Fatburger Breaks Into Tampa Bay Market Starting With Riverview

RIVERVIEW, FL — The go-to hamburger joint for A-list celebrities and athletes in Los Angeles, Fatburger, is expanding to Tampa Bay, with its first restaurant set to open in Riverview in early 2023 and three more to soon follow.

According to Erin Mandzik, director of corporate communications for the parent company, FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc. in Beverly Hills, the Tampa Bay franchises of Fatburger and its sister wing brand, Buffalo's Cafe Express, will be developed by Whole Factor Inc. over the next three years.

The first Tampa Bay Fatburger/Buffalo's Express will be in the Tampa Shoppes at Alafia, 9950 Upper Alafia Court, Riverview, Mandzik said.

In addition to the four Tampa Bay eateries, Whole Factor Inc. is developing 10 Fatburger and Buffalo's Express locations in Orlando. The first is scheduled to open near the end of this year, followed by nine more over the next six years.

The Fatburger chain is known for its big, meaty, perfectly grilled, cooked-to-order, customized burgers.

Fatburger’s menu offers hamburgers with up to three ground beef patties (the 1.5-pound XXXL Kingburger) or Impossible’s plant-based “meat,” as well as scratch-made onion rings, hand-scooped milkshakes made with 100 percent real ice cream, Fat and Skinny Fries, sweet potato fries, turkey burgers and hand-breaded crispy chicken sandwiches.

The chain, known as the "Last Great Hamburger Stand," was founded by Lovie Yancey in Los Angeles in 1952, three years before McDonald's was founded in San Bernardino, California, and two years before Burger King was founded in Miami.

Yancey believed in big burgers piled with all the usual favorite toppings as well as some unusual ones like bacon and eggs, chili and onion rings.

Buffalo's Express features bone-in and boneless wings with a diverse lineup of nearly 20 sauces, ranging from mild to the scorching hot sauce called "Death Valley," accompanied by celery, carrots, and blue cheese, ranch or honey mustard dressing.

The fast-casual chain was founded in 1985 in Roswell, Georgia, and is now co-branded with more than 100 Fatburger restaurants.

“We see Florida as a strong growth market for Fatburger and Buffalo’s Express and are pleased to have a partner like Whole Factor to bring 14 locations to the state over the next several years,” said Taylor Wiederhorn, chief development officer of FAT Brands. “We continually hear from our fans that they are eager for us to open in Florida, so we hope that they are just as excited as we are now that we are not only coming to Orlando, but also Tampa.”

FAT Brands owns 17 restaurant brands including Marble Slab Creamery, Johnny Rockets, Fazoli's, Great American Cookies, Hurricane Grill & Wings and the Ponderosa and Bonanza steakhouses. In all, the company has more than 2,300 restaurants worldwide.