Brazilian steakhouse opening at Bridgewater Commons

BRIDGEWATER - A Brazilian steakhouse is opening at the Bridgewater Commons this year.

Fogo de Chão applied to the township to transfer ownership of the Ruby Tuesday liquor license to the chain based in Dallas. Ruby Tuesday closed its Route 202 location at Bridgewater Towne Center in August 2018. The site remains vacant.

No date for the opening of Fogo de Chão has been set and no location has been determined.

"We are pleased that Bridgewater Commons continues to reimagine the food and beverage experience at the shopping center," said Troy Fischer, senior general manager of the Bridgewater Commons. "We are expecting Fogo de Chão to open at Bridgewater Commons this year. "

Founded in 1979 in southern Brazil, Fogo de Chão is an authentic Southern Brazilian steakhouse, or churrascaria. The chain expanded into the United States in 1997.

The chain is expected to open a dozen new locations this year in Insurgentes, Mexico, and across the United States in California, Florida, Texas, Washington, Rhode Island, New Jersey and Maryland.

Besides Bridgewater, the new other locations in New Jersey will be in Paramus and Wayne.

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"At Fogo, we will continue our strategic growth plans in 2023 with leases and development agreements signed to open restaurants in new domestic and international markets,” Barry McGowan, CEO officer of Fogo de Chão, said in a release. “We are honored that the demand for our unique dining experience in both new and existing markets remains strong as we continue to grow our brand on a global scale. Where there is demand, we will expand, and we are thrilled to bring the culinary art of churrasco to more communities this year.”

The chain's American flagship is a 16,000-square-foot restaurant on West 53rd Street in Manhattan.

In December, to help the Bridgewater Commons, one of the largest taxpayers in the township, attract more people, the Township Council adopted a zoning ordinance to allow establishments for games, entertainment and amusements in the mall.

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That would allow popular venues such as Topgolf or Dave & Buster's to locate in the mall. The ordinance says that any future establishments should not be bigger than 90,000 square feet.

For example, the size of a Dave & Buster's ranges from 25,000 to 45,000 square feet and Topgolf requires 65,000 square feet.

Councilman Timothy Ring said the change was “important for the financial success of the mall and Bridgewater Township.”

Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com

Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Brazilian steakhouse opening at Bridgewater Commons