New Restaurant Openings: Florida, South Carolina and More
New restaurant openings across Florida, South Carolina, Arkansas, Virginia, and Missouri continue to demonstrate the strength of regional market expansion, with both franchise chains and independent operators launching new concepts. Restaurantdata tracks these new restaurant openings before they launch — giving food-and-beverage sales professionals verified pre-opening leads at the moment operators are making their first vendor and supplier decisions.
Key Expansion Insights
- First Watch expands past 300 locations, continuing its dominant position in the breakfast and lunch fast-casual segment
- South Carolina sees a cluster of new openings across Columbia, Conway, and Charleston
- Florida markets in Ocala and Jacksonville are attracting fast-casual Italian and sandwich concepts
- Quick-serve coffee and smoothie concepts are entering new suburban markets in Virginia and South Carolina
- Independent operators are filling vacated spaces, with Nevado’s Pizza replacing Highway 90 Cafe in Conway, SC
New restaurant opening activity across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic reflects continued demand for casual dining, fast-casual, and specialty food concepts in both urban and suburban markets. Companies using restaurant leads and foodservice leads data monitor these openings to identify new operator relationships before launch day.
Growing Concepts of Multi Unit Operators
The following restaurant concepts have demonstrated measurable unit growth, indicating continued expansion momentum across multiple markets.
University Park, FL-based FIRST WATCH (founded 1983) is opening a new location in Altamonte Springs, FL, growing to over 300 locations. These casual/family American restaurants serve breakfast and lunch with an $8–$20+ per person check average. Seating is for around 100. Locations are franchised and trade in AL, AR, AZ, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, ME, MI, MO, NC, NE, NM, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, WV, and WY.
DONATOS PIZZA opened this month in Knoxville, TN. This fast/casual pizza restaurant serves lunch and dinner with seating for around 60. Check averages range from $6–$15+ per person.
New Openings – Arkansas, Florida, Maryland & Missouri
LITTLE ROCK, AR – JOSH’S GRILL has opened in Little Rock, AR. This fast/casual restaurant serves lunch and dinner with a $6–$15+ per person check average. Seating is for around 50.
OCALA, FL – MORELLI’S PIZZA & SUBS opened in Ocala, FL. This fast/casual Italian restaurant is open for lunch and dinner with a $6–$15+ per person check average. Seating is for around 60.
JACKSONVILLE, FL – JOHN SMITH SUBS is set to open on July 17th in Jacksonville, FL. This fast/casual sandwich spot will serve lunch and dinner with a $6–$15+ per person check average. Seating will be for around 30.
OCEAN CITY, MD – CANTINA LOS AGAVES MEXICAN GRILL is coming to Ocean City, MD this month. This Mexican family-style restaurant will serve lunch and dinner along with full bar service. Check averages will range from $8–$20+ per person.
O’FALLON, MO – DRAKE’S O’FALLON has opened in O’Fallon, MO. This casual Irish bar serves lunch and dinner with seating for around 80. Check averages range from $8–$20+ per person.
New Openings – South Carolina & Virginia
COLUMBIA, SC – BENI HIBACHI is set to open in Columbia, SC. This casual Japanese eatery will serve lunch and dinner along with full bar service. Seating will be for around 100 and check averages will range from $10–$30+ per person.
CONWAY, SC – NEVADO’S PIZZA has replaced Highway 90 Cafe in Conway, SC. This fast/casual Italian restaurant is open for lunch and dinner with a $6–$15+ per person check average. Seating is for around 60.
CHARLESTON, SC – CAFE STONEART has opened in Charleston, SC. This fast/casual smoothie cafe is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a $4–$12+ per person check average. Seating is for around 20.
HAYMARKET, VA – NINETEEN SEVENTY ONE COFFEE is coming soon to Haymarket, VA. This quick-serve coffee spot will be open for breakfast and lunch with a $4–$12+ per person check average. Seating will be for around 20.
Pre-Opening Restaurant Sales Leads
New restaurant openings across Florida, South Carolina, and the broader Southeast continue to deliver consistent pipeline opportunities for foodservice vendors, equipment suppliers, and technology providers. Restaurantdata tracks new restaurant openings across all 50 states and notifies subscribers before concepts launch — giving your sales team verified restaurant leads and pre-opening foodservice leads at the right moment. Request a free demo to see our database in action.