FOX 35’s David Martin travels to Orlando, Florida, to visit Tom’s Watch Bar, the new two-story sports bar, restaurant and game room. The restaurant is also upscale because it offers a 360-degree visual experience and world-class perspectives of the rooftops. David had the opportunity to sample their drinks, entrees, entrees, and signature desserts, as well as savor the gastronomic delight.
ORLANDO, Fla. — Recently, a number of new national and regional eateries and fast-food chains have announced their foray into Florida. Some places to eat are even expanding their presence in the country with the announcement of new locations.
This Chicago-based Portillo’s, Cook Out, the Southern staple, and California-based Jack in the Box.
Red Lobster’s bankruptcy threatens closures in major Florida cities such as Orlando, Tampa and Miami
Here’s a look at restaurants that have plans to open soon in Orlando and Florida, as well as some that opened recently:
There are 3 Raising Cane locations open lately in the Orlando area, and a few more are on the way.
Here is a review of the places already open:
The city of Daytona Beach showed in February that a new location would open on International Speedway Boulevard. The popular bird’s-toe-eating spot also showed FOX 35 that two more locations are also in the works, in Winter Park and Altamonte Springs.
In addition, a location near the University of Central Florida is also planned. He will occupy Del Taco on Collegiate Way, directly across from UCF’s main campus.
Here’s where they are and when they open:
Photo by: Raising Cane’s
Jack in the Box announced in February that it would bring 10 spots to Orlando. In early June, the fast-food chain known for its late-night burgers and fries plans to open 10 more locations in the area. There are 20 places that will arrive in Orlando.
It’s not yet clear where those sites will be or when they plan to open.
Jack in the Box sign, Buellton, California (Photo: Geri Lavrov/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
Portillo’s announced on June 18 that it plans to open its seventh location in Florida and its third in Orlando by the end of the year. This new location will be in downtown Waterford Lakes, just south of UCF’s main campus in Orlando.
The Chicago-based chain has been on a roll for months, expanding its presence in Florida. Here’s a review of the six places open lately:
FOX 35 previously reported in September that the network had been given the green light to build another site on Lady Lake along US-27/441. No further details about this location have been announced.
Photo by: Portillo’s
Cook Out, a late-night fast-food chain known for its extensive menu that includes burgers, hot dogs, grills and milkshakes, recently purchased two homes in the Tampa area. These would be the chain’s first North Carolina sites in Florida.
According to Hillsborough County land records, Cook Out purchased two title deeds in Tampa at the following locations:
Cook Out listed those two Florida sites in the “coming soon” tab of its website. It is still known when those sites will open.
Photo by: Dani Medina
California-based Fatburger opened its first Central Florida location in Celebration in February. This is Fatburger’s second location in Florida; the first opened in Riverview, near Tampa.
Photo via Moses Robinson/WireImage
Buc-ee’s has recently opened two in Florida: St. John’s, StAugustine and Daytona Beach.
The media giant informed FOX 35 earlier this month that another location would be opening in Ocala. The 74,000-square-foot location, which is one of the largest outdoor stores in the state of Texas, will soon be built. just off the intersection of Interstate 75 and NW 49th Street.
A spokesperson for the Buc-ee structure said it usually takes about 16 months from the start of work to build a center. This means that this Buc-ee in Ocala could open in mid-2026 following this schedule.
In addition, work is underway at another location in St. Lucia County. The company officially submitted a plan to the county in February for a location at the southeast corner of Indrio Road and Interstate 95 in Fort Pierce. The proposal has not yet been approved.
LUNING, TEXAS – JUNE 12: Buc-ee convenience store is observed on June 12, 2024 in Luling, Texas. La Texas-based convenience store and fuel station, Buc-ee’s, has grown into the largest convenience store in the world with over a hundred fuel pumps and 75,000 square feet of space.
Wawa opened Florida’s first self-driving service in Largo in June. It is at 2530 E. Bay Drive in Largo, about 8 miles southeast of Clearwater, Pinellas County.
This location marks the third Wawa to offer drive-thru service in the United States.
Florida’s first Wawa drive-thru is now open in Largo. (Photo: Wawa)
Friendly’s opened its third Florida location on June 1, near Disney Springs, at 8600 Vineland Ave. #101.
This is one of about a hundred locations in the U. S. The chain closed about two dozen locations in 2022-2023 in the northeastern United States.
MOORESTOWN, NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES – 04/04/2012: Friendly restaurant. (Photo by John Greim/LightRocket Getty Images)
Oregon-based Dutch Bros Coffee opened its first location in Winter Park in late May. It is the third location to open in Florida after its retail stores in Clermont and Davenport.
Photo by: Café Dutch Bros.
Arkansas-based Slim Chickens opened its first location in the Orlando-area Celebration in February, Florida.
Slim Chickens opened its first location in Orlando on Monday, February 26, 2024, in Celebration, Florida. (Photo: Thin Chickens)
Chicago-based Potbelly opened its first Orlando location in January. It’s at 2714 E. Colonial Drive, in Colonial Landing Plaza in the Milk District. It is the fourth place in Florida; the other 3 locations are in the Tampa area.
Photo: Barriga/Brochure
Twelve more Potbelly locations are expected to open in Orlando over the next seven years, the company announced.