Lakewood Ranch-Based Restaurant Chain Growing Strong

Sarasota Herald-Tribune:

Amid an economy that has cut into consumers’ ability to dine out, First Watch Restaurants Inc. is growing — aggressively.

In the past two years alone, the Lakewood Ranch-based breakfast-to-brunch chain has pushed into new markets in Indiana, Tennessee, Ohio and Oklahoma, and it is making further strides into Florida.

First Watch — which bills itself as “the largest and fastest-growing daytime-only restaurant chain in the United States” — intends to open 10 new restaurants next year, including one locally at the corner of Bee Ridge and Cattlemen roads.