The company's smaller venue, Pei Wei Asian Diner, a limitedservice quick-casual concept, will see the lion's share of openingswith between 36 and 38 new venues breaking ground in Detroit,Tampa, Philadelphia, Boston, and South Florida. Chang's managementsays it also plans to expand the concept in Southern California,Washington, DC, Texas and Arizona. The locally based firm says itwill also develop 19 new Bistro restaurants, its larger, upscalecasual concept.

As part of its marketing effort, Chang's will also spend nearly$2 million this year to test new marketing initiatives for its PeiWei chain, Russell Owens, president of Pei Wei, said in aconference call with analysts. The company says it also hasmarketing plans for its Taneko Japanese Tavern, the first of whichopened in Scottsdale in October. Chang's has primarily relied onword of mouth to market its line of Asian restaurants since thechain opened its first Bistro restaurant in 1993.

The company, which operates 33 Bistros, 78 Pei Wei Asian Dinersand one Taneko Japanese Tavern, says it expects revenue to top $1billion in 2007, a 19% increase over the prior year's figure.Earnings per share are also expected to jump by 17% to $1.45,company officials predict.