
I was at the Florida International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) conference the past 3 days. It sounds exciting, doesn't it? It is a group that brings together professionals in the commercial real estate industry. The good part about it besides all the networking is finding out retailers that are coming to the Carolina's market. I talked to a representative for Tijuana Flats which is an Orlando based fast casual restaurant specializing in Mexican food. If you read Restaurant Traffic you know we are big fans. They confirmed they are opening a store in the North Hills mall in Raleigh with plans for one more in the Cary area. They also said they expect to open stores in Charlotte shortly after that. So we might finally get a Tijuana Flats.
Tijuana Flats has already been in Charlotte previously. Around 2007 they were in Pineville on Park Rd and 51. It only stayed open a few months before closing.
We had 3 Tijuana Flats in the area a few years ago – Huntersville, Prosperity Church, and Pineville. I think all three closed around the same time late in 2009.
Never heard of this group and I have been here 5 years.