The deal with Thomas & King Inc., based in Lexington, KY, gives the Carino concept a foothold in the Midwest. So far, the restaurants are in the southwest, west and Georgia. Thomas & King owns and operates 80 Applebee's and one Huddle House restaurant. The companies did not disclose how many Carino's Thomas & King plans to develop.

Founded in 1988, Thomas & King opened its first restaurant in Lexington the same year and moved across the Ohio River with its first Ohio restaurant in 1989. Besides the Ohio Valley, it also operates restaurants in Arizona, Missouri, Indiana and Illinois.

Fired Up also announced it will open a Carino's restaurant in Waxahachie, TX next week in a building with a new look. It will have an entry for pick-up orders and a stone-and-brick chimney element replacing the covered patio. The company's restaurants are free-standing buildings of about 6,000 sf and positioned in retail centers.