First Watch to expand in North Port

NORTH PORT — The fast growth for new locations continues at First Watch, with the latest expansion coming in the breakfast-brunch-lunch chain's home territory.

That location, according to a release, will be on Tamiami Trail in North Port, in south Sarasota County. First Watch, with a corporate headquarters in east Manatee County, plans to open the restaurant later this summer. The restaurant, a 3,000-square-foot location in the Cocoplum Village shopping center, will have about 25 employees, company officials say. It's a freestanding building and will feature a patio for outdoor dining.

“The First Watch brand has grown tremendously since we relocated our headquarters to Sarasota 27 years ago,” First Watch Chief Marketing Officer Chris Tomasso says in a release. “It seems only natural that we continue to expand our presence and bring our unique offerings, fresh flavorful ingredients and relaxed atmosphere to the North Port community.”

First Watch operates more than 115 restaurants in 16 states, including 42 Florida locations. It also recently acquired the Good Egg, an Arizona-based breakfast-brunch-lunch chain with 20 locations, mostly in the Southwest.