Former Macaroni Grill Could Become National Mexican Chain

For more than a year, the former Romano’s Macaroni Grill location has remained vacant on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in New Tampa. However, that may not be the case for long, as a national Mexican restaurant reportedly is in negotiations to lease the former Italian restaurant space, just north of Highwoods Preserve Pkwy.

A spokesperson for Tampa-based real estate brokerage firm Hybridge CRE says that a new restaurant could be open in the space by the end of the year, if everything goes to plan.

“I can’t disclose anything else because we are still negotiating a lease, but it could be a (national chain) Mexican restaurant,” says Hybridge managing broker Curtis Rorebeck. “It will be the (chain’s) first location in this market.”

The 7,000-sq.-ft. space that seats 260 people as currently configured has received “tremendous interest” since it was first put on the market last August, Rorebeck says. However, he adds, two potential franchise tenants previously signed letters of intent, but the deals ultimately fell through.

“We’re pretty close to a deal,” Rorebeck says. “This won’t be a franchise. This will be a corporate-owned restaurant.”

Rorebeck says that activity could be seen on the site within 60 days of the lease being signed and doors could open anywhere between 90-120 days after that, pending any permit delays.

Stay tuned to WCNeighborhoodNews.com for updates.