Here’s what Portillo’s could mean for retail near Disney
Portillo’s has a timeline to open its first local restaurant in metro Orlando.
The Oak Brook, Illinois-based chain will open its 7,800-square-foot location at 7715 Palm Parkway at the $1 billion O-Town West mixed-use development on March 2, according to an announcement by the company. Portillo’s menu is known for Chicago-style hot dogs, famous Italian beef sandwiches and its famous chocolate cake.
“We’re thrilled to expand our presence in Florida and be part of such an iconic community,” Portillo’s CEO Michael Osanloo said in a prepared statement. “This new restaurant will allow us to bring Portillo’s to long-time fans and first-time guests in the Orlando area, as well as serve the many tourists in one of the country’s most popular destinations.”
The chain is hiring for the new location, and job listings can be found here. The chain usually hires roughly 150 people per restaurant.
Chuck Whittall, president of O-Town West developer Unicorp National Developments Inc., told Orlando Business Journal that the restaurant could serve as a draw to additional retail tenants, including those that are new to market. For example, Columbus, Ohio-based White Castle broke ground in November on a restaurant which will be the first White Castle to open in Florida in several decades. Construction on that is expected to wrap up in spring 2021.
Chuck Whittall, president, Unicorp National Developments Inc.
The new Portillo’s and White Castle locations are part of the Village at O-Town West, which is still under development. That section of the project is located near a number of future retail tenants — including restaurants like World of Beer, Tijuana Flats and Burger-Fi — that make up another part of O-Town called Crossings at O-Town West.
Geoff Luebkemann, senior vice president for the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, told OBJ that restaurants with strong cash reserves or access to financing may see opportunities for expansion despite the struggles the industry has had due to the pandemic.
Florida still remains attractive for companies looking to expand outside of their major market or open a pilot location, Luebkemann said. “While we have seen the breaks pump for some, those with a longview know that in Q3 or Q4 [of 2021] we may see a turnaround.
There will still be a competition for the “off premises dining” customers through the next few years and across all segments such as quick service and fast casual concepts to conventional sit-down, on-site dining establishments, he added.
Portillo’s will now have three restaurants in Florida, including others in Tampa and Brandon. It has more than 60 eateries across several states. The chain was not immediately available for comment regarding more locations in Central Florida.