Orlando's restaurant scene is about to get a fresh wave of new faces. At this year's ICSC@Florida dealmaking conference, several brands — some brand new to the market, others expanding aggressively — made clear that Central Florida is high on their wish lists.
Utah-based "dirty soda" chain Swig is already in motion, with a Hamlin location set to open September 21 and a Golden Eagle Village outpost following in December. Franchise owner Chase Herbert has additional stores in the pipeline near UCF and at Seminole Towne Center, and he's eyeing Lake Nona, Kissimmee and St. Cloud for future spots. A corporate-owned Swig is also planned for Oviedo.
Reno, Nevada-based Port of Subs — known for freshly baked bread and freshly sliced meats and cheeses — is targeting 20 Central Florida locations through regional developers Christopher and Georgia Goddard, who signed on in 2024. The Goddards say they have four letters of intent out and are focusing on Kissimmee, Sanford, the UCF corridor and downtown Orlando, where they see strong catering potential. Meanwhile, 7th Street Burger, the viral New York smash burger concept that has already expanded to Boston, Philadelphia and Washington D.C., told GrowthSpotter it's exploring Florida as a potential market, though no specific plans have been finalized. D.C.-based &Pizza, which serves made-to-order oblong pies in a fast-casual format, is also on the radar.
Existing Orlando-area restaurant real estate is shifting too. Older, large-footprint locations — some topping 6,000 square feet — are giving way to smaller, delivery-friendly formats or being redeveloped entirely. In Maitland, the former Buca di Beppo site has been demolished and will become 8,000 square feet of multi-tenant retail anchored by Giovanni's Pizzeria & Kitchen. Also coming to Maitland's Trelago Market is Naya Comida + Barrita, a coastal Mexican concept from the team behind Agave Azul. In Winter Garden, Seasons 52 is building a new prototype restaurant on the site of the former Macaroni Grille, set to open later this month.
Information for this article was sourced from GrowthSpotter.
