Private-equity group Sentinel has acquired TGI Fridays, Checkers Drive-In Restaurants and Newk’s Eatery in recent months, according to Nation’s Restaurant News.
Fazoli’s CEO Carl Howard — a native of Kettering and a 1983 graduate of Fairmont East High School — has been credited with helping turn around the struggling chain since his appointment as CEO in 2008. The chain opened its seventh location in the Dayton-Springfield region on Miller Lane in Butler Twp. in August 2014.
Same-store sales at Fazoli’s have increased for much of the past four years, and rose 13.6 percent in January, according to Nation’s Restaurant News. Sun Capital put the brand up for sale last year, after eight years of ownership.
In 2010, Fazoli’s chose Dayton to test-market an enhanced-service concept in which glassware and silverware replaced plastic and paper, and servers delivered meals to guests’ tables. The concept went over so well during the test-marketing that it was replicated at Fazoli’s locations nationwide.
In February 2015, Fazoli’s again used the Dayton region as a test market, this time for 20 new menu items. Howard came to the area and spoke to students at Fairmont High School as part of the menu test-marketing.
In 2013, Howard was named the “Executive of the Year” in the food and beverage category in the 11th Annual American Business Awards, and FastCasual.com recognized Fazoli’s as “Brand of the Year.”
Fazoli’s, founded in 1988, operates 213 company-owned or franchise-operated locations in 26 states.
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