Irvine-based Habit Restaurants Inc. plans to open its first restaurant in Florida on June 24 in Delray Beach.
Florida locations in the next 12 months are in the works for Orlando and Tampa, as well, a news report said.
The fast-casual burger chain said in November it plans to open 26 to 28 company-owned restaurants in 2015, with three-fourths of the growth in Western states and the remaining locations expanding its presence in New Jersey, and entering Florida and Washington, D.C.
Chief Executive Russ Bendel said at the time that “one or two” franchised locations would open this year as part of existing agreements in Seattle and Las Vegas.
The company operates 115 restaurants spread over California, Arizona, Utah and New Jersey.
Its shares were up about 2% to a market cap of $930 million in midday trading today.
