Eight Lime Fresh Mexican Grills to Rebrand as Rubio’s Coastal Grill
San Diego, CA (RestaurantNews.com) Rubio’s® Restaurants announced that it has completed the acquisition of eight restaurant locations in Florida previously operated as Lime Fresh Mexican Grills. Rubio’s will soon begin construction to convert these to new Rubio’s Coastal Grill® restaurants, marking the California-based company’s first expansion to the East Coast.
As announced last fall, Rubio’s agreed to acquire the select Florida Lime Fresh Mexican Grill restaurant locations from its parent company, Ruby Tuesday Inc. The deal was subject to customary closing conditions, including obtaining certain consents and permits, and is now completed. Located in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg and Winter Park, the new restaurants are scheduled to open in the fall of 2016.
Rubio’s Coastal Grill is known for pioneering the fish taco and for its unique and craveable coastal cuisine. Co-Founder Ralph Rubio brought his love of fish tacos to the United States after a college trip to Baja California, Mexico. Since its first restaurant opened in San Diego in 1983, Rubio’s Coastal Grill has established a passionate fan base throughout the Southwestern United States and has been credited for starting the fish taco phenomenon in America. Cited by The Washington Post and Los Angeles Times as the country’s top fish taco expert, Rubio’s has sold more than 200 million Original Fish Tacos®.
“The acquisition of these eight Florida locations is a huge milestone for our company as it marks our first expansion to the East Coast,” said Rubio. “We’re incredibly excited to start transitioning the restaurants to Rubio’s Coastal Grill and look forward to opening the first location this fall.”
Rubio’s uses sustainable seafood in nearly all of its seafood dishes and has expanded its menu with inventive recipes, ranging from sustainable Grilled Gourmet Shrimp Tacos and Burritos to a California Bowl made with Wild Alaska Coho Salmon and a Chipotle Orange Salad with Wild Pacific Mahi Mahi. Other items – including burritos, bowls and fresh salads – feature Rubio’s grilled marinated chicken and steak, “no fried” pinto beans, handmade guacamole and a variety of signature salsas.
With the addition of the Florida market, Rubio’s Coastal Grill owns and operates nearly 200 restaurants. The Florida restaurants are scheduled to open at the following locations:
- Miami: Downtown Miami (7 W. Flagler Street, 33130)
- Miami: The Shops at Midtown (3201 North Miami Ave., 33127)
- Miami: N. Miami Beach Biscayne Commons (14831 Biscayne Blvd., 33181)
- Tampa: The Corner (1824 N. Westshore Blvd., 33607)
- St. Petersburg: Tyrone Square Mall (6901 22nd Ave., 33710)
- Winter Park: (500 N. Orlando Ave., 32789)
- Ft. Lauderdale: Plaza Del Mar Shopping Center (1535 N. Federal Hwy, 33304)
- Ft. Lauderdale: The Promenade at Coconut Creek (4425 Lyons Road, 33073)
For more information about Rubio’s Coastal Grill, visit www.rubios.com. Guests can also join the conversation on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rubios and Twitter at www.twitter.com/rubiostweets.
About Rubio’s® Restaurants
Rubio’s first opened in 1983, in the San Diego neighborhood of Mission Bay. Today, counting the ocean as a source of inspiration, Rubio’s uses sustainable seafood in nearly all of its seafood dishes, and continues to expand its menu with innovative recipes ranging from seafood tacos and burritos to California Bowls and crisp, fresh salads. In addition, Rubio’s offers grilled marinated chicken and steak, “no fried” pinto beans, handmade guacamole, a variety of proprietary salsas, and craft beer and sangria beverage options. The award-winning restaurant regularly receives accolades for its famous Original Fish Taco®. It was also recently ranked as one of Fast Casual’s ‘Top 50 Movers and Shakers’ as well as one of its ‘Top Five Most Loved Fast Casual Chains.’ Rubio’s participates in a variety of community partnership efforts throughout the year including being a member of the Blue Business Council and hosting Rubio’s annual CoastFest celebration and beach cleanup. Rubio’s is headquartered in Carlsbad, Calif., has over 4,000 employees and currently operates nearly 200 restaurants in California, Arizona, Colorado, Utah and Nevada. For more information, visit https://www.rubios.com.
Contact:
Torie Wohlwend
i.d.e.a.
619-295-8232 x125
toriew@theideabrand.com
