“Daytime Café” continues aggressive growth strategy in home state
Award-winning Breakfast, Brunch and Lunch restaurant First Watch has announced plans to open its first restaurant in North Port, Fla., in the summer of 2014. The restaurant will employ approximately 25 people.
The new 3,500-square-foot restaurant, located at 17739 South Tamiami Trail in Cocoplum Village, will occupy space within a freestanding outparcel building and feature a patio for outdoor dining. Currently, there are 42 First Watch restaurants in Florida.
News of the North Port restaurant follows two other recent announcements for new restaurants in Florida in Deerfield Beach and Sea Ranch Lakes, both scheduled to open this spring.
“The First Watch brand has grown tremendously since we relocated our headquarters to Sarasota 27 years ago,” said Chris Tomasso, chief marketing officer for First Watch. “It seems only natural that we continue to expand our presence and bring our unique offerings, fresh flavorful ingredients and relaxed atmosphere to the North Port community.”
The new restaurant in North Port features an interior design concept known as “Connect.” It connects traditional First Watch design elements with contemporary executions by maximizing natural light and incorporating color tones that convey the warm and inviting personality of the brand. The design also accentuates an open-kitchen concept, which reinforces First Watch’s honest approach to fresh food preparation.
A recipient of more than 200 “Best Of” accolades in markets across the country, the restaurant features traditional favorites including pancakes, omelets, salads and sandwiches, as well as signature specialties such as the Chickichanga, Healthy Turkey Omelet and Fresh Fruit Crepes. All menu items are freshly prepared to order and the restaurant does not use deep fryers or heat lamps.
In addition to serving unique and fresh entrées, First Watch offers its exclusive Sunrise Select Premium Blend Coffee. The special blend is made from slow-roasted, hand-selected, high-grown coffee beans from mountains across the Americas.
First Watch serves its entire menu seven days a week from 7 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. The restaurant also offers guests complimentary newspapers and free Wi-Fi Internet access.
For First Watch franchise information, please visit http://www.firstwatch.com/franchise/.
First Watch specializes in award-winning, made-to-order Breakfast, Brunch and Lunch. A recipient of more than 200 “Best Breakfast” and “Best Brunch” accolades, First Watch offers traditional favorites, such as omelets, pancakes, sandwiches and salads, and unique specialty items like the fan-favorite Chickichanga and Fresh Fruit Crepes. Named a 2013 “Next 20” emerging brand by Nation’s Restaurant News, First Watch is currently the largest daytime-only restaurant concept in the U.S. with more than 115 restaurants in 16 states and additional units under development as part of the Bradenton, Fla.-based company’s aggressive growth strategy. It also operates 20 restaurants under The Good Egg name in Arizona, bringing its total unit count to 137. For more information, visit www.firstwatch.com.
