Tijuana Flats is looking to turn up the heat on expansion, meaning more restaurants in Central Florida and elsewhere.
After launching a revamped restaurant design at a new location near Mall at Millenia, Tijuana Flats vice president of real estate Perry Jones said it plans to ramp up growth to 15 new locations a year. That could soon grow to 20 stores.
As part of that, the fast-casual Mexican food eatery is opening restaurants this year in ChampionsGate, Celebration and St. Augustine.
“Our biggest challenge is a very hot retail market,” Jones said. “The challenge for every fast-casual brand out there right now is space availability.”
Tijuana Flats brought in a new private equity partner 18 months ago, AUA Private Equity Partners, to help with growth.
Tijuana Flats is known for its funky restaurants with bright colors and hand-painted murals. Jones said a new, brighter store design will give it a more polished look while keeping the overall look.
The company will also be pushing remodels at restaurants where leases are set to expire, he said.
New restaurants are also planned in Virginia and other states neighboring Florida.
Boutique home-improvement retailer Orchard Supply Hardware will open its first Orlando-area location at the Bayhill Plaza shopping center Tuesday, Feb. 14.
The chain, owned by Lowe’s, is opening three locations in the area in 2017. Orchard Supply stores focus on smaller home-improvement projects as well as work spaces for budding craftsmen and women.
The 36,000-square-foot stores are less than one-third the size of a traditional Lowe’s Home Improvement location.
Another store is under construction on U.S. 17-92 in Winter Park and a third is slated for Orlando Fashion Square.
The Bayhill Plaza Orchard Supply will take the place of a former K-Mart site on Turkey Lake Road north of Sand Lake Road.
Florida Mall added Casa Febus Home Design to the shopping center.
The store opened on Friday. The 4,576-square-foot store sells housing products and furniture accessories.
The retailer is based in Puerto Rico. It also has stores at Altamonte Mall and in Pembroke Pines.
Reel Fish Coastal Kitchen and Bar has made its debut at the former Ravenous Pig restaurant location at 1234 N. Orange Ave. in Winter Park.
The restaurant from industry veteran Fred Thimm sells seafood and small plates with dishes such as roasted oysters and pecan-crusted trout. Reel Fish also sells sandwiches, salads and has a wine menu.
Displaced Artegon tenant Gods & Monsters will open at a new home nearby on Feb. 25. The new location for the retailer is 5421 International Drive, in the same shopping center as the Adidas Outlet store.
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In this week’s Central Florida Food Minute, the Orlando Sentinel’s Kyle Arnold and Lauren Delgado talk about Paddlefish reopening in Disney Springs, Bad As’s Sandwiches opening in the Milk District of Orlando, Rock & Brews opening in April in Lee Vista Promenade this April and Ben & Jerry’s opening in Winter Park.
In this week’s Central Florida Food Minute, the Orlando Sentinel’s Kyle Arnold and Lauren Delgado talk about Paddlefish reopening in Disney Springs, Bad As’s Sandwiches opening in the Milk District of Orlando, Rock & Brews opening in April in Lee Vista Promenade this April and Ben & Jerry’s opening in Winter Park.
Disney Springs, expanding restaurants and more on Central Florida Food Minute
Disney Springs, expanding restaurants and more on Central Florida Food Minute
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