A B-Side BY Armin

O’Charley’s

About: (Est. 1971) “O’Charley’s is a casual dining restaurants chain in the United States, with more than 230+ company-owned locations. O’Charley’s is located in 17 Southern and Midwestern states, including four franchised O’Charley’s restaurants in Michigan, one franchised O’Charley’s in Ohio, three joint venture O’Charley’s restaurants in Louisiana, and one joint venture O’Charley’s restaurant in Wisconsin.” (Source: Wikipedia)

Ed.’s Notes: Had never heard of this place, or, well, these 230 places. The new one isn’t that great but the old one, with the horribly slanted Bookman, was a true horror. Bigger view of the logo and exterior shot of the restaurant below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: Restaurant News Article. Enhanced Online News Article.

Select quote: “The new identity derives inspiration from the approach of Charley Watkins, the man who founded O’Charley’s, and will be encapsulated in the following Watkins quote prominently featured at all O’Charley’s entrances: ‘Everyone who walks through this door is a friend of mine.’ The quote’s attitude will be born out in the new visual identity and updated menu as well as in the welcoming layout and openness of new floor plans which feature different rooms named to reflect its southern heritage such as The Piedmont, The Charles, and The Porch.”

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A B-Side BY Armin

Old Chicago

About: (Est. 1976) “In each of the nearly 100 restaurants, Old Chicago exudes the welcoming appeal of a local neighborhood restaurant. We’re a leader in the traditional casual dining segment, specializing in signature hand-crafted pizzas and a vast craft beer selection served in a comfortable environment.”

Design by: PUSH.

Ed.’s Notes: Click through the link below, plenty of material there.

Relevant links: PUSH case study (in-depth with lots of images).

Opinion BY Armin

Wendy’s Wendy: Cutest 43-year-old

First opened in 1969 in Columbus, OH, Wendy’s is the third largest quick-service hamburger company in the world, with more than 6,500 franchise and company restaurants in the U.S. and 27 other countries. To paraphrase one of the greatest spokespersons — not as great as Wendy’s own (and its founder) Dave Thomas — “I don’t always eat quick-service hamburgers, but when I do, I prefer Wendy’s.” Perhaps it’s the square shape of their hamburgers but they are the least unappealing of all fast food hamburgers. Their frosty dessert thingie is awesome. Anyway. The Associated Press has reported on a new Wendy’s logo that will start appearing in March 2013 on newly built and renovated restaurants — which I am assuming will follow the test stores designed by San Francisco, CA-based Tesser.

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Opinion BY Armin

Follow-up: Long John Silver’s

From my introduction in February 2011, when this logo last changed: “First opened in 1969 in Louisville, KY, Long John Silver’s (LJS) is a QSR (Quick Service Restaurant) seafood chain with over 1,100 locations worldwide, but mostly in the U.S. Privately owned until 1998, LJS is currently part of Yum! Brands, who also own KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut.” What has changed since then is that LJS Partners LLC purchased the chain from Yum! Brands earlier this year. And back in September LJS introduced a new logo, more familiar with that they had originally, as well as a new tagline, “That’s What I Like”, that replaces “We Speak Fish”. No press release or design credit given.

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Opinion BY Armin

Arby’s Goes Bland

Established in 1964, Arby’s is a fast food chain best known for its roast beef sandwiches and above-average curly fries. Formerly owned by the same company that owns Wendy’s, Arby’s is owned by Roark Capital Group as of 2011, who owns around 1,100 of the locations with the rest being franchises in the U.S. and around the world, with a total of approximately 3,600 locations. In February it was reported that Arby’s would be preparing for a big change at the end of this year and it assigned its advertising business to Crispin, Porter + Bogusky. Over the weekend a new TV (not available online) ran with a new logo. Absolutely no further information is available. The logo was developed in partnership between Adrienne Weiss Corporation and Alcone Marketing with CPB.

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Opinion BY Armin

Red Mild Chili Peppers

First opened in 1975 in Dallas, TX, Chili’s Grill & Bar is a casual dining restaurant chain serving what it calls “a variety of Southwestern-inspired, classic American and international tastes” in over 1,500 locations, the majority in the U.S. but with presence in 32 countries. For those who’ve never been into a Chili’s here are the highlights: big menu with lots of times, mediocre to bad food, watered down beer on tap, bad decoration that doesn’t go the full monty with tchotchkes a la TGI, and that’s about it. As far back as October of 2011, a new logo was slowly introduced by Chili’s — which means that I am painfully behind on this one, but better late than never — and in the last eight months about a hundred of the locations have undergone a major remodel with new exteriors and interiors, designed by San Francisco, CA-based Tesser.

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Opinion BY Armin

Meet Don Belisario

Today I am invoking Rule 32, Section C, Paragraph 7 of the Brand New Selection Criteria Guidelines whereby it sort of states that if a project is small or “not mainstream at all” it must have “a very compelling design story.” Located in Lima, Peru, and launched this year, Don Belisario is a restaurant devoted to rotisserie chicken, a popular familial meal in Peru. (And other parts of the world as well; perhaps a lonely meal for a really hungry human being). Designed by local firm and 2011 Brand New Conference fan-favorite, Infinito, the identity for Don Belisario revolves around the eponymous, yet clearly fictitious, hacendado — the Spanish word for the boss, el jefe, of an hacienda, itself the Spanish word for plantation — and patriarch, paying homage to this wonderful food group and its source.

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Opinion BY Armin

Chuck E.’s Makeover

Established in 1977 with its first location in San Jose, CA, Chuck E. Cheese is a chain of restaurants aimed at kids — commonly for their hellish birthday parties — and offers “pizza, a salad bar, appetizers, desserts and a feature musical and comic entertainment by life-size, computer controlled robotic characters, family oriented games, rides, and arcade style activities.” Owned by CEC Entertainment, there are over 500 corporate-owned locations and 50 franchises in 48 states of the U.S. and seven other countries. As AP reports, Chuck E. Cheese has been having a rough year and is looking to boost sales. Chuck E. — the restaurant’s mascot since the beginning — to the rescue! Unveiled earlier this month, the rodent has gotten a drastic makeover, as drawn by Chris Ayers, and will be the focus of a new advertising campaign by The Richards Group.

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A B-Side BY Armin

Buffalo Wild Wings

Established in 1981 in Columbus, OH, Buffalo Wild Wings is a casual dining restaurant and sports bar franchise with over 800 locations across the United States. A new logo has been introduced and plans for new restaurant designs have been set for 2013. Story here. Bigger view of the logo and rendering of a new restaurant entrance below (or after the jump). No design credit given or press release issued.

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A B-Side BY Armin

Panchero’s Mexican Grill

Established in 1992, Panchero’s Mexican Grill is a fast-casual Tex-Mex restaurant chain with 50 locations across the U.S. with plans to open 65 new franchises by end of 2013. All those potential burritos — rolled with tortillas handmade on the spot — need to attract franchisers so a new identity has been designed by Madiscon, WI-based Planet Propaganda. More story here. A secondary badge is shown below (or after the jump).

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