US seafood restaurant chain Captain D's has signed a new franchise development agreement that will take the brand into Utah for the first time.

The deal with MH & Sons Enterprises, led by Maqsood Merchant, a seasoned multi-unit operator with more than 15 years of industry experience, includes the development of three new restaurants in Salt Lake City, the westernmost point for any store in the company's history.

Based in Salt Lake City, Merchant's has owned and operated several Quiznos and Popeyes restaurants, as well as 7-Eleven convenience stores and gas stations throughout the market. This new agreement marks his first with Captain D's, and his first location is slated to open in Pleasant Grove, Utah, late next summer.

Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Captain D's operates more than 530 fast-casual seafood restaurants in 22 states.

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