Fatburger is continuing its expansion across Florida with its first location in the Jacksonville area scheduled to open next week.
The restaurant, at 348 Blanding Blvd., Orange Park, announced it would open March 9 and set a grand opening starting at 10 a.m. March 14. The first 100 customers will receive free burgers and all guests will receive free fries with a purchase.
The Orange Park location, in a former Dairy Queen north of Kingsley Avenue, is Fatburger’s third in Florida. It will employ a staff of 100, according to a news release.
The West Coast-based, fast-casual burger chain also has restaurants in Riverview, near Tampa, and Celebration, near Orlando. A Rockledge location, in the Space Coast near Cocoa Beach, is expected to open this year.
Over the next 10 years, the company plans to open 40 Florida restaurants, with at least four more in the Jacksonville market, the release said.
Fatburger began in 1947 in Los Angeles as Mr. Fatburger and became Fatburger in 1952. The company began expanding outside of California in the late 1990s and now has restaurants in 20 countries.
Fatburgers are prepared to order with such toppings as eggs, chili and onion rings.
Unlike some Fatburger locations where a Buffalo Express wing shop is located in the same building, Buffalo Express will not be part of the Orange Park restaurant, a company spokesperson said.