First Watch Opening First Site in Gainesville

First Watch, a fast-growing chain with a revolving seasonal menu, is opening a new location in Gainesville at 3729 SW 40th Boulevard.

The company’s first Gainesville site will move to the outskirts of Butler Plaza West near Target and Publix Super Market. Public Relations Manager Hunter Carpenter tells What Now Jacksonville that this location will be corporate-owned and is expected to open sometime next summer. The restaurant will offer outside dining under a covered patio and serve its signature brunch cocktails at an indoor-outdoor bar. The company is looking to deepen its presence in the Gainesville area beyond this location but has yet to secure any new leases.

When the restaurant opens next summer, customers can expect a dining room decorated as ‘Urban Farm,’ bringing the rustic feel of a farmhouse with the modern elements of an urban loft. Five times a year, First Watch offers a revolving seasonal menu that follows the sun to intentionally source quality ingredients wherever and whenever they are in season. This ever-evolving menu has included items like the Crab Avocado Toast, Barbacoa Quesadilla Benedict, Elote Mexican Street Corn Hash, and Watermelon Wake-Up fresh juice, among many others. The Bradenton-based company has expanded to more than 490 locations in 29 states.

“First Watch was recently named the top restaurant brand in Yelp’s inaugural list of the top 50 most-loved brands in the U.S.,” Carpenter tells What Now Jacksonville. “This is in part thanks to First Watch’s curated menu, which takes an elevated approach to traditional breakfast, brunch, and lunch offerings that are made to order using fresh ingredients. Some of its most crave-able items include Avocado Toast, Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict, Farm Stand Breakfast Tacos, and Lemon Ricotta Pancakes.”