DALLAS — Corner Bakery Cafe has signed an agreement to open seven new locations in the South Texas region in less than five years. The agreement with restaurateur Bernardo Castillon would bring the total number of planned franchise locations up to 45 in Texas, which already has 23 company-owned and franchised Corner Bakery Cafe locations. Mr. Castillon’s first cafe will open in McAllen, Texas, in 2012, with six additional locations planned for Corpus Christi, Laredo, Brownsville and Harlingen.

“What sold me on Corner Bakery Cafe was a combination of three things: the culinary innovation and ingredient-inspired food, the well-organized operating system, and the top-notch management team,” said Mr. Castillon, owner and principal of MX Restaurants and Bakeries, Inc. “Their ability to maintain both food quality and brand image across 121 national locations is quite impressive, and the bakery cafe concept is a perfect fit for my region of Texas that is missing this kind of dining experience. Signing a franchise agreement is like committing to a long-term relationship, and I’m confident this relationship will grow well beyond these first seven cafes.”

Corner Bakery Cafe has plans to open more company-owned locations in Dallas/Fort Worth and will be introducing the brand to the Austin market in 2012.