Fast-Casual Update: News from HipCityVeg and Honeygrow


Here's Honeygrow | Renderings/Video via JBGR Retail

Honeygrow at the King of Prussia Town Center | Renderings/Video via JBGR Retail

We debuted our Fast Casual Tracker with the news that Urban Outfitters had purchased Marc Vetri’s restaurant empire. It was clear that the big piece of the deal was Pizzeria Vetri and the pizza concept debuted at number one. But we have a shakeup as it is impossible to ignore the traction Honeygrow is getting in the crowded fast-casual marketplace. November saw Honeygrow open in University City. Another college campus location is right around the corner as the company prepares to open on the University of Delaware’s campus in Newark, DE. Honeygrow will also be featured in King of Prussia’s Town Center project and it has been recently reported they are opening their first Virginia location. That’s ten open and announced locations since mid-2012.

Honeygrow is far from the only concept with expansion plans that will take it beyond the greater Philadelphia area. Nicole Marquis’ HipCityVeg is looking to open in Washington D.C. this spring. But before that, look for a third HipCityVeg in Philadelphia, this one at 121 South Broad Street, right next to the Capital Grille, in a former FedEx Office Ship Center.

Check out the rest of the Fast Casual Tracker for the latest news and rankings of Philadelphia’s home built dining concepts.

Fast Casual Tracker [Foobooz]