TooJay’s breaks mold with new Tampa eatery, announces opening date

TAMPA, Fla. - June 12, 2014 - PRLog -- TAMPA – A Florida born and bred restaurant group with 24 locations around the state is delivering a new version of its concept as it opens its 25th location in downtown Tampa.

The grand opening and ribbon-cutting for the restaurant in the SunTrust Financial Centre at 401 E. Jackson Street will be Monday, June 23. The newest version of the popular eatery will have a more contemporary look (pictures available) and will focus on business diners by offering a streamlined menu of breakfast and lunch classics as well as ready-to-go meals. The restaurant’s look, smaller 4,500 square-foot footprint and ready-to-go meals, as well as the Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-3 p.m. hours, are a departure for the chain.

“We saw an opportunity to get outside of what we’ve done for 32 years,” says Neal Chianese, vice president of TooJay’s Restaurant and Deli. “This is kind of like a pilot program for us. It’s something we’ve never done.”

The restaurant will seat 124 and employ approximately 40. As part of its effort to meet the needs of its downtown clientele, the restaurant will offer extensive catering options for office meetings, parties and seminars.There will also be a VIP invitation-only catering event on Friday, June 20.

The new downtown restaurant will join two other TooJay’s on Florida’s West coast (http://www.toojays.com/locations-hours/floridas-gulf-coast/), in the International Plaza at 2223 N. Westshore Blvd., Tampa, Fl, and in Sarasota at Westfield Southgate at 3501 S. Tamiami Trail.

Founded in 1981, TooJay’s (www.toojays.com) has become a Florida institution, with 24 restaurants throughout the state. In addition to all your favorites from corned beef piled high on thick slices of freshly baked rye to classic Reubens and chicken noodle soup; TooJay’s offers a diverse catering menu (http://www.toojays.com/catering/) as well as a host of vegetarian and lighter items, a famed selection of freshly baked desserts, and homestyle comfort food entrees.