The Pickled Parrot (952-975-1800) is planning to open a restaurant in Chicago, IL, and in five years open 10 to 15 restaurants annually, including locations in Phoenix, AZ, Denver, CO and Las Vegas, NV. The company recently opened a restaurant in Eden Prairie, MN.

Noodles & Co. (720-214-1900) opened a 2,500 sq.ft. restaurant located in Orland Park, IL. The company currently operates 50 restaurants throughout CO, IL, MD, MN, VA and WI. Noodles & Co. also is planning to open 300 locations by 2006. Next year, the company is planning expansion into MI, TX and UT. From 2004 through 2006, the company will expand throughout the northeast, northwest and southwest.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (303-846-6000) is planning to open 19 Red Robin franchises over the next seven years. These new locations will include seven restaurants in CT and western MA and five restaurants in western PA. The company also opened a restaurant in Prescott, AZ, next to the Prescott Gateway Mall. Red Robin also plans to open one more location in Chandler, AZ this year.

Lowe’s Cos., Inc. (336-658-4000) is planning to open Lowe’s stores in Holmdel, NJ and Roosevelt Field, NY. The company recently opened home improvement stores in North Bergen, NJ and Medford, NY. The company plans to open 123 stores this year and 130 during 2003.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. (336-726-8917) is planning to open 19 Krispy Kreme locations over the next four years in Denver, CO, Minneapolis, MN and Milwaukee, WI.

Pier 1 Imports, Inc. (817-878-8000) is planning to open 90 stores during 2003.

Albertsons, Inc. (208-385-6200) is planning to open a 44,647 sq.ft Albertsons supermarket at 111 South 38th Street in East Tacoma, WA. Construction is expected to take six months, with completion slated for Spring or early Summer 2003.

Borders Group, Inc. (734-477-1100) is planning to open three Borders Books and Music superstore locations in the United Kingdom during the first half of 2003.

Delia’s (212-807-9060) is planning to open 12 ladies apparel stores this year.

Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. (781-380-8000) is planning to open a Stop & Shop supermarket at the Pergament Shopping Center in Long Island, NY. The Stop & Shop will take over a space formerly occupied by ShopRite.

Chick-fil-A (404-765-8000) is planning to open a location at 10735 U.S. 15-501 in Southern Pines, NC this December. The company currently operates more than 1,040 restaurants in 34 states and Washington, DC. The chain expects to open nearly 75 restaurants this year, including 52 freestanding locations, 15 licensed locations and six mall locations.

Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. (937-296-2700) is planning to open as many as three Elder-Beerman stores during 2003.

Kohl’s Corp. (262-703-7000) is planning to open four Kohl’s stores as a small-market test. The stores will average 62,000 sq.ft. and are designed to expand the company into lower-population markets. Overall, the company plans to open 75 stores this year.

Wal*Mart Stores, Inc. (650-837-5000) is planning to open a 200,000 sq.ft. Wal*Mart Supercenter located at the intersection of U.S. 41 and Winneconne Avenue in Neenah, WI during Spring 2004. The company also is planning to open an 80,000 sq.ft. Wal*Mart store at the Parmatown Mall in Parma, OH.

The Home Depot, Inc. (770-433-8211) opened Landscape Supply stores in Duluth, Kennesaw and Woodstock, GA. The new prototype stores feature a 12,000 sq.ft. store, a 25,000 sq.ft. open greenhouse and a fenced-in yard. The company also is planning to open two more Landscape Supply locations outside of Dallas, TX.

Target Corp. (612-370-6948) is planning to open a 175,000 sq.ft. SuperTarget in Lakeline, TX. The store will anchor a 335,000 sq.ft. center, which will have three other big-box retailers. Opening is slated for July 2003. The company is planning a second SuperTarget at the intersection of Parmer Lane and Interstate 35 in Austin, TX and also is planning to open a standard Target store in the former Montgomery Ward location at Capital Plaza in Austin, TX.

Ruby Tuesday (865-379-5700) is planning to open a restaurant at Millennium Park located at the intersection of Harris Drive East and State of Franklin Road in South Johnson City, TN.

Urban Outfitters (215-564-2313) is opening a store at the Lenox Square Mall in the Buckhead section of Atlanta, GA this month.

Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc. (908-688-0888) is planning to open a 26,000 sq.ft. store at McAllen Pavilion located on Expressway 83 in McAllen, TX. The company plans to open 85 stores nationally this year. Bed Bath & Beyond currently operates 436 stores in the U.S. and one location in Puerto Rico.

Shoe Carnival, Inc. (866-271-5862) is planning to open 40 Shoe Carnival stores during 2003. The company operates more than 180 footwear stores nationwide.

Sonic Corp. (405-280-7654) is planning to open a Sonic Drive-In Restaurant at Military Highway in Norfolk, VA. The company currently operates 2,200 Sonic Drive-In Restaurants, with 1,900 franchised units and 319 company stores. The company also plans to open 15 additional sites in the Hampton Roads, VA market by the end of the year.

Paradise Bakery (970-920-1444) is planning to open locations along the East Coast, Las Vegas, NV and Chicago, IL as part of its long-term expansion plans.

Brinker International (800-983-4637) is planning to open between nine and 12 Corner Bakery cafes by July 2003. Corner Bakery currently operates 76 units nationwide.

Restaurant Development Group (312-755-0990) is planning to open Bar Louie locations in Hyde Park, IL at 5500 South Shore Drive; in Schaumburg, IL at 601 Martingale Road; at Geneva Commons in Geneva, IL and at Easton Town Center in Columbus, OH. The company currently operates 14 units. The company also operates locations in Scottsdale and Tempe, AZ and Pittsburgh, PA.

Back Bay Restaurant Group (617-536-2800) is planning to open two to three Joe’s American Bar & Grill restaurants annually. The company currently operates 12 units.

Ale House Management (561-743-2299) is planning to open six Ale House locations, including its first restaurant outside of FL. Other target states are GA, LA, NC, SC and TX. The company currently operates 32 units in FL.