Southern Rock’s agreement covers Jacksonville, Gainesville, Tampa and Orlando, creating a new restaurant development prospect for Florida property owners and brokers.
By Extended Reach USA
October 19, 2026
Hawaiian Bros Island Grill plans to enter Florida with 24 restaurants during the first three years of a broader agreement to develop 52 locations across Jacksonville, Gainesville, Tampa and Orlando. The six-year development agreement is with Southern Rock Restaurants LLC and Southern Rock Hawaii LLC.
For Florida’s commercial real estate community, the agreement identifies a restaurant operator with a substantial regional development plan. As the rollout advances, the practical story will be which properties the group selects, how those sites fit the brand’s operating formats, and when individual restaurants open.
An Established Operator Behind the Expansion
Southern Rock is led by CEO Max Piet. According to Hawaiian Bros’ announcement, the group operates nearly 200 McAlister’s Deli and Dave’s Hot Chicken restaurants across 13 states.
“We see tremendous opportunity for it in these outstanding Florida markets,” Piet said in the company’s announcement.
Southern Rock’s existing portfolio includes Dave’s Hot Chicken, which already has a Florida presence, with restaurants listed in Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Gainesville and other cities. The new development agreement covers Hawaiian Bros restaurants.
Four Markets and a Phased Rollout
The first 24 planned restaurants are included within the 52-location total. The announcement identifies the four development markets without providing a restaurant-by-restaurant address list or individual opening dates. WFTV also reported that the announcement did not allocate a specific number of restaurants to Orlando.
The schedule should therefore be read as a development plan. For property owners and brokers tracking potential deals, site announcements and local project filings will provide the next level of detail.
A Menu Built Around Hawaiian Plate Lunches
Hawaiian Bros centers its menu on Hawaiian-style plate lunches, typically combining a protein with white rice and macaroni salad. Its current menu includes teriyaki-style Huli Huli Chicken, Honolulu Chicken with garlic and sesame, spicier chicken options and slow-roasted Luau Pork.
The brand also offers bowls, wraps, sliders and Dole Soft Serve. Its menu website says meals are prepared without freezers, fryers or microwaves.
What the Expansion Could Mean for Commercial Real Estate
Hawaiian Bros’ published franchise materials show freestanding restaurants and end-cap spaces with drive-thrus, along with inline retail-center locations and delivery-oriented ghost kitchens. The company also identifies traffic, accessibility, visibility and neighboring tenants as considerations in its real estate process.
These are brand-wide options; the Florida announcement does not specify which formats Southern Rock will use.
That flexibility suggests the Florida expansion could involve more than one type of property. A freestanding restaurant requires a different site layout from an inline shop, while a drive-thru location needs enough room for vehicles to queue and move through the property.
From a commercial real estate perspective, the useful questions are specific: Can customers reach the property easily? Does the layout support the intended service model? Can a former restaurant be adapted efficiently, or would new construction make more sense? What approvals and improvements would be needed before an opening?
For landlords, a site’s physical constraints, access and surrounding customer base will shape whether the restaurant is a suitable tenant.
Part of a Larger National Expansion
Restaurant Dive reported that Hawaiian Bros had grown from 32 restaurants at the start of 2023 to roughly 80 by October 2026. Its Florida agreement therefore represents a sizable next step relative to the brand’s current footprint.
The publication put the chain’s average unit volume at roughly $2.4 million for 2025. That historical sales figure provides context for the expansion; performance at future Florida restaurants will depend on their individual markets and operations.
What to Watch Next
The next developments to watch are announced addresses, the formats selected for each market, and opening schedules. Those details will show how Southern Rock intends to translate the agreement into a Florida restaurant network.
For diners, the plan brings Hawaiian Bros closer to four Florida markets. For property owners and brokers, it creates a new expansion program to follow as individual locations take shape.
