you’re looking for companionship, career advice, or a luxury experience, sugar dating works best when approached with intention and openness.

    Sugar Daddy Apps that Send Money Without Meeting

    Not every sugar baby is looking for in-person arrangements—and luckily, there are apps that cater to exactly that. Some sugar daddies are happy to send money, gifts, or support remotely in exchange for virtual companionship, daily check-ins, flirty chats, or exclusive content. These types of arrangements are often referred to as virtual sugar dating or findom-style setups (financial domination, without physical contact).

    If you’re more interested in building a remote connection and still getting paid, here are the best sugar daddy apps that send money without meeting:

    • CashDaddy: Designed specifically for online-only sugar arrangements, CashDaddy allows sugar babies to receive direct support via Cash App, Venmo, or PayPal. Daddies on the platform are vetted for genuine financial interest and are often looking for ongoing online attention and messaging.
    • Spoil: This app focuses on virtual sugar relationships where sugar babies can receive tributes, gifts, and monthly allowances. There’s a built-in messaging system, a gift wishlist feature, and daddies can send funds with no expectation of meeting in real life.
    • Luxy: While Luxy is technically an elite dating app, many users use it for virtual arrangements. Verified millionaires often use the app to find younger partners to spoil remotely, especially in long-distance scenarios.
    • OnlyFans (Private Sugar Deals): While not a sugar daddy app per se, many sugar babies connect with generous fans through platforms like OnlyFans, setting up private financial arrangements through direct messaging. It’s perfect for those comfortable sharing content in exchange for regular support.
    • Telegram + Pay Platforms: Some experienced sugar babies operate independently through Telegram or Snapchat, building a roster of online daddies who send weekly payments, Amazon gifts, or cash apps. Be cautious and vet each contact properly—this route offers high flexibility but less platform protection.

    Reminder: If you’re seeking sugar daddies who send money without meeting, always prioritize safety. Use secure payment platforms (never gift cards or bank transfers), set boundaries early, and trust your gut. The best virtual arrangements are based on trust, consistency, and clearly defined expectations.

    FAQs About Sugar Daddy Dating

    Are Sugar Dating Websites Legal?

    Yes, most sugar dating websites are fully legal, as long as the relationships formed on them are consensual and do not involve illegal activity. These platforms emphasize transparency and typically include privacy policies, age verification, and clear community guidelines.

    Legitimate sugar dating sites also offer verified profiles and tools that help protect your identity and data, making it easier to enjoy your experience within legal and ethical boundaries.

    Do I Have to Meet in Person?

    No, meeting in person is completely optional. Some sugar daddy apps that send money without meeting are designed for virtual arrangements, where both parties agree to connect solely online. It all depends on your preferences and the nature of the arrangement.

    As long as there’s mutual agreement, many sugar relationships remain entirely virtual, offering flexibility for those who prefer to keep things long-distance or private.

    How Much Allowance Is Normal?

    There’s no one-size-fits-all number. Allowances vary based on each sugar relationship and are often negotiated privately. Some sugar babies receive monthly support, while others benefit through gifts, travel, or mentorship.

    Every arrangement is different, and the key is to have an open, honest conversation about expectations early on.

    Is It Safe to Use These Platforms?

    Safety depends on the platform you choose. The best sugar dating sites invest heavily in user verification, secure messaging, and privacy tools to protect your information and screen out fake profiles.

    To stay safe, stick to well-known platforms like SugarDaddyMeet or Secret Benefits, and always use in-app messaging until you trust the other person.

    Can Sugar Relationships Become Romantic?

    Absolutely. Many sugar relationships start with defined terms and grow into genuine connections. Over time, shared interests, trust, and emotional intimacy can lead to romantic partnerships, especially with attractive women and even long-term love.

    These success stories happen more often than you’d think, proving that sugar dating doesn’t have to be transactional forever.

    Final Thoughts

    Whether you’re new to sugar dating or ready to upgrade your experience, choosing the right platform is essential for building safe, mutually beneficial relationships. The best sugar daddy sites offer more than just flashy profiles; they prioritize privacy, income verification, secure messaging, and a combination of clear expectations.

    From fast-matching apps like Ashley Madison to long-term relationship platforms like SugarDaddy.com, there’s something here for every lifestyle and arrangement preference. Whether you’re seeking mentorship, financial support, or luxury travel experiences, the key is transparency, compatibility, and a platform that puts your safety first.

    Take your time exploring the options above, and when you find the one that aligns with your goals, don’t be afraid to go after what you want with a nice approach . With the right site and the right mindset, sugar dating can be an empowering, rewarding path to connection.


    Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only and is intended for adult audiences (18+). It discusses content and applications related to virtual reality and adult entertainment. Please ensure that you comply with local laws and regulations regarding the consumption of adult content. Viewer discretion is advised.

    Author: Morris Munene

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    Morris Munene is a passionate, experienced writer/editor specializing in CBD, dating, gambling, and health. With seven years of expertise in web content creation, SEO, and editing, he excels in crafting compelling, informative content and transforming it into engaging content. His work has been featured in leading publications and online platforms, resonating with diverse audiences worldwide.

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