RestaurantData analysis of 3,381 planned locations identifies first expansions as the largest cohort while tracking regional operators through later milestones. By RestaurantDataA restaurant’s second location remains the most common step in emerging-brand expansion, but the 2026 pipeline extends well beyond first-time multi-unit operators. Each example represents the planned location attached to the stated transition; the examples are not rankings or predictions of future performance. Texas leads with 606 planned locations, followed by California with 514, Florida with 372 and New York with 247. American cuisine is the largest recorded cuisine category with 695 planned locations, followed by Mexican and Latin concepts with 428.