North Texas-based Desi Chowrastha, a restaurant and market that specializes in South Asian flavors, could be expanding into St. Johns County.
The establishment is on marketing materials for Shops at Racetrack Rd, a developing marketplace at 4560 Race Track Road, east of St. Johns Parkway and about 3 miles west of Interstate 95.
It would be the chain’s first location in Florida and its 20th overall.
Founded in 2022 in Texas, Desi Chowrastha has several locations there, along with operations in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, New Hampshire and Virginia.
According to the Desi Chowrastha website, “We are on a pursuit to create a one stop shop for groceries, halal meat and restaurant concept that caters not only to the largest Indian population in (the) US, but to everyone that is open to explore ... food of complex flavors and spices.”
The company franchises its locations and hours vary by store.
The Shops at Racetrack Rd is represented by Atlantic Retail, a national brokerage firm that markets and leases commercial properties.
Other tenants confirmed by Atlantic Retail include Another Broken Egg Cafe, Avecina urgent care provider and Dutch Bros Coffee.
A site map of the Shops at Racetrack Rd also shows a nail salon, an unidentified grocery store and a quick-serve restaurant.
A KFC was announced in August 2024 but did not materialize, according to the firm.
Attempts to reach Atlantic Retail for comment about Desi Chowrastha were not returned.
St. John’s at Racetrack LLC owns Shops at Racetrack Rd. The company bought the 7-acre site in 2022 for $8.5 million. The project broke ground in August 2024.