Wingstop Restaurants Inc. (972-686-6500) plans to open a location in Baton Rouge, LA this year and add two more next year. The chain is expected to expand to 12 locations in LA, including five in Baton Rouge. The company operates 44 locations in nine states.

Rock-n-Sake (504-581-7253) will be developed by a franchisee at the intersection of Lafayette and Main Streets in Houma, LA. The 2,500 sq.ft. sushi restaurant will be the concept’s second location.

Goodwill Industries International, Inc. (240-333-5200) plans to open a Goodwill Outlet Store and Distribution Center at 2920 SW 234th Avenue in Hillsboro, OR this Spring. The 14,000 sq.ft. store will have a drive-thru donation area.

The Sports Authority, Inc. (954-735-1701) plans to open three stores this year and remodel 33 stores. The sporting goods retailer operates 198 stores in 32 states.

Wal*Mart Stores, Inc. (650-837-5000) received preliminary approval to open a 200,000 sq.ft. Wal*Mart Supercenter store on a 17-acre parcel on the Mississippi River in New Orleans, LA. The store is facing opposition from area preservationists. The company also is considering opening a location at a former 180,000 sq.ft. JCPenney location at Roosevelt Park in Muskegon, MI. The company plans to open six stores in WA this year and expand eight others as part of the company’s previously announced expansion plans. The company operates 1,651 Wal*Mart stores.

Ross Stores, Inc. (510-505-4400) plans to open 12 stores the Houston, TX area, including two openings during the first quarter of this year. A 32,000 sq.ft. store will open at the Baytown Shopping Center and a 30,187 sq.ft. store will open on Highway 290. Five additional stores are expected to be opened in the area during 2002.

Kohl’s Corp. (262-703-7000) is opening an 87,000 sq.ft. store on 10.6 acres on St. Paul Avenue in Waukesha, WI. The department store chain operates 382 locations in 29 states.

Fry’s Electronics Inc. (408-487-4500) is opening a 146,500 sq.ft. store, which includes a 43,000 sq.ft. mezzanine for offices and storage in Concord, CA. The store is expected to open during late Fall or early Winter. The company operates 19 stores in AZ, CA, OR and TX.

Franchise Management Systems (217-356-1359) is opening an Arby’s Roast Beef restaurant at the intersection of Neil and Windsor Roads in south Champaign, IL.

Guitar Center, Inc. (818-735-8800) plans to open three stores during the first quarter of 2002, which include small format stores in Little Rock, AR and Corpus Christie, TX. In addition, the company recently acquired a location in Raleigh, NC and is remodeling the store in the Guitar Center format.

The May Department Stores Co. (314-342-6300) plans to open 30 David’s Bridal locations during 2002. The company also plans to open 11 department stores this year, including three Lord & Taylor stores, two Hecht’s stores, two Foley’s stores, one Robinsons-May, one Filene’s, one Kaufmann’s and one Famous-Barr. The company operates 439 department stores under the trade names Lord & Taylor, Hecht’s, Strawbridge’s, Foley’s, Robinsons-May, Filene’s, Kaufmann’s, Famous-Barr, L.S. Ayres, The Jones Store and Meier & Frank, as well as 150 David’s Bridal stores, 240 After Hours stores and 10 Priscilla of Boston stores.

Office Depot Inc. (888-463-3768) plans to open 25 to 30 stores in North America this year. The company has reduced its expected store openings from the 45 to 50 previously announced.

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (212-633-3300) is opening a 24,000 sq.ft. store at the Commercial Square shopping center in Utica, NY. The company operates 582 Barnes & Noble locations nationwide.

Belk Inc. (704-357-1000) plans to open nine stores this year. Openings will take place in Jasper, AL; Norcross, GA; Rogers, AR; Morristown, TN and McDonough, GA, which are new markets for the department store chain. Stores also will open at The Streets At Southpoint in Durham, NC and the Triangle Towne Center in Raleigh, NC during August. In addition to opening new stores, Belk Inc. is adding 44,000 sq.ft. to its flagship store at the SouthPark Mall in Charlotte, NC. The company operates about 210 stores.

Levitz Home Furnishing Inc. (631-420-8900) is opening a store in the Overlake area of Bellevue, WA. The company will lease 55,000 sq.ft. at 14640 NE 24th Street, which formerly was occupied by HomeLife Furniture. The company operates about 60 stores in 10 states and expects to operate about 165 stores by 2005.

Cheesecake Factory Inc. (818-880-9323) is opening a location in Austin, TX. The restaurant is opening at the former location of Regal Cinema’s Arbor 7 theater in the Arboretum shopping center. The company operates 49 upscale, casual-dining restaurants in AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, MA, MD, MO, NJ, NY, NV, OH, PA, RI, TX, WA and Washington, DC.

QuikTrip Inc. (918-836-8551) is opening five convenience stores and gas stations in the valley area of Phoenix, AZ by May. Plans call for 83 stores in the area by 2007. The company operates more than 340 stores in the following markets: Tulsa, OK; Springfield, MO; Kansas City, MO and KS; Wichita, KS; Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, IA; Omaha, NE; St. Louis, MO and IL; Atlanta, GA; Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX and Phoenix, AZ.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers & Spirits (303-846-6000) is opening a restaurant at N109 Stonybrook Road in Buchanan, WI. The restaurant will be opened by a franchisee in May. Plans call for eight locations to be opened in WI and MN, currently four restaurants operate between the two states. The company operates 180 locations in the U.S. and Canada.

Culver Franchising System, Inc. (608-643-7980) opened a Culver’s Frozen Custard restaurant in Wausau, WI this month. The company operates 158 locations in IA, IL, MO, MN, ND, NE, SD, TX and WI. Plans call for 50 to 60 U.S. openings this year.

Delia’s Corp. (212-807-9060) plans to open 20 locations this year. The retailer of apparel and accessories for teenage girls operates 46 stores in CT, DE, IL, IN, KS, MA, MD, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VA and WI.