TapCo. Restaurant Group, the new parent company overseeing the expansion of the Tap 42 brand, recently announced the next location for the latest establishment.
It will be the third Tap 42 restaurant following the original restaurant in Fort Lauderdale opened by founding partners Sean and Blaise McMackin, and the second location slated for Boca Raton. The craft beer bar and restaurant confirmed it has found a space in Coral Gables.
See also: American Social: Fort Lauderdale Gastropub to Open Brickell Location
The hunt for a Coral Gables location has been in the works for some time. The Miami-Dade expansion was expected to be the first of a number of sister establishments TapCo. -- which is spearheading Tap 42's expansion as the company's new majority steak holders -- has planned for the future, but the vacant lot originally targeted posed too many problems.
"We saw a great concept, and we decided we wanted to be a part of that," said TapCo. president Doug Rudolph, who has more 27 years worth of experience in the industry.
Rudolph and his son, Alex, will be working to open additional Tap 42 concepts within South Florida and plan to move across the state and possibly nationwide in the coming years. They are partners with the McMackin brothers, as well as Andy Yaeger and Andrew Balick.
Rudolph was the first to bring the Wendy's chain to Miami-Dade, opening and operating a total of 23 locations. Rudolph is also the founder and developer of Rudy's Sirloin Steakburgers, a chain of burger joints founded in South Florida in 1984. He is also responsible for the success in rebuilding and rebranding the Samurai and Kyoto steak and seafood restaurants, which he later sold to Doral-based Benihana.
Located at 301 Giralda Ave., the new 6,000-square-foot Coral Gables space will have its own unique design and layout. The overall concept and food menu will remain the same as the original Tap 42, with a focus on craft beer, specialty and small-batch liquors, and craft cocktails. The Coral Gables location will also feature the same Tap 42 specials, including Prohibition Burger Monday, ladies' night on Wednesday, and bottomless brunch on Saturday and Sunday.
Construction of the Coral Gables restaurant has not yet begun, but Rudolph expects each location to open in the first quarter of 2015.
Nicole Danna is a food blogger covering Broward and Palm Beach counties. To get the latest in food and drink news in South Florida, follow her @SoFloNicole or find her latest food pics on Clean Plate's Instagram.
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