Fuzzy's Taco Shop Launches into Florida with 20+ Restaurants

Texas-based Fuzzy's Taco Shop, the award-winning, fast-casual Baja-style Mexican restaurant franchise famous for its addictive Baja soft tacos and all-day breakfast, announced four new multi-unit development agreements that will bring the "Fresh, Fast, Fun" restaurant concept to Florida this summer. The agreements call for opening more than 20 new Fuzzy's Taco Shops in the Sarasota, Tampa, Orlando and Fort Myers areas over the next six years. Today, there are 79 Fuzzy's Taco Shops in nine states: Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Georgia, Arizona, Louisiana and Nebraska.

"We are thrilled to officially announce these four new franchise owners, who will bring more than 20 Fuzzy's Taco Shops to Florida." "Florida is ripe and ready to embrace our Baja-style Tex-Mex cuisine that's freshly made from scratch and served with fun frozen drinks or ice-cold beer at an affordable price in a casual atmosphere," said Fuzzy's Taco Shop's Senior Vice President of Franchise Paul Rickels. "We are thrilled to officially announce these four new franchise owners, who will bring more than 20 Fuzzy's Taco Shops to Florida." Fuzzy's Taco Shop started awarding franchise agreements in 2008 and today has 72 franchise locations along with seven company-owned restaurants.

SARASOTA AREA: The first Fuzzy's Taco Shop in the Sunshine State will be in Manatee County at 2515 University Parkway, Sarasota, FL, 34243, and is expected to be open by July of this year. New franchisee David Hunt, a former director of operations for the restaurant chain Applebees, expects to open four or more locations in the Sarasota/Manatee Counties over the next couple of years.

TAMPA BAY AREA: Expansion into the Tampa market will be led by a family-run franchisee. The husband, wife, and brother team have returned to their hometown of Tampa to open their first Fuzzy's Taco Shop before the end of this year. Ian and Adam Lieberman, with Adam's wife J-Ray, expect to open at least five Fuzzy's Taco Shops in the Tampa Bay Area over the next six years.

ORLANDO AREA: Austin, Texas, natives Catherine and Christopher Franklin were awarded a Fuzzy's Taco Shop franchise that allows them to open a minimum of five restaurants in the Orlando area over the next five years. With the goal of opening their first location by this September, they are actively looking at a couple of locations that allow a liquor license and 3,500 square feet plus room for patio.

FORT MYERS including Naples, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, & Punta Gordo: Entrepreneur and independent restaurant owner John Browder and his wife Kathy just signed a Fuzzy's Taco Shop franchise agreement this month, and expect to open two locations in the Fort Myers area before the end of this year, with three or more to open over the next couple of years.

Each new Florida location will require 25 - 30 employees. Prospective employees are encouraged to download an application from fuzzystacoshop.com, and take it into their local Fuzzy's Taco Shop, and speak with a member of the management team.

With an average check of $11-$12, Fuzzy's Taco Shop is known for its casual fun ambiance and generous helpings of uniquely flavorful Baja-style Mexican fare. Fuzzy's menu features its original take on the Baja taco, which is often referred to as "addictive" thanks to the garlic sauce and feta cheese that makes it so distinctive. The restaurants also serve a wide array of handmade enchiladas, jumbo salads, nachos, burritos and its signature white queso and chips, as well as a children's menu, and catering. Fuzzy's Taco Shops are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and most locations offer a generous selection of beer, wine, margaritas and other specialty cocktails, as well as free Wi-Fi and dog-friendly patios. Diners can earn discounts and free menu items via the Fuzzy's Taco Shop "Friends with Benefits" mobile app, available for download on Google Play or via iTunes.

Fuzzy's Taco Shop was recently named to website and mobile app Urbanspoon's annual list of "Top American Eateries for Cheap Eats," and was among the 12 quick-service and fast-casual brands named "Best Franchise Deals" by QSR Magazine in the publication's fifth-annual report.

About Fuzzy's Taco Shop (WWW.FUZZYSTACOSHOP.COM) Founded in 2001 near the TCU campus in Fort Worth, the original Fuzzy's Taco Shop was purchased by Alan and Chuck Bush after just two years of operation. The father-son combination with a collective 20 years of restaurant industry experience initially took a slow, hands-on approach to running the business. They insisted on adhering to the promise: "To focus our full attention on promptly and efficiently providing our guests with generous helpings of uniquely flavorful foods at a fair price in a fun atmosphere." That promise remains central to the chain's success today as Fuzzy's Taco Shop expands across the country. Fuzzy's corporate-owned and franchise locations are now serving fresh, handmade Baja-style Mexican food in 79 stores across nine states, with many more on the way. Fuzzy's Taco Shop is a member of the International Franchise Association and participates in its VetFran Program, which provides special financial incentives to qualified veterans.

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