First Watch to grow in Colorado and Kentucky

UNIVERSITY PARK — The rapid expansion continues at breakfast-brunch-lunch chain First Watch, with future openings recently announced for Denver and Lexington, Ky.

The Denver store, the University Park-based chain's first Colorado location, is expected to open later this year, according to a release. Other locations in the state will follow, including one in Colorado Springs, under a multi-unit development agreement with Fresh Start Colorado LLC. Rich Boyle, a restaurant developer with 30 years in the industry, runs Fresh Start Colorado along with prominent local real estate developer Bill Schuck, First Watch says in the release.

“We are very excited to bring such an exceptional brand like First Watch to Colorado,” Boyle says in the statement.

First Watch also announced it will open a third location in the Lexington area. That restaurant will be in a 3,700-square-foot outparcel building in front of a Hobby Lobby and Sportsman's Warehouse, the company says. The new location is part of a multi-unit franchise agreement with Holland Rosen Group LLC, which plans to open eight First Watch restaurants throughout Lexington and Louisville by 2016.

“We are thrilled to continue expanding our partnership with First Watch in Lexington and look forward to bringing the community surrounding Hamburg Place this unique dining concept,” Gary Holland of Holland Rosen Group says in the statement.

First Watch operates more than 115 restaurants in 16 states and 20 restaurants under The Good Egg name in Arizona.