---
title: "Mike’s Red Tacos heads to Tampa, Orlando with 36-unit development deal"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/49b2cd65-12b0-4d2d-ae51-560487510e44
source: "FastCasual"
original_url: https://www.fastcasual.com/news/mikes-red-tacos-heads-to-tampa-orlando-with-36-unit-development-deal/
category: "Mexican"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Mexican"
topics: ["Development & multi-unit"]
published: 2026-10-23T10:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T13:15:34.669Z
image: https://nmgprod.s3.amazonaws.com/media/file/81/83/a0894a250700feb1d4373c760d14/cover_image__rBmxH1iV__MikesRedTacos.jpg
---

# Mike’s Red Tacos heads to Tampa, Orlando with 36-unit development deal

**TL;DR:** Mike's Red Tacos has signed a 36-unit development agreement with Built Different Brands to expand into the Tampa and Orlando areas and Florida's East Coast. The first restaurant is expected to open in 2027.

*originally published in FastCasual on 2026-10-23. [Read the original](https://www.fastcasual.com/news/mikes-red-tacos-heads-to-tampa-orlando-with-36-unit-development-deal/).*

## Story

Mike's Red Tacos has signed a 36-unit development agreement with Built Different Brands to expand into the Tampa and Orlando areas and Florida's East Coast.

Led by Kal Gullapalli, Built Different Brands plans to develop the locations over the next several years, with the first restaurant expected to open in 2027. The multi-unit franchise platform operates more than 80 locations across brands including Dave's Hot Chicken, Marco's Pizza and PopUp Bagels.

"Kal and the Built Different Brands team lead large-scale restaurant brands and have the industry know-how we look for in franchisees," Mike's Red Tacos President Vincent Montanelli said in a press release.

Based in San Diego, Mike's Red Tacos is seeking experienced franchisees and restaurant operators with strong business backgrounds and the ability to scale multiple locations.

## Entities

- unit expansion (topic)
- QSR (sector)
- FastCasual (publication)
- restaurant expansion (topic)
- franchise deal (topic)
- Orlando (location)
- Tampa (location)
- florida expansion (topic)
- Mike's Red Tacos (company)
- Vincent Montanelli (person)
- Kal Gullapalli (person)
- Built Different Brands (company)

---
Originally reported by FastCasual (https://www.fastcasual.com/news/mikes-red-tacos-heads-to-tampa-orlando-with-36-unit-development-deal/). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/49b2cd65-12b0-4d2d-ae51-560487510e44).