A Restaurant Entrepreneur's Heaven

With its warm weather, low costs, and varied demographics, Tampa is a great place to start a restaurant.

1 minute read

April 7, 2004, 11:00 AM PDT

Even if you've never been to Tampa, FL, you've probably eaten at a restaurant that started there. Outback Steakhouse, Beef O'Brady's Family Sports Pub, Hops Restaurant Bar & Brewery and Hooters all started in Tampa. Other restaurants have also moved their headquarters there. Some of the factors that make the Tampa Bay area so conducive to restaurant entrepreneurship are the fast growth, diverse population, low business costs, and of course, warm weather. Tampa's population is comparable to the country as a whole, with a large number of Midwesterners and Northeasterners. Also, people go out to eat more in Florida than anywhere else in the country. Industry experts also say that the area is creating a synergistic effect, as new entrepreneurs of want to, ahem, feed off of the success of others.

Thanks to Peter Christensen

Read the full story: Feeding Frenzy

Monday, April 5, 2004 in The Tampa Tribune

Community / Economic Development Florida

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