If there are hardly any businesses of your preference in your town or area, write to the companies that you like. Tell them what properties in your town would be a good location for one of their restaurants, etc. Tell them about the traffic you get through your town and when (tourists, etc.) and other events your town holds and when. Tell them how close your town is to the next biggest city. I did this with Long John Silver's restaurant for a couple of years. We now have one in our town. Good Luck!
I worked in commercial real estate for several years. I just want to add that if you write the companies and nothing happens for a year or more, that is the normal pace of negotiations for a standard commercial real estate transaction. Even if they start planning the day they receive your first letter, it could be several months before they even break ground and several more before they open. When you write your letters, don't get upset that nothing has happened; just be pleasant and complimentary and say how much you wish they were in your area.
