First Watch to open new Tampa Bay location

BRADENTON — As part of its aggressive growth strategy, First Watch announced plans to open a new restaurant in the Tampa Bay area this summer. The breakfast-lunch chain says it will build a restaurant at 11305 Causeway Blvd., in Brandon. The new location will employ about 25 people, First Watch says in a release.

The Brandon restaurant will be one of two freestanding outparcel locations in Florida for the chain. According to a release, the new 3,400-square-foot eatery will be located in the Lake Brandon Village shopping center in a building previously occupied by Blinds To Go. The shopping center also includes Lowe's, Sports Authority and buybuy Baby.

“Over the years, we have received more requests to open a restaurant in Brandon than any other area,” Chris Tomasso, First Watch chief marketing officer, says in a release. “We have a long history in the Tampa Bay area and have been fortunate to have built a tremendously loyal following that we are confident will carry over to this new restaurant in Brandon.”