Former Darden Restaurants Inc. exec Alam Pamieri is bringing Atlanta-based Marlow’s Tavern restaurant chain to Orlando. The first location, a 4,500-square-foot, 200-seat eatery will open in early October at Pointe Orlando on International Drive, the city’s main tourism corridor. See details on the ne restaurant at http://bit.ly/OWx9JO.
It will be the chain’s first location outside Atlanta and likely will compete with other full-service, American-fare concepts like T.G.I.Friday’s, Chili’s, Miller’s Ale House and Darden’s Red Lobster, among others.
After that, Palmieri-previsouly executive vice president of operations for Orlando-based Darden’s (NYSE: DRI) specialty restaurant group- is gearing up to 11 more Central Florida locations in the next three years, including three in 2013.
In fact, he’s already negotiating on potential sites in Celebration, Dr. Phillips, Waterford Lakes and Winter Park.
“One of the things I’ve learned is how critical that first market is when you leave your hometown,” said Palmieri, who has been a partner with the company for the last two years and will handle Marlow’s Tavern operations in Orlando. “International Drive has a very unique set of circumstances that allow us to launch our brand to the people of Orlando, visitors and conventioneers.”
Susan Godorov, vice president and general manager of Pointe Orlando, said the restaurant adds to the complex’s diverse mix of tenants; “Marlow’s Tavern will complement out existing restaurants and eateries by offerign a warm and inviting, family-friendly atmosphere.”
For Central Florida, Marlow’s Tavern is working with Orlando real estate agent John Artope of SRS Real Estate Partners on securing either existing or ground-up spaces of up to 4,000 square feet with a minimum of 800 more square feet for patio. Each restaurant will hire up to 60 employees, including three or four managers.