First Watch opens two locations in region, with plans for two more

East Manatee County-based daytime dining concept First Watch plans to expand in and around its headquarters, with two new locations in each Manatee and Hillsborough counties. 

The new locations include one at 2326 W. Brandon Blvd. in Brandon, a 160-seat restaurant that opened Monday, and 1520 Cortez Road W. in Bradenton, a 190-seat restaurant scheduled to open Dec. 11. The other locations, expected to open by next summer, are in Lakewood Ranch along State Road 70 and Lorraine Road and another one in Downtown Tampa, according to a statement.

The four new First Watch locations will bring the company’s total in the Greater Tampa Bay region to 35. First Watch, publicly traded on the Nasdaq exchange under the symbol FWRG, had $730.16 million in revenue in 2022. The company’s headquarters is in a Benderson Development office park off Interstate 75 and University Parkway. 

“Almost 40 years ago, our founders Ken Pendery and John Sullivan brought First Watch to this region in pursuit of sunshine and something new, and ever since, this community has embraced us with open arms,” First Watch Chief Brand Officer Matt Eisenacher says in the statement. “Our newest restaurants, with their expansive patios and indoor-outdoor bars, promise to level up our brunch occasion and stand as the best taste of what’s to come in the year ahead."

First Watch serves its entire menu seven days a week from 7 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. for pickup, delivery and dine-in service. Together, these four new restaurants will employ approximately 120 people while operating on a one-shift a day, “No Night Shifts Ever” approach that, the company says, “enables its teams to enjoy their evenings and build a better quality of life.”

Interested applicants are encouraged to apply on FirstWatch.com. 

A recipient of hundreds of local "Best Breakfast" and "Best Brunch" accolades, First Watch's chef-driven menu includes elevated executions of classic favorites along with specialties such as the Quinoa Power Bowl, Farm Stand Breakfast Tacos, Avocado Toast, Chickichanga, Morning Meditation (juiced in-house daily), Spiked Lavender Lemonade and its signature Million Dollar Bacon. In 2023, First Watch was recognized as the top restaurant brand in Yelp’s inaugural list of the top 50 most-loved brands in the U.S. There are more than 500 First Watch restaurants in 29 states.