Hamburger lovers could get another choice following the recent announcement that west coast fast food chain Jack in the Box is searching for a location in Lakeland.
“At the moment, there isn’t a franchise agreement for the Lakeland area,” said an email from a spokeswoman for Jack in the Box. “However, the brand is looking to identify and align with qualified restaurant franchise investors to make its debut in Lakeland.”
The restaurant chain announced that it plans to open franchises in several Florida cities, including Tampa and Orlando, a press release said. In all, the company plans to open 14 restaurants in both Florida and Arkansas as part of a nationwide expansion. This was the first time the brand has entered the Arkansas market, and over 30 years since it was last in Florida.
In addition to Lakeland, the company is interested in the following cities in Florida: Miami, Miami Gardens, Hialeah, Pembroke Pines, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Miramar, Davie, Planation, Sunrise, Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, Coral Springs, Jacksonville, Port St. Lucie, Deltona, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Gainesville, Palm Bay, St. Petersburg, West Palm Beach, and Clearwater.
Last year, the company bought Del Taco, which has been opening locations in Florida. Jack in the Box has more than 2,000 restaurants in 21 states, mostly in the Western U.S.