Kona Grill, Inc. (480-922-8100) is planning to open four restaurants during this fiscal year in Gilbert, AZ; Stamford, CT; West Palm Beach, FL and Baton Rouge, LA. Since April of 2006, the company has opened six restaurants and operates locations throughout AZ, CO, FL, IL, IN, MI, MO, NE, NV and TX. The restaurants offer mainstream American dishes, as well as appetizers and entrees with an international influence and sushi.

Raving Brands, Inc. (404-844-3225) is planning to have 100 Shane’s Rib Shack locations in operation by 2008. During the past two years, the company has increased the number of restaurants from two to 50 units. Raving Brands also trades as Planet Smoothie, Mama Fu’s Asian House and recently sold its Moe’s Southwest Grill franchise to FOCUS Brands.

Embarq Holdings Co., LLC (866-404-4637) is planning to open stores during the rest of the year. The company operates 18 locations nationwide. Embarq is the result of Sprint/Nextel splitting off its landline telephone, wireless and high-speed Internet units into a freestanding business last year.

Modern Mexican – Richard Sandoval Restaurants (646-285-0796) is planning to open eight to 10 La Sandia Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Bar restaurants. The first restaurant opened in Denver, CO, occupying 7,200 sq.ft. at the Northfield Stapleton lifestyle center. In addition to La Sandia, the company operates various other restaurants, including: Isla, located in Las Vegas, NV; Maya, located in San Francisco, CA; New York, NY and Dubai; Pampano, located in New York, NY; Tamayo in Denver and Zengo, located in Denver and Washington, DC.

The Home Depot U.S.A., Inc. (770-433-8211) recently opened three smaller store formats, called Home Depot Yardbirds, in the Bay Area of CA, in addition to a 56,000 sq.ft. store in Concord and a 34,000 sq.ft. location in Alamo. The stores are targeted toward densely populated neighborhoods, emphasizing tools, hardware and accessories.

One World Fine Foods (888-867-2702) plans to open 25 locations throughout CA and nationwide through franchisees beginning next year. The company currently operates one specialty neighborhood natural food market in downtown San Diego, CA. Franchised locations will utilize between 2,500 sq.ft. and 4,000 sq.ft.

Villa Enterprises (973-285-4800) recently opened a Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen restaurant at the Desert Hills Prime Outlet in Cabazon, CA. In addition, the company is opening a restaurant in Spokane, WA at the Spokane Valley Mall through a franchisee, JSD II, LLC. The company operates 300 restaurants in 38 states and six countries under the trade names Villa Pizza, Cozzoli’s Pizza, Casa Java, Everything Yogurt, Green Leaf’s, Bananas and South Philly Steak & Fries.

Borders, Inc. (734-477-1100) is planning to open a 22,000 sq.ft. store in Kaneohe, HI at the Windward Mall, located at the intersection of Kamahamaha Highway and Mehana Street, next month. The company operates 1,200 Borders and Waldenbooks stores worldwide. Borders stores offer 200,000 book, music and movie titles and also serve Starbucks coffee. In addition, the HI store will have a Paperchase shop with a selection of fashionable notebooks, journals, wrapping paper, greeting cards, gifts and other stationary from Paperchase Products, Ltd.

Brinker International, Inc. (972-980-9917) is planning to open 18 On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina restaurants throughout central and southern CA through its franchisee, BorderWest Partners, LP. The franchisee currently operates 14 On The Border locations throughout the western U.S. There are 140 On The Border restaurants in operation throughout the U.S. in 32 states. Brinker also operates Chili’s, Macaroni Grill and Maggiano’s Little Italy.

Famima Corp. (310-214-1001) recently opened a Famima!! Premium Convenience Store on East 2^nd Street in Belmont Shores, CA and plans to have 20 stores in operation by the end of the year. Operated by FamilyMart Co., Ltd., the company has a network of 13,122 convenience stores throughout the U.S., Japan, China, Taiwan, Thailand and South Korea.

Robeks Corp. (310-727-0500) recently opened a Robeks Fruit Smoothies & Healthy Eats store in Warrensville Heights, OH at Harvard Park, and will open a store this month at Westgate Market in Fairview Park, OH. The company is also planning to expand into Avon and Columbus, OH. The fast, casual healthy lifestyle restaurants offer fruit smoothies, fresh fruit and vegetable juices, high-protein baked goods, healthy snacks and proprietary line of nutritional supplements. The menu also includes green tea shots, organic wheatgrass shots, frozen yogurt, shakes and freezes.

Longs Drugs Stores (925-937-1170) is planning to open 25 to 30 drug stores this year that will average between 12,000 sq.ft. and 13,000 sq.ft., which is smaller than older stores, which average 16,000 sq.ft. The company plans to incorporate more drive-thru windows in new and remodeled stores, with 33 currently equipped with drive-thrus. The company currently operates more than 509 stores.

Apple (408-996-1010) is planning to open a third New York, NY location on West 14^th Street that will occupy 60,000 sq.ft. The store will join other Apple stores on Prince Street and on Fifth Avenue in the General Motors Building Plaza.

Panda Restaurant Group (800-877-8988) is planning to open Panda Express locations during the third quarter of 2007 in Carol City, Homestead and South Miami, FL. In addition, the company is planning Panda Express openings next year throughout the Boynton Beach, Jensen Beach and South Kendall markets.

Marvelous Market (202-965-5292) is planning to open 50 stores during the next year, as well as franchised units in the Washington, DC metropolitan area this fall. The first Marvelous Market will open on Penn Avenue in Washington, DC this fall, to be followed by three VA locations also during this fall, located in Ballston, Clarendon and Virginia Square. The stores occupy 1,500 sq.ft. to 2,000 sq.ft. and offer wine and pre-wrapped, self-service items, such as breads, pastries, desserts, sandwiches and salads. The company currently operates eight locations.

Supervalu, Inc. (952-828-4000) is planning to open 25 to 30 supermarkets and 60 to 80 limited-assortment stores, including Save-a-Lot stores. In addition, the company will be remodeling 100 to 110 stores, as well as 569 Albertsons locations. The company currently operates 2,499 supermarkets nationwide and operates under the trade names Supervalu, Jewel/Osco and Cub Food.

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market (310-341-1200) is planning to open stores this year throughout Phoenix, AZ and Los Angeles and San Diego, CA, as well as 14 sites in the Las Vegas, NV area. The company plans to operate 100 stores throughout those markets by February 2008. Each store will occupy about 10,000 sq.ft. and offer various food choices, including pre-prepared and organic foods with no added trans fat or artificial colors or flavors. The stores are the first U.S. ventures for Tesco, based out of the U.K.