Year in review: Top 5 Orlando restaurant industry stories of 2022
Orlando Business Journal readers often are interested in which restaurant brands are coming to town or expanding their presence here, but an ongoing lawsuit generated the most reader engagement in 2022.
Red Robin International Inc.’s lawsuit filed in Orange County against the Winter Garden Village shopping center’s ownership group was the most-read restaurant industry story of the year.
Why this matters: The restaurant and hospitality industry represents a crucial component of the local economy, and big news within the sector — good or bad — can serve as an important bellwether for the region’s employment market.
Winter Garden Village at Fowler Groves is a 1.14 million-square-foot shopping center in Winter Garden.
A dispute over an option to extend a lease at one of the region’s most popular shopping centers led to legal action in Orange County. Red Robin International Inc. sued Winter Garden Village shopping center owner DDR Winter Garden LLC over what it alleged was the defendant’s refusal to honor its lease-extension requests at 3310 Daniels Road for three to five more years — an option guaranteed in the original 10-year lease, signed in 2012, per court documents. The defendant countered it never received the alleged correspondence; it reached out to Red Robin about renewing and heard nothing back; and the tenant should have vacated the space at the beginning of December.
Chicago’s Potbelly restaurant chain to enter Orlando
Potbelly Sandwich Shop plans to open its first restaurant in Orlando.
Chicago-based Potbelly Corp., a growing chain of sandwich shops, in November announced a multidevelopment deal to bring six restaurants to Orlando during the next seven years. The neighborhood sandwich shop-style concept features antique potbelly stoves in select stores and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Jack in the Box fast-food restaurant chain plans Orlando market entry
Jack in the Box may serve up hungry customers in Florida soon. JACK IN THE BOX
San Diego-based Jack in the Box, one of the more popular fast-food brands on the country’s West Coast and in Texas, is eyeing a Florida market entry with an emphasis on Orlando, a brand executive told Orlando Business Journal in September. The chain is actively seeking franchisees in the metro area.
White Castle, Portillo’s to expand in Orlando
White Castle opened in Orlando in May 2021.
In April, two restaurant brands with loyal followings and Midwestern roots announced plans to double down on metro Orlando. Columbus, Ohio-based White Castle and Illinois-based Portillo’s — chains famous for their mini hamburger sliders and Chicago-style hot dogs, respectively — each will open new eateries in the region. Both chains debuted locally at Unicorp National Development Inc.’s $1 billion-plus O-Town West mixed-use complex.
6 Orlando eateries that will open soon
Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken’s biscuits and gravy is served five ways.
A flurry of eateries in late 2022 announced plans to open soon in the Orlando area, including Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken, The Dolly Llama Waffle Master, Cowboy Chicken, a pair of coffee shops and The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill.