Burrito chain to open 7 new locations in Tampa Bay

Barberitos, a 25-year-old fast-casual restaurant chain founded in Athens, Georgia, has plans to grow in the Tampa Bay market. 

The company has signed a development agreement with restaurant operator and entrepreneur Matt O’Neill to open seven new locations in Tampa and St. Petersburg.

O’Neill already owns Barberitos’ only area restaurant at 7021 E. Fletcher Ave., just east of the University of South Florida. He opened it last year. 

O’Neill’s experience, according to a statement, includes corporate roles at Zaxby’s and Einstein Bagels and he also co-owns a private equity firm specializing in hospitality and retail. O’Neill sits on Barberitos’ Franchise Advisory Council. 

The development agreement will allow the company to significantly scale its operations in the state, where it only has one other location outside Tampa — Panama City. 

While details on where the restaurants will be located and a timeline for the expansion weren’t immediately available, Barberitos’ franchisee website says it recommends restaurants to range in size between 1,850 square feet to 2,800 square feet and that it has a team to help owners “assemble a variety of potential locations to choose from.” 

The chain currently operates 46 restaurants in seven states. It specializes in burritos, tacos and salads using freshly prepared ingredients, including hand-smashed guacamole and marinated proteins. 

It was bought by WowWorks in 2022.