This year, QSR magazine introduced Fast Casual FutureMakers, a new annual report showcasing brands and founders pushing the category forward in real time. The 2026 class features three emerging concepts, each representing a different path to growth and innovation. First up was Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks, recognized as the “Rising FutureMaker” for its purpose-driven expansion and disciplined approach to scaling. (Read more here) Next was Greenlane, awarded the “Disruptor FutureMaker” for its work in the drive-thru salad space (Read more here) The final entry is La La Land Kind Cafe, named our “Community FutureMaker.” *** Francois Reihani was just 20 years old when he opened his first restaurant. After transferring to Southern Methodist University in Dallas, the entrepreneurial-spirited student built a quick-service poke concept from scratch. He secured backing from friends and family, recruited a chef from Nobu, and landed a spot in one of the city’s busiest centers. The restaurant was packed from day one, and by most measures, it was a major success. Still, Reihani found himself confronting a hard question: Was he actually happy? “It felt like my life was all about making a bunch of money,” he says. “As much as I loved the hospitality side of things, it just wasn’t very fulfilling.” That unease led Reihani to get involved with Dallas CASA, an organization supporting kids in foster care, at the suggestion of a friend. At his first meeting, the discussion centered on youth aging out of the system. The first speaker was a young man who described being…
