In May, Columbus, Ohio-based Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern is taking its first step outside of its Midwest home market with an opening in Naples in southwestern Florida. Featuring its traditional American made-from-scratch menu and extensive beer selection, the chain will open a 4300 square foot unit in the Mercato project. The neighborhood tavern/sports bar concept will include inside seating for about 150 and a covered terrace that will accommodate another 75 guests along with TVs and sports memorabilia throughout. This will be the chain’s 16th location. Later in the Fall, the corporately owned chain will open its 17th location at The Market at Hilliard Gateway in Hilliard, Ohio. At this time, no other Florida sites are confirmed however the company continues to explore opportunities in the Southwest Florida corridor including the Fort Myers, Sarasota, etc, area, the Southeast Florida area of Fort Lauderdale, Miami, etc. as well as the Orlando region. Over the next three years, the chain is planning to grow the brand and expand to over 30 Rusty Bucket locations across the Midwest and Florida. Most types of units are considered though the chain has lately been focusing on end cap and freestanding locations at power and lifestyle centers. The target size is in the 4500 to 5000 square foot range. Keith Rogers at RD Advisors is handling the chain’s site selection.
CATEGORY: Casual Sports Bar/Tavern
Chain Name: Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern
Company Name: Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern
Street Address: 515 Park St., Columbus, Ohio 43215
Tel: 614/621-1105 Fax: 614/280-8026
Email: Website: www.myrustybucket.com
Menu Specialty: Traditional American made-from-scratch tavern/bar menu, extensive beer selection.
Introduced: In May 2002 in Dublin, Ohio by Gary Callicoat
No. of Locations: Presently 15 locations in Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. Two restaurants opening in Florida and in Ohio in 2014.
Areas of Operation: Plans to be 30 locations in Midwest and Florida in three years.
Types of Location: End caps, freestanding, power centers, lifestyle centers, etc.
BusinessType (corp., franchise, jv): Corporate
Size Req’d: 4500 to 5000 sq.ft.
Special Requirements (patio, drive-thru, etc): Patios
Contact Name: Gary Callicoat – Founder, President (gcallicoat@myrustybucket.com)
Kate Sumption – Marketing (614/621-1015 rbmedia@myrustybucket.com)
REAL ESTATE REPRESENTATIVES: Keith Rogers, Restaurant Development Advisors, 6162 Birchcrest Lane, Commerce, Michigan 48382 (248/245-5447 keith@rdavisors.net)
FRANCHISE REPRESENTATIVES:
PARENT COMPANY: Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern, Columbus, Ohio
Related Chains: ‘Sister company’ of Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, Columbus, Ohio. Shares some home office internal resources.
Last Report: Restaurant & QSR Expansion Report #114 Last Update:
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