Bobby Flay's burger joint chain eyes Tampa for next location

Tampa is going to be "targeted" by Bobby's Burgers, a restaurant chain backed by Chef Bobby Flay, and it is looking for skilled franchisees in the Tampa Bay region.

The burger chain, with six stores now, says it has decided Tampa is a key spot in their international franchise plan.

The burger chain has three locations in Las Vegas, one in Atlantic City, one in New York City and one in New Orleans. A seventh will open soon in Phoenix.

"Tampa is an ideal market for Bobby’s Burgers, and we're ready to give residents the ultimate burger experience," says Michael McGill, president of Intelligration Capital BB, the franchising company for Bobby's Burgers, in a Wednesday news release. "We have created a concept that was designed by restaurant operators for restaurant operators. It is scalable and positioned for multi-unit growth, while keeping franchisee profitability and restaurant level efficiencies at the forefront."

McGill says the capital firm is seeking experienced operators "to help deliver a consistent, ultimate burger experience every time."

Bobby’s Burgers leans into Flay’s "love of Americana and represents the many places and cultures throughout the United States where he has enjoyed living and traveling," according to the capital firm.

Tampa will be part of the brand's growth plan of selectively targeting U.S. and international markets, the firm says. The concept will be a "quick and convenient restaurant format offering both to-go and drive-thru ordering, with accessible price points that do not sacrifice quality." 

The six Bobby’s Burger's restaurants have shown strong sales performances, the firm says. The other growth markets for the brand include Salt Lake City, Dallas, Houston, Austin, Orlando and South Florida.

But first, the growing chain has to find the right candidates. The firm says it wants prospective franchisees to be "creative problem solvers ... able to build connections and have a sense of culture and family."

The firm says it will offer franchisee support through marketing plans, ongoing operational support, training programs, real estate and construction assistance, as well as purchasing power.