News

Jimmy Hula's opening 1st franchised unit

May 3, 2013

Jimmy Hula's Original Fish Taco restaurant has announced plans to open its first franchised location and third overall unit in Lake Mary, Fla., according to a company press release.

The first corporate-owned unit opened in 2011, in Winter Park, Fla., but the fast casual concept has now entered into two multi-franchise store agreements. The first franchisee has committed to opening four stores in Central Florida, including the Lake Mary location slated to open in July 2013.

The second franchisee has also committed to four locations and will have its first store opened before the end of the year. An individual franchisee has also committed to opening a store in Gainesville, Fla., and the brand is also in talks with developers to open units in Tampa and Palm Beach, Fla. In addition, Jimmy Hula's is searching for a location to open its third corporate store, said Jim Hartman, co-founder of the brand and president of Jimmy Hula's licensing.

"What we do at Jimmy Hula's is unique, and savvy entrepreneurs understand that. Our goal is to open 30 Florida operating stores by the summer of 2016," he said. "Having spent several years as a franchise-operator of national restaurant chains, we understand what success looks like in this arena. There is a lot of excitement about our brand and the opportunity of allowing others to catch the perfect wave."

The restaurant focuses on an eclectic variety of tacos and burgers inspired by Jimmy Hula's surf travels across the globe.

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