| Businessmen team up to bring restaurant chain to Florida Business Writer Last update: 08 January 2004 |
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ORMOND BEACH -- Tim Curtis, owner of Houligan's Pub & Club and Gale Lemerand, one of the founders of Stonewood Tavern & Grill, are teaming up to bring a new eatery to Florida -- the San Francisco Oven.
Curtis and Lemerand, partners in the SFO Support Group, recently bought the Florida franchise rights of the Ohio-based company. Lemerand also is a part owner of AllStar Building Materials in Ormond Beach and Southern Title in Daytona Beach.
Founded in 2001 by Ohio businessmen Matt Harper and Eddie Cerino, San Francisco Oven specializes in brick-oven pizza, hot and cold sandwiches, fresh soups and salads, as well as beer and wines from Northern California. There are currently two restaurants open with more than 80 units in developments in Ohio, Michigan, Iowa and Florida.
The deal calls for them to build at least 10 restaurants on their own and assist in the development of another 80 to 90 restaurants throughout Florida in the next decade.
The duo plans to open the first San Francisco Oven in Lake Mary in the next 120 days.
Curtis, 36, said they also plan to open sites this year in Ormond and Port Orange. The store in Lake Mary will be in an existing building, he said. "Also, that area has the demographics that we are looking for."
Curtis said he and Lemerand spent the last two years scouring the country for a concept they both liked.
"From our experience we have found that success and quality of a business is based on the people involved. San Francisco Oven is a team of truly genuine people and we are excited to be a part of this amazing group," he said.
Besides owning Houligans, Curtis also is an investor in locally-based Stonewood, which has 13 locations in Florida and North Carolina.
Each San Francisco Oven will employ between 20 and 28 workers, Curtis said this week in a telephone interview.
"We're excited over this year," he said.
The company's most likely competition, he said, would be Panera Bread and Crispers Fresh Salads and Such restaurants, two other popular entrees in the fast-casual dining segment. The former has one location in Volusia County in the Trails Shopping Center in Ormond Beach.
There are no Crispers -- an eatery partially owned by Publix Supermarkets -- operating in Volusia or Flagler counties.
Curtis said SFO Support Group plans to establish the franchise headquarters here.
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