Does a Hot Concept Award Lead to Long-Term Success?

Since 1995, Nations Restaurant News has been running a popularity contest to award talented entrepreneurs with The Hot Concept of the year award. With 95 past winners, how many are still operating? How many have achieved their goals? How many have been sold and how many are still hot?

Each year the editors of Nation's Restaurant News select the six emerging restaurant brands that have distinguished themselves as Hot Concepts!, the fast-growing, financially proven overachievers that are on their way to becoming tomorrow's giants. A seventh is selected as the Hot! Again Award winner for restoring sizzle to a long-established concept.


The 2007 Hot Concepts! Award Winners will be recognized during
a lively evening at the Nation's Restaurant News Hot Concepts! Celebration. The high-energy presentation & celebration will take place at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, California on September 29, 2007.

Past Winners since 1995

So, share your thoughts on history...do you agree with NRN for 2007? Also, who will be in the class of 2008, and why?