First Watch Restaurants Inc., a daytime-only restaurant group based in Bradenton, Fla., has begun franchising.
Founded in 1983, the chain has about 80 restaurants open with expectations for 110 by 2012.
The restaurants are open 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and store sales average about $1.2 million. Same-store sales were expected to be up 3 to 5 percent in 2009 and total sales up about $2 million to $85 million (the company reports 25 consecutive years of same-store growth). First Watch is looking for franchisees to develop areas near its existing markets, including Kansas City, St. Louis, Cincinnati-Dayton, and Orlando-Tampa.