Florida Restaurant Roundup! (2/11/26)
Here are all the restaurants we interviewed last week.
Thank you for tuning into this week's roundup of upcoming businesses in Florida. Counties are listed alphabetically.
We interviewed each restaurant owner last week to bring you the info below. If you have questions or want to suggests a news tip, comment below!
Alachua County
The Egyptian Cafe
GAINESVILLE, FL — The Egyptian Cafe is preparing to open at 21 SE 2nd Pl, Gainesville, FL 32601, introducing an Egyptian dining concept led by longtime restaurateur Mohey Osman. Osman told Business Debut he is targeting a late February opening, pending final licensing approvals.
DJ’s Cast Iron Burgers
GAINESVILLE, FL – DJ’s Cast Iron Burgers is preparing to open its first brick-and-mortar location this March at 5141 NW 43rd Street, Suite 106, Gainesville, FL 32606. The restaurant is co-owned by Jose Nieves and his business partner, Miguel Cardona, and follows several years of operating as a food truck in the community. Nieves told Business Debut the team is targeting an opening in about five to six weeks.
X-Golf
GAINESVILLE, FL — X-Golf, an indoor golf simulator venue with a full bar and kitchen, is targeting an opening during the first week of March at 4781 Celebration Pointe Ave, Ste 30, Gainesville, FL 32608, owner Timothy Dean told Business Debut. The Celebration Pointe location will bring six simulator bays to the market, including five in the main space and one private bay designed for groups or events.
Broward County
CVI.CHE 105
SUNRISE, FL — CVI.CHE 105 is opening its seventh South Florida location at 105 Sawgrass Mills Mall, 12801 W Sunrise Blvd, Sunrise, FL 33323, bringing its Peruvian dining concept to one of the most visited shopping destinations in the world, founder Juan Chipoco told Business Debut. The restaurant will host a friends-and-family opening on February 12, followed by a public opening on February 13.
Midori
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Japanese restaurant concept Midori is planning a July opening at 640 NW 7th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311, according to owner Álvaro Perez Miranda, who told Business Debut the restaurant will be located inside the Arcadian apartment development.
Monster Burger
DAVIE, FL — Monster Burger, the South Florida burger concept known for its oversized menu items and long-running food trucks, is planning to open its first brick and mortar restaurant at 2325 S. University Dr., Davie, FL 33324. Owner Claudia Montoya told Business Debut the team is targeting a mid-March opening, with a tentative date of March 15, 2026.
Citrus County
Bowl 360
HOMOSASSA, FL - Bowl 360 is bringing a new family-focused bowling and entertainment venue to Homosassa, with owner Danny Mohabir targeting a mid-February to early March 2026 opening at 3655 S. Suncoast Blvd., Homosassa, FL 34448. Mohabir, who owns the business with his wife, Shelly Mohabir, told Business Debut the project is designed to bring bowling back to a community that has been without a local center for years.
Dixie County
Croft Seafood
OLD TOWN, FL — Croft Seafood is expanding its local seafood operation with the launch of a new food truck in Old Town, targeting a February opening, owner Hope Croft told Business Debut. The truck will be based at 159 SE 864th Ave, Old Town, FL 32680, and will operate throughout Dixie, Levy and Gilchrist counties, with occasional service in Citrus County, bringing fresh, locally sourced seafood to communities across the region focusing on communities with limited daytime dining options.
Duval County
Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream
JACKSONVILLE, FL - A new Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream scoop shop is in the works for Jacksonville’s Five Points neighborhood, with a locally owned franchise targeting a spring opening at 1027 Park St, Jacksonville, FL 32204. Owner Justin Renaldo told Business Debut the team is currently awaiting city permits and is aiming to open in late April or early May.
Hard Pressed Burgers
JACKSONVILLE, FL — Hard Pressed Burgers is preparing to open its first brick-and-mortar location at 1636 Hendricks Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32207. Co-owner Justin Paala told Business Debut the team does not have a set opening date yet but is targeting March, as build-out work continues.
Highlands County
Agape Family Farms
SEBRING, FL - Agape Family Farms plans to reopen Saturday, March 14, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at 631 Schlosser Rd, Sebring, FL 33875, owner Frank Izquierdo told Business Debut. The family-run farm is opening its gates to the public under Florida’s agritourism statutes, pairing an on-farm visit with what Izquierdo described as a “farm to table” food offering built around “fresh straight from the ground… pesticide-free and just full of flavor.”
Levy County
Sweet Creamery
CHIEFLAND, FL - Sweet Creamery, a new ice cream shop owned by Asha Chaudhari, is planning to open February 10 at 2202 N. Young Blvd., Suite 502, Chiefland, FL 32626, just ahead of Valentine’s Day. Chaudhari told Business Debut the shop will bring a wide range of ice cream flavors and toppings to the area, marking her first business venture.
Read the full article here.
Manatee County
Jasmine Dragon
PALMETTO, FL — Jasmine Dragon, a new boba tea shop, is preparing to open at 6813 Buffalo Rd. #103, Palmetto, FL 34221. Owner Vivian Chan told Business Debut the shop is targeting a March opening, introducing a range of Taiwanese-inspired bubble tea and specialty drinks to the area.
Miami-Dade County
Juici Patties
MIAMI, FL — Juici Patties is bringing its well-known Jamaican patty concept to South Miami later this year. Franchisee Ryan Chin told Business Debut the fast-casual restaurant is targeting a December opening at 11257 SW 152 St, Miami, FL 33157.
Orange County
Takami Sushi
APOPKA, FL - Takami Sushi is preparing to open a new full-service Japanese restaurant at 2565 Ocoee Apopka Rd., Suite A, Apopka, FL 32703. Owner Yan Chen told Business Debut the restaurant is targeting an early April opening.
Article coming soon.
Palm Beach County
Garden Butcher
WEST PALM BEACH, FL - Garden Butcher, the gourmet prepared food market and cafe founded by Erin Leeds, is preparing to open two new Florida locations this year, beginning with a downtown West Palm Beach location at Gardenia Street and Olive Street. Leeds told Business Debut the West Palm Beach location is targeting an opening in the first week of April. The second new location is planned for The Lotus at 1385 South State Rd 7, Wellington, FL 33411, with an opening targeted for Sept. 1.
Pasco County
5PM Moments
NEW PORT RICHEY, FL - 5PM Moments, a new Asian fusion bento concept from owner Yunzhong Chen, is targeting a March opening at 8528 Ridge Rd, New Port Richey, FL 34654, Chen told Business Debut. The restaurant is designed to offer convenient, healthier meals for families and working professionals at the end of the day.
Pinellas County
Birria King Food Truck
ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Birria King Food Truck, a new mobile concept focused on slow-braised birria dishes, is planning a soft opening on Friday, February 7, from 1 p.m. — 9 p.m. at Outcast Brewing Company in St. Petersburg. Owner Moe Alaraj told Business Debut the truck will primarily serve the St. Petersburg and Tampa areas, with additional appearances at private events and pop-ups.
Sarasota County
Hob Nob Drive In
SARASOTA, FL — Hob Nob Drive In is targeting a late March opening at 1701 N. Washington Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34234. Dimitris Syros, owner of Breakfast Company, told Business Debut the project is led by his stepfather and business partner, Troy King, who is the majority owner and driving force behind bringing the restaurant back.
St. John's County
Zaria Simply Mediterranean
SAINT AUGUSTINE, FL – Zaria Simply Mediterranean, a Kurdish-Middle Eastern counter-service restaurant from sisters Nina Taha, Bella Kestey and Bemal Taha, is targeting a March opening at 415 S. Ponce de Leon Blvd., Saint Augustine, FL 32084. Nina Taha told Business Debut the team is working through city approvals and contractor timelines and hopes to open “in the next few months or so.”
More openings in Gainesville
Georgia Business Roundup! (2/10/26)
Here are the restaurants we wrote about in Georgia last week.
Gainesville Food Truck Going Bring and Mortar Soon
DJ's Cast Iron Burgers will debut in five to six weeks in their brick and mortar location.
Local Pizza Favorite Adding Second Spot in Gainesville
Atlas Pizza is expanding with a second Gainesville location focused on pickup, delivery, and a streamlined menu.
Golf Simulator and Bar Concept Opening in Gainesville
X-Golf is bringing indoor golf simulators, a full bar, and a sports-bar-style menu to Gainesville.
Egyptian Dining Concept Opening in Gainesville
The Egyptian Cafe is targeting a late February opening, bringing traditional Egyptian dining to downtown Gainesville.
New Pizzeria Replacing City Park Pizza in Gainesville
Roma New York Pizzeria has plans for Gainesville.
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