New FMK Restaurant Coming to Buffalo Ridge

[champion6]

Daily Sun , 8/19/24, pg C3

FMK RESTAURANT GROUP OPENING ANOTHER RESTAURANT

FMK Restaurant Group is bringing a new concept to The Villages. Later this fall, the company will open Tap House Social, a casual sports and craft beer themed restaurant, at Buffalo Ridge.

FMK will begin construction soon to renovate the former Red Lobster building, at 3830 Wedgewood Lane.

"We think there's a good opportunity for it," said Philip Benjamin, vice president of market strategy and concept development for FMK. "We wanted to bring in another sports bar into that area for people to get together, be social and watch sports."

The company currently operates Bella Vita Italian Steakhouse, Bluefin Grill & Bar, Bonifay Country Club, Belle Glade Country Club, Chop House at Lake Sumter, Evans Prairie Country Club, Coastal del Mar Seafood Grill, Harvest Restaurant & Bar, Orange Blossom Hills Country Club, and Scooples Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant in The Villages.

FMK also is planning to open Victory Sports Grill later this year in Middleton.

[Lottoguy]

Wow, this is great news! TV needs a good sports bar with a good craft beer menu.

[LeRoySmith]

Daily Sun , 8/19/24, pg C3

FMK RESTAURANT GROUP OPENING ANOTHER RESTAURANT

FMK Restaurant Group is bringing a new concept to The Villages. Later this fall, the company will open Tap House Social, a casual sports and craft beer themed restaurant, at Buffalo Ridge.

FMK will begin construction soon to renovate the former Red Lobster building, at 3830 Wedgewood Lane.

"We think there's a good opportunity for it," said Philip Benjamin, vice president of market strategy and concept development for FMK. "We wanted to bring in another sports bar into that area for people to get together, be social and watch sports."

The company currently operates Bella Vita Italian Steakhouse, Bluefin Grill & Bar, Bonifay Country Club, Belle Glade Country Club, Chop House at Lake Sumter, Evans Prairie Country Club, Coastal del Mar Seafood Grill, Harvest Restaurant & Bar, Orange Blossom Hills Country Club, and Scooples Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant in The Villages.

FMK also is planning to open Victory Sports Grill later this year in Middleton.


That is pretty close to a Hooters, my guess wasn't all that far off. David?

[ThirdOfFive]

Good news.

FMK seems to know what they're doing.

[ROCKETMAN]

FMK will have a sports bar and craft brewery in the building. In the daily sun today.

[asianthree]

Wonder if during playoffs and certain games if FMK will have the $20 for your spot to watch games, like Millers.

We are big craft beer fans, and will have zero problems paying higher price. Would be a bonus like most breweries, have flights to choose what beers you want to try.

[justjim]

I wish them luck with their new venture. It’s obvious they have good insight to have purchased the Red Lobster property with Costco moving basically next door. All the traffic should be good for business in that location.

[Stu from NYC]

Will the servers be under 40 and all female?

[justjim]

Will the servers be under 40 and all female?

Not unless they “import”
them from outside TV.

[Bill14564]

That is pretty close to a Hooters, my guess wasn't all that far off. David?

Other than sports on TV, what makes it pretty close to a Hooters?

[Bogie Shooter]

Other than sports on TV, what makes it pretty close to a Hooters?

For sure not the mileage.:shocked:

[Aces4]

Will the servers be under 40 and all female?

Why? Is your grandson coming to visit?:popcorn:

[coconutmama]

Not a fan of monopolies which FMK is pretty close to having. They are better than average but too much of their fare is repetitive, with a tweak here & there. Totally understand why. Less expensive for them to buy in bulk. However not really helpful or interesting for the consumer.

We are looking forward to other owned restaurants opening up, such as Harry & The Natives.

[LeRoySmith]

Other than sports on TV, what makes it pretty close to a Hooters?

Other than not advertising boobs (yet) what makes it any different?

Casual - check, sports on tv - check, 25 kinds of beer - check, average at best food (guessing here but I'm willing to take that gamble) - check

and most of all because I was fooling around when I said it several days ago and this news is close enough to meet my confirmation bias needs

[maistocars]

I wish them luck with their new venture. It’s obvious they have good insight to have purchased the Red Lobster property with Costco moving basically next door. All the traffic should be good for business in that location.
Still waiting for Costco to touch a blade of grass on their presumed site......

[ThirdOfFive]

Not a fan of monopolies which FMK is pretty close to having. They are better than average but too much of their fare is repetitive, with a tweak here & there. Totally understand why. Less expensive for them to buy in bulk. However not really helpful or interesting for the consumer.

We are looking forward to other owned restaurants opening up, such as Harry & The Natives.
I have eaten at every FMK restaurant in TV, and have not been disappointed except for an instance at The Chop House where the food and service, though good, did not match the price point. But that is a subjective assessment that may or may not be shared by others. What is not, at least in my opinion, is that FMK-run restaurants overall are a cut or two above most other restaurants in TV. The point is that it is a free market, and other restaurants can either match the quality of the FMK-run places or suffer thereby.

I don't think that "buying in bulk" is necessarily the reason for their success. Some places that have gone under, or are hurting, are/were part of chains much larger than FMK with the same ability to buy in bulk, if not more so, than FMK restaurants. Red Lobster, for example. Sonny's Barbecue for another: part of a chain of restaurants that at one time numbered over 100.

Bottom line: if your food and/or service is not up to quality, then the presence of FMK means that you are going to lose customers. That's not a bad thing. That's called competition; the essence of a free market. And Villagers benefit thereby.

[Michael 61]

Service has always been good to very good at FMK establishments. The presence of FMK hopefully causes other establishments to “up their game” in the area of service.

[Rich42]

I love FMK but their making other restaurants “up their game” has in most cases only resulted in their upping their prices with no improvement in service or food quality! So more inflation.

[Shipping up to Boston]

I have eaten at every FMK restaurant in TV, and have not been disappointed except for an instance at The Chop House where the food and service, though good, did not match the price point. But that is a subjective assessment that may or may not be shared by others. What is not, at least in my opinion, is that FMK-run restaurants overall are a cut or two above most other restaurants in TV. The point is that it is a free market, and other restaurants can either match the quality of the FMK-run places or suffer thereby.

I don't think that "buying in bulk" is necessarily the reason for their success. Some places that have gone under, or are hurting, are/were part of chains much larger than FMK with the same ability to buy in bulk, if not more so, than FMK restaurants. Red Lobster, for example. Sonny's Barbecue for another: part of a chain of restaurants that at one time numbered over 100.

Bottom line: if your food and/or service is not up to quality, then the presence of FMK means that you are going to lose customers. That's not a bad thing. That's called competition; the essence of a free market. And Villagers benefit thereby.

It is what it is
The bubble offerings are serviceable.
If you want a better product...be prepared to take the Caddy and not the cart!

[Stu from NYC]

Why? Is your grandson coming to visit?:popcorn:

Oldest grandson too young to have discovered females yet.