Hawaiian Bros to make Florida debut with 50-plus locations
Fast-casual dining brand Hawaiian Bros Island Grill ramping up its expansion efforts in a big way.
The Hawaiian-inspired brand has signed a development agreement with Southern Rock Restaurants to open 52 units in Florida over the next six years, marking Hawaiian Bros’ entry into the Sunshine State. Southern Rock will open restaurants across Jacksonville, Gainesville, Tampa and Orlando over the period, including 24 restaurants planned in the next three years.
Leading the development is Southern Rock CEO Max Piet, a restaurant industry veteran with 35-plus years of experience. Piet and his Southern Rock team own and operate nearly 200 restaurants as McAlister’s Deli and Dave’s Hot Chicken franchisees in 13 states.
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“Entering Florida is a highly anticipated milestone for Hawaiian Bros, and we couldn’t ask for a more experienced group to help establish our presence in the state,” said Grant Kreutzer, senior VP of franchise development at Hawaiian Bros. “Max knows these Florida markets extremely well, and Southern Rock has an impressive track record of building and operating successful multi-unit restaurant businesses at scale. Their strong infrastructure makes them exactly the kind of operator we want growing alongside Hawaiian Bros.”
The agreement is one of Hawaiian Bros’ largest development commitments to date, and establishes a significant growth pipeline in a major market. The chain currently has more than 350 additional restaurants under development agreements spanning 20 states.
“Hawaiian Bros is a rapidly growing brand built around a simple, proven model, strong culture and commitment to exceptional hospitality,” said Piet. “We see tremendous opportunity for it in these outstanding Florida markets. I’m especially excited to introduce Hawaiian Bros to areas I know and love. This is an important new chapter for Southern Rock, and we look forward to growing the Hawaiian Bros brand with a sharp focus on great teams and strong leadership.”
Founded in 2018, Hawaiian Bros operates more than 80 restaurants across 14 states. The chain is known for its island-inspired plate lunch, which offers a variety of chicken or pork glazed with sweet, savory or spicy sauces, macaroni salad, white rice or vegetables, and soft serve for dessert.
