A new tiki bar and restaurant experience is coming to central Florida — Don the Beachcomber was recently acquired by the Tampa-based 23 Restaurant Services and is beginning an expansion campaign, with an upcoming location slated for the Hamlin area of Orlando.
A recent report in Restaurant News reports that the company aims to open anywhere from 10 to 15 locations across the Southeastern United States over the next several years, with plans to eventually expand into other national markets.
What Now Orlando recently spoke to President Marc Brown to obtain as much information as possible on the upcoming development.
“There hasn’t been an address issued yet, but it will be right near the water, next to Ford’s Garage there in Hamlin, which is also our restaurant, about 300 yards away,” Brown states.
When asked about the potential opening dates, no hard dates are yet set, and it seems to be over a year from being up and running.
“We’re targeting Q1 of 2024, but it could be a Q2 opening. We’re getting close to submitting paperwork for permits.”
Given the dynamic nature of the central Florida market, we asked Mr. Brown for his rationale in choosing the Hamlin area in particular.
“There’s a lot of reasons for the Hamlin location. We have a great relationship with the developer and we really believe in the Orlando market. There’s a lot of Disney people entrenched in the tiki culture as well, so all those reasons, plus others, are the reasons why we are coming into Orlando.”
Readers eager to get a preview of what Don the Beachcomber will bring can visit 23 Restaurant Services’s other area restaurants such as Yeoman’s, Ford’s Garage, and Tiki Docks.
