Tampa Bay, Fla. — Fresh Kitchen plans to open a brand-new flagship location in early 2026. The new restaurant is taking over the former Ducky’s Sports Lounge space at 1719 W. Kennedy Blvd. in South Tampa, Fla., and will be the largest Fresh Kitchen yet — doubling the size of a typical location and paving the way for future innovation and growth.
Fresh Kitchen lost its original South Howard location to an early morning fire in July 2024, just 1 month shy of celebrating its 10th anniversary. In the months since, the team has been intentional in reimagining the flagship not only as the original Fresh Kitchen, but as a symbol of the brand’s mission to reimagine healthy eating, in a way that enables communities access to high quality, scratch-made foods conveniently. While the space is being thoughtfully designed in a location that’s roughly 1.5 miles away from their original SoHo location, Fresh Kitchen’s spirit remains strong in the neighborhood where it all began.
“We’ve always felt deeply connected to our Tampa community, and the support and love we received after the fire only strengthened that bond,” says Tara O’Neill, president at Fresh Kitchen. “This new location is our way of giving back that love by creating an even better hub for our Fresh Kitchen fans and future team members. This new location is going to be something really special.”
Over the next decade, the brand plans to open 50 restaurants. The new flagship will be more than just a restaurant. At over 4,000 square feet, it will serve as a dynamic community anchor and a center of culinary creativity for the brand, testing new ideas, expanding the menu and evolving the Fresh Kitchen experience.
Founded in Tampa in 2014, Fresh Kitchen has grown into a fast-casual favorite with 16 locations across Florida. Fresh Kitchen offers a craveable, feel-good experience that’s fit for dine-in, takeout and catering. For more information, visit www.eatfreshkitchen.com.
Ciccio Restaurant Group (CRG) was founded more than 25 years ago in New York City with James Lanza. CRG currently owns and operates 10 different concepts under the Water + Flour, Cali, Daily Eats, Fresh Kitchen, Green Lemon, Jay + Luigi, Taco Dirty, Sweet Soul, CAMP and SoulFul brand names. Its portfolio of brands spans 27 locations and includes both full- and quick- service concepts, as well as boutique fitness studios in Tampa and Los Angeles.
SOURCE: Fresh Kitchen