Bradenton-based restaurant chain expands in Manatee County with new planned location
It wasn’t so long ago that the Bradenton-based First Watch daytime restaurant chain had only three restaurants in Manatee County.
It could soon have six.
Paperwork has been filed with Manatee County Development Services for a First Watch restaurant in Parrish, a growth and development hot spot. It would be the first one in the county north of the Manatee River.
The restaurant is planned for Benderson Development’s Creekside Commons shopping center, 8740 U.S. 301 N., Parrish.
The work at First Watch’s proposed Parrish location would consist of new interior partitions, new commercial kitchen equipment and new interior finishes and furnishings, according to the building permit application.
First Watch to expand in Manatee County
Other First Watch restaurants in the Bradenton area include:
▪ 8306 Market St., in the Market Square Shopping Center, Lakewood Ranch, which opened in 2000. At the time, there were only 39 restaurants in the First Watch chain. There are now more than 500 in 29 states. The restaurant concept is majority owned by private-equity firm Advent International.
▪ 7118 Cortez Road W., which opened in the Shoppes of Paradise Bay shopping center in 2005.
▪ 4324 53rd Ave. E., which opened in the Lockwood Commons shopping center in 2016.
▪ 1520 Cortez Road W., which opened Dec. 11 in space formerly occupied by Panera Bread.
▪ 14475 State Road 70 E. in space formerly occupied by Nancy’s Bar-B-Q. The restaurant is expected to open this summer.
Filling a need in Parrish
A long-time complaint by Parrish residents is the shortage of retail shopping and sit-down restaurants in their fast-growing community.
In 2019, the Mellgren Planning Group conducted a visioning session with Parrish residents, asking what they wanted for their community.
High on the list was more retail shopping and dining options.
The survey found that there was “tremendous leakage of most retail,” meaning that residents have few shopping opportunities in the village and spend their money elsewhere.
The Creekside Commons shopping center is helping satisfy some of that demand.
In addition to anchors Lowes Home Improvement Center, HomeGoods, Aldi grocery and Marshalls, which have all opened, several restaurants are planned in Creekside Commons.
Among them: Outback Steakhouse, Osaka Sushi & Grill, Kelly’s Roast Beef, Ore and Iron Raw Bar and Grill, Ono Poke, 3Natives Acai & Juicery and Good Liquid Brewing Company.
