Spoleto – My Italian Kitchen, the Rio de Janeiro-based chain of Italian restaurants in Brazil, Mexico and Costa Rica, will open its first location in the United States at the mixed use Plaza on University project in Orlando in Central Florida. Construction has started on the 2260 square foot restaurant at the student housing project across from the University of Central Florida campus for an anticipated January opening. The seating capacity is for about 65 guests. In addition, a second Spoleto restaurant is planned for Winter Park area in the greater Orlando region, anticipated to open by the end of April. “We chose the UCF area because it’s a great demographic for us to reach and capture coming out of the gate,” said John Velasquez, President of Spoleto USA. “Orlando is also a growing city that can propel our brand to future growth throughout the country.” Spoleto has plans to open several company owned and operated units throughout Orlando and the surrounding area. Expansion into other Florida markets is planned before taking the concept to other states. The Spoleto concept combines the fast casual service with the sophistication and gourmet-quality food of a favorite Italian restaurant. Guests can choose from pasta, flatbreads, salads, and soups and interact with a chef to experiment with a variety of fresh, organic when possible ingredients, including 30 toppings, to create their own recipe to their taste and preference. The 15-year old franchise chain places an emphasis on fresh, local, and sustainable ingredients when possible, as well as using healthy cooking techniques. Presently there are about 380 Spoleto restaurants in Brazil, Mexico and Costa Rica. In the United States, the chain targets highly visible end caps, in-line and pad spaces in the 2500 and 3000 square foot range.
CATEGORY: Quick Casual
Chain Name: Spoleto – My Italian Kitchen
Company Name: Spoleto USA
Street Address: 12101 University Blvd., Suite 225, Orlando, Florida 32817
Tel: 407/628-1772 Fax:
Email: Website: www.spoletoitalian.com
Menu Specialty: Pasta, flatbreads, salads, and soups with the option of personalizing a dish with a variety of fresh, organic when possible ingredients, including 30 toppings.
Introduced: Launched in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil by restaurateurs Eduardo Ourivio and Mario Chady.
No. of Locations: About 380 restaurants in Brazil, Mexico and Costa Rica
Areas of Operation: Florida
Types of Location: End caps, In-line locations and pad units
BusinessType (corp., franchise, jv):
Size Req’d: 2500 to 3000 sq.ft.
Special Requirements (patio, drive-thru, etc):
Contact Name: John Velasquez – President, Spoleto USA (johnv@spoletoitalian.com)
REAL ESTATE REPRESENTATIVES:
FRANCHISE REPRESENTATIVES:
PARENT COMPANY: Spoleto, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (www.spoleto.com.br)
Related Chains:
Last Report: Restaurant & QSR Expansion Report #123 Last Update:
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