Fast-Casual Chains Add Table Service To Adapt To Zoning

It took an upgrade to table service for two Florida-based quick-service chains to get the thumbs-up to open their doors in Winter Park, Fla.

The city, near Orlando, agreed to zone in fast-casual concepts Firehouse Subs and BurgerFi for Park Avenue, its upscale dining and shopping district, but only if the chains would modify their concepts by including signage–which directs customers who want table service to bypass the service counter and seat themselves–and adding staff to handle tableside service. North Palm Beach-based BurgerFi, which has around 50 total locations, opened its tweaked store last year. The 600-unit, Jacksonville–based Firehouse Subs will open a unit next to BurgerFi in August.

While city officials relented on those two chains, they currently are rewriting zoning regulations for Park Avenue to bar other quick-service restaurants. Wording is tricky because the city would like to encourage certain high-end chains and continue to bar others.