Newk's Eatery Targets Broward County for Franchise Growth

South Florida represents a major piece of open territory for Newk’s Eatery. While the fast-casual franchise has established restaurants in other parts of Florida, including Pensacola, Tallahassee and Jacksonville, it has yet to enter the corridor stretching across Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Newk’s sees Broward County as the logical starting point. Located between Palm Beach County to the north and Miami-Dade County to the south, Broward gives a franchisee a central foothold from which to expand throughout the region.

“If you look at that part of Southeast Florida, Broward is what I call the ‘nexus’ of the three counties,” said Chris Cheek, chief development officer. “A good approach usually is to start somewhere near the center and work outward.”

Broward county demographics

Broward County has more than 2 million residents, up approximately 3.5% from its 2020 population base, according to 2025 estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. That gives Newk’s access to a large customer base before factoring in neighboring Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties.

The region also offers some advantages for restaurant operators. Fort Lauderdale’s subtropical climate brings more than 3,000 hours of sunshine annually, helping support an active, year-round economy. Florida also does not impose a personal state income tax, while the state promotes its large workforce and business-friendly environment as advantages for entrepreneurs and employers.

“We have traditionally done well in markets that exhibit the demographic that we see there,” Cheek said. “This includes a certain level of income, a certain level of education and a certain percentage of dining out versus food at home.”

South florida submarkets

Rather than treating South Florida as one large market, Newk’s sees a collection of individual submarkets where franchisees can build restaurants over time. Fort Lauderdale, Deerfield Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach and surrounding communities all create potential development opportunities.

“As you get into Palm Beach County, you get a different demographic and unique retail opportunities for real estate,” Cheek said. “There are so many submarkets that you have an opportunity to play in down there from a real estate perspective and from an operating perspective that we’re excited about.”

The region’s population is also less seasonal than some other parts of southern Florida. Snowbirds remain part of the customer base, particularly in Palm Beach County, but Cheek said Broward and Palm Beach do not experience the same dramatic population swings found elsewhere.

Real estate costs remain a challenge, but Newk’s has redesigned its restaurant model for today’s development environment. The brand’s new prototype ranges from approximately 2,800 to 3,500 square feet, compared with older restaurants that could require 4,000 square feet or more. A smaller restaurant means less space to build out and equip, fewer tables and chairs and potentially lower ongoing rent. It also gives franchisees more choices when searching for sites.

“It’s our new prototype. It’s not just an optional model. It’s not an express unit,” Cheek said. “It is our new footprint. We see more available real estate in that square footage than with 4,000 square feet and larger. There are cost savings, but it also can speed up your development because you’re able to take advantage of more opportunities in that smaller square-foot range.”

That flexibility could be especially valuable in South Florida, where operators can search across numerous cities, shopping centers and retail corridors instead of waiting for a larger restaurant space to become available.

Franchisee requirements

Newk’s is looking for franchisees who understand the communities where they plan to develop rather than investors attempting to manage South Florida from another market. The ideal candidate has a passion for the region.

“All Newk’s restaurants in our system that perform well are driven by people who have a passion for their community first and know the market,” Cheek said. “Not an investor that’s from another market investing in Broward County, but people who know the market, who live and work in the market.”

Broward provides an entry point into a much larger region for Newk’s, giving the right franchise partner the opportunity to establish the brand locally and expand into multiple submarkets over time.