"Welcome to your new addiction," read a sign posted to the newest Fuzzy's Taco Shop for Tampa Bay on Wednesday.
The 4,100-square-foot fast-casual restaurant, which is dangerously close to taco-loving students at USF Tampa and larger than its older sibling in Brandon, is the second Fuzzy's location for Tampa natives and brothers Adam and Ian Lieberman and Adam's wife J-Ray Lieberman. But according to Ian, the owners have had their eye on the Terrace Walk Plaza space at 5621 E. Fowler Ave. for a while.
"We opened Brandon about 11 months ago, but even before we opened Brandon, we had selected this as a location for Fuzzy's in Tampa Bay," Ian said during a media preview. "It took us a long time to get this site up and running. But we obviously want to make this the next great Fuzzy's, and we think that the potential out here is very much long term — just like Brandon — with a lot of redevelopment that's going on along Fowler Avenue."
Fuzzy's, a Texas-born franchise that's set to open its doors to Tampa for the first time Thursday, cooks up Baja-style Mexican fare — even for breakfast. While the Brandon restaurant carries breakfast items all day, the indoor-outdoor Fuzzy's Temple Terrace will begin service at 8 a.m. daily to tap into the morning crowd. There's a selection of everything from breakfast burritos and tacos to huevos rancheros.
Other made-to-order items include big sandwiches, signature Baja tacos (which come with your choice of protein), salads and customizable enchilada, fajita or combo plates.
In addition to the food, diners will find a full-liquor bar with 16 draft beers and six barrels of signature frozen cocktails (FYI: the margaritas are huge), communal seating, and a large garden-style patio that Ian says is a hallmark of the restaurant.
"At Fuzzy's, the patio's really meant to be our front porch, so a welcoming element that really encourages folks to come for the food and stay for the drinks. We're the only state in the country where you can eat outside 12 months out of the year. We intend to fully take advantage of that," he said.
When it's finished, the patio will feature sail covering for shade, a railing and permanent cooling elements like fans and misters. To complete the restaurant's lively atmosphere, a small stage for local singers and DJs is also planned inside. Last night, Chris Harman, the lead singer of Charlie Hotel, played an acoustic set for
The owners, who own the franchise rights to Pasco and Pinellas counties as well, aim to expand Fuzzy's cult-like following to Riverview and Wesley Chapel next year.
"As far as where we're going next, we have a site in Wesley Chapel that will be in early 2018. We're working on a location in Riverview that will most likely be a 2018 location as well. And from there, it's all contingent on real estate," Ian said. "We know we wanted to build up I-75 in Hillsborough County because I think that's really a backbone for growth in our region. Obviously we've got our sights set on South Tampa, that's home base, for me at least. And then Pinellas County."
This article appears in Jan 26 – Feb 2, 2017.