Hotel Openings

🍳 Wild Eggs, established in Louisville in 2007 with 16 locations, acquires St. Louis-based Crazy Bowls & Wraps (founded in 1994 with 16 stores). A Wild Eggs site in Louisville, KY, will serve as a Crazy Bowls & Wraps virtual kitchen from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., leveraging third-party delivery for bowls, wraps, and salads. PG Growth Opportunities Fund bought Wild Eggs in early 2023, aiming for regional presence and nationwide expansion. The merger offers new franchising opportunities in eight states for both brands.

🍴 CH Projects opened Leila, a 4,800-square-foot restaurant in San Diego's North Park, on July 31. Designed to resemble Marrakesh markets, it features a bridge over pools, hanging lanterns, and a starry ceiling. Arsalun Tafazoli, CH Projects founder, inspired by his Middle Eastern travels, aims to showcase regional flavors and communal dining. Leila's menu includes shareable mezze, breads, salads, and proteins like steak and salmon kebabs. The beverage program highlights regional flavors, offering shared cocktails and a two-person drink menu. CH Projects is also developing Baby Grand, a new hotel opening in early 2025.

🏡 The Ned Doha, located on Doha’s Corniche and housed in the former Ministry of Interior building, celebrates its 2nd anniversary as a premier Qatar hospitality destination. The third Ned Hotel globally and the first in the Middle East, it offers 90 bedrooms, seven restaurants, an outdoor pool, a spa, gym, and a 1800-square-metre event space. Cecconi’s, one of its restaurants, won the Italian Fine Dining Award. The Ned Doha features a unique art collection with over 350 pieces from 100 artists, including many from Doha and a majority of female artists. Exclusive Ned’s Club membership offers access to private spaces and perks across all Ned properties. For more information, visit thened.com, call +974 4406 1111, or WhatsApp at +974 5117 6558.

🌮 Tacodeli, established in Austin, Texas, in November 1999, marks 25 years with daily specials reintroduced, previously offered from 2003 until 2020. Chef Roberto Espinosa and Eric Wilkerson’s taqueria features five weekly taco specials and weekend ceviche. Special tacos include carne asado (Monday), chicken tinga (Tuesday), new brisket (Wednesday), scallops (Thursday), and steak chimichurri (Friday). $5 Margaritas and Ranch Waters are available until November 8, the brand’s 25th anniversary. Tacodeli has 14 locations and plans expansion in 2025, eyeing a Fort Worth opening. Salsas are sold in Whole Foods and H-E-B stores in Texas, with Salsa Doña being a popular choice since 2000.

🌮 Bella Italia, part of The Big Table Group, is expanding with a new outpost in Bristol's Aspects Leisure Park, a former Frankie & Benny's site. This marks the chain's fourth location in Bristol, joining others on Baldwin Street, Cribbs Causeway, and Filton. Bella Italia operates around 70 sites in the UK and has been experiencing high demand and sales surpassing peers, as reported by MCA. Despite lower sales volume, Bella Italia boasts higher profit margins than Frankie & Benny’s.

🍩 Lena Lu Donuts opens in the UK at Primark stores in Lakeside on October 14, 2023, and Watford on October 21, 2023. The Australian brand, known for customizable donuts, bagels, and shakes, enters the market after success in Riyadh, KSA. A third UK store is set to open in November, with more planned for 2025. Gamechangers Investments manages the UK launch, expecting synergy with Primark's clientele. Customers can create donut masterpieces or select grab-and-go options like Cookies & Cream and Biscoff Crunch.

🍣 Hieu Bui, founder of Kêu, is set to open a new restaurant on Borough High Street, joining the brand's existing locations in The City, Shoreditch, and Soho. Inspired by ancient Saigon, the venue will offer a menu with hand-pulled egg noodles, hủ tiếu rice vermicelli from Saigon, rice bowls, bahn mi sandwiches, and daily specials. The two-level space features traditional designs and a long table for up to 12 diners. Bui aims to spread the love for Vietnamese cuisine in London's food scene.

🏠 Film director Luca Guadagnino's Studiolucaguadagnino has transformed a 16th-century palazzo in Rome, Italy into the luxury hotel Palazzo Talia, marking its first hospitality project. The palazzo, once a school for underprivileged children that evolved into an institute for aristocratic students, was closed in 1999 and restored by the Federici family's Gruppo Fresia. Featuring a 248-square-metre Magna Hall with 18th-century frescoes by Gaspare Serenario, the hotel showcases a floral carpet leading to a central staircase. A key design element is "chromaticism," with a focus on color hues and collaboration with artisans. The hotel's Bar della Musa is adorned with blown-mirror panels, and the Terrace Suite offers a 66-square-metre terrace with tropical foliage by landscape artist Blue Mambor. Architect Marianna Lubrano Lavadera and designer Laura Feroldi designed the remaining 25 rooms, blending classic and contemporary styles.

🍽 Café Boulud, headed by Michelin-starred Chef Daniel Boulud, has opened in Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh, marking its first presence in the Middle East. The 150-seat restaurant, designed by Rockwell Group, offers French cuisine with signature dishes like Lavender-Glazed Duck Breast and Potato-Wrapped Sea Bass. Executive Chef Nicolas Lemoyne, trained by Boulud and Paul Bocuse, upholds the high culinary standards. Open for breakfast (6-11am), lunch (12-4pm), and dinner (6-11pm), the café can be accessed from the hotel lobby or outside. Reservations: +966 11 2115500.

🍔 It’s Bagels, co-created by Dan Martensen and Jack Ponting, has opened its third location, this time in London's West End. After starting at the Caravan Roastery in Camden, the brand expanded to Primrose Hill in September last year and added a second site in Notting Hill during the summer. The new Soho cafe features 15 seats and a menu of fresh bagels and cream cheese 'schmears,' along with smoked fish and deli salads. GRT Architects designed the Soho location to blend New York City style with London's local aesthetic.