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Florida Restaurants
Feeding Frenzy
A crop of fast-casual restaurants is finding fertile ground in Florida.
Nature's Table Cafe, Orlando
 TABLE TALK: Dick Larsen is expanding Nature's Table beyond meals. |
Annual Revenue: $27 million
In 1977, Dick Larsen opened Vine & Harvest in Altamonte Mall near Orlando. The store offered smoothies and juices, along with an assortment of vitamins, herbs, supplements, wine and cheese. Within six months he took over a restaurant called Garden Patch in downtown Orlando, adding smoothies and Vine & Harvest fare to a menu of soups and salads. In 1983, he opened Nature's Table with his nephew Rich Wagner and in 1986 introduced their franchised chain to malls throughout the Southeast.
In 2004, the rapidly expanding chain won the right to operate a facility for the Defense Department in a joint venture with an Atlanta-based restaurant company. It also opened restaurants in several airports, including Hartsfield International in Atlanta, Washington-Dulles and Baltimore-Washington International. It recently signed deals for 15 new locations, including a call center for Hilton timeshares.
Markets: Nature's Table is finding opportunities where people learn, heal and exercise. Newly signed deals include locations at a large Orlando church, three hospitals, Valencia Community College and Fitness One at Palm Coast.
Size: 70-plus franchises in 10 states, including Pennsylvania, California and Washington.
