JUST IN: New Mexican restaurant coming to The Greene

One of The Greene’s newest and most visible vacant retail spaces will be filled by a Texas-based Mexican restaurant chain making its debut in the Dayton area.

Olshan Properties announced today that Fuzzy's Taco Shop has signed a leased at The Greene Town Center and plans to open for business late this fall. The restaurant will employ about 35 and will occupy a 3,871 square-foot space in a new building that opened last year at the center's front entrance.

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The building — which faces Indian Ripple Road — is home to a Mattress Firm store. It was originally going to house the Dayton area’s first World of Beer pub, but World of Beer pulled out of the deal a year ago.

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“Fuzzy’s is a first and foremost a fun brand with a great atmosphere that sells large portions of Baja-style Mexican food for a value price,” Fuzzy’s vice president of marketing, Linda Veatch, told this news outlet.

"Dayton was selected by Fuzzy's as a corporate market for several reasons, including overall market health, restaurant industry-specific successes, and the fact that our market modeling produced multiple local trade areas that project high success potential for a Fuzzy's Taco Shop. The city also seems to have a great energy that aligns really well with our growing, fast casual brand," Veatch said.

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Founded in 2003, Fuzzy’s serves authentic Mexican dishes such as Baja-style tacos, white queso, and jumbo burritos in addition to frozen margaritas and beer. The chain operates more than 120 locations across the country, including one in Toledo. Another Fuzzy’s also is expected to open this fall on North High Street in Columbus’ Arena District.

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The Fort Worth-based chain has tripled its franchise restaurant openings since February 2016, when Atlanta-based NRD Capital acquired a majority stake in the company, according to Nation's Restaurant News. Fuzzy's has opened about 30 restaurants in the last 18 months.

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“Fuzzy’s Taco Shop is a consumer favorite nationwide, making it a valuable addition to our already vibrant roster of retailers and eateries that have made The Greene Town Center a market leading destination for the entire Dayton region,” Olshan Properties’ head of retail, Ken Marshall, said in a release. “Our loyal guests already love to shop and dine at The Greene, but the addition of Fuzzy’s Taco Shop will give them another fantastic dining option to choose from starting this fall.”

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