Costco to Del Taco, these big franchises have plans to come to Pensacola-region
Edward Bunch III, Pensacola News Journal
9 min read
You may not be able to visit all your favorite franchises in the Pensacola area, but the list of big name retailers and restaurants with a Northwest Florida presence is growing every year.
In 2024, we've had some big names receive approval or express an interest in opening up shop in the Pensacola Metropolitan area. So, while you might still be pining for a local Apple store or a Trader Joe's, there is some hope that businesses like Costco, Del Taco and more have plans to move our way.
Escambia and Santa Rosa counties have approved development plans for multiple big-name commercial brands since the beginning of the year, some of which have opened for business while others are still under construction. Additionally, it has received applications from several major brands that are still in the approval pipeline.
Here are the big brands that opened their doors in the area this year or are planning to soon.
In June, a Tampa engineering firm applied to build a Costco at 235 E. Nine Mile Road.
The retail store is planned to be 161,780 square feet with a gas station and 885 parking spaces, according to plans filed with Escambia County. The location is at the intersection of Nine Mile Road and Chemstrand Road in a shopping plaza that includes a Planet Fitness and a former Kmart store.
Costco offers a wide selection of merchandise and services from groceries, to appliances, to honeymoon travel packages, to their famed $1.50 hot dog and soda combo.
Pensacola residents have long yearned for a local Costco store, and the wholesale giant coming to the area has long been rumored, hoaxed and even the subject of a dedicated Facebook group.
Wawa
Between new store plans and commercials in the market, national convenience chain Wawa has been making a hard push into the region.
Wawa has been approved by the DRC to build four different locations across Escambia County in Ferry Pass, northwest Pensacola and southwest Pensacola. Northwest Pensacola was approved for two separate Wawas, one of which will be on West Nine Mile Road while the other is under construction on Boesch Lane.
Meanwhile in Santa Rosa County, two Wawas have been proposed. The first Wawa location is in Pace on the northwest corner of Berry Hill Road and King George Parkway, and the second is in East Milton at 7212 U.S. Highway 90 on the northeast corner of U.S. 90 and Dale Street intersection.
Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, a Wawa offers all the things you'd expect from a convenience store − snacks, lottery tickets, drinks, tobacco, gas (at most locations), etc. − but they also offer a larger variety of fresh food than most fast-food restaurants such as their made-to-order, fan-favorite hoagies and the hot breakfast "Sizzli" sandwiches.
Del Taco
A group of developers based in Miami are trying to build Escambia County’s first Del Taco location off of Brent Lane, according to the project’s application filed with the county.
The Mexican fast-food chain is proposed to be built at 404 Brent Lane, according to the project’s site plan filed with Escambia County. The fast-food restaurant will also be connected to Bellamy Avenue.
Developers of the potential Del Taco on Brent Lane intend to build a new 2,374-square foot building for the restaurant with a drive-thru lane. The development will have 26 parking spaces, according to its site plan filed with Escambia County.
Aside from traditional Mexican fast-food options like tacos and burritos, Del Taco also serves breakfast, burgers and a variety of desserts including milkshakes, churros and donuts.
Chipotle
Areas residents clamored for years for a local Chipotle, and the beloved Mexican grill finally answered the call in 2020 by opening a restaurant on Nine Mile Road.
In the intervening years its opened locations in Gulf Breeze and at Cordova Mall, and now Chipotle has plans to expand to Pine Forest, Navarre and Pace.
A brand-new restaurant is slated for 2261 West Nine Mile Road near Pine Forest Road in Pensacola.
Site plans show that Chipotle’s first store in Navarre will be developed on Mikajack Avenue, located in the same plaza as Buffalo Wild Wings, Publix and Starbucks.
In Pace, a new restaurant is planned for 4645 U.S. Highway 90.
Kids Empire
An incoming addition to Cordova Mall will try to “recapture the magic of childhood” with a spacious indoor playground.
Kids Empire will open near Belk after finishing construction, according to Cordova Mall, with a variety of ball pits, mazes and climbing walls, among other play structures.
Whether they’re using the slides, riding bikes or climbing around, there’ll be plenty of ways for your children to play at Kids Empire. Tickets give children access to the playground all day, including re-entry.
Pensacola youth should be able to explore the colorful new playground soon, with a grand opening set for the end of 2024 within Cordova Mall.
Jim ‘N Nick’s opened their doors on North Davis Highway in July to lengthy lines that held steady for weeks.
The southeastern barbecue chain was approved by the DRC in January to build their first Escambia County restaurant and started serving customers in University Town Plaza half a year later.
Jim ‘N Nicks hasn’t filed plans for another store in Escambia County, but they were also approved to develop a location in Pace by Santa Rosa County.
Senor Frog's
A popular restaurant and bar franchise from Mexico, Senor Frog’s opened up at the former home of Capt’n Funs Beach Club on has opened on Pensacola Beach.
Similar to the name of its predecessor, Senor Frog’s brings the atmosphere of a never-ending party. Whether you’re looking for tasty alcoholic drinks, Mexican food, delicacies like churros or even a simple burger with a beer, Senor Frog’s will have a variety of options available to try.
Señor Frog's is an international restaurant chain that opened in Mazatlán, Mexico, in 1970 and has expanded since to multiple locations across the Bahamas, Mexico and the U.S.
Jerimiah's Italian Ice
More Italian Ice and sweet treats will be available on West Nine Mile Road soon with Jerimiah’s moving into town.
Tom Kennedy, owner of the chain’s Navarre location, is opening the store in Northwest Pensacola which will be located inside an incoming building at 1491 W. Nine Mile Road.
The building was approved for construction in 2022 as part of the second phase in a project named Shoppes at Stefani. There will be other commercial businesses too, but they have not been confirmed at this time.
Jeremiah’s has stores open for business in more than 10 states including Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana. They also have over 70 locations up-and-running across Florida, with officials still planning to add more.
Cook Out
Southeastern fast-food chain Cook Out was approved again this year to develop its first restaurant in Escambia County after initially getting the greenlight two years ago.
Developers plan to demolish a former Regions Bank on East Nine Mile Road before constructing the 1,500-square-foot restaurant and drive-thru lanes.
Cook Out has more than 250 locations operating across 10 states, including Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi.
Mission BBQ
If you’ve been to Cordova Mall in recent months, you likely noticed the ongoing construction within the parking lot.
A new, 5,155-square-foot restaurant named Mission BBQ will operate out of the developing building once it’s finished. This project was issued a building permit from the city of Pensacola and was not under the jurisdiction of the county.
Mission BBQ is an American-barbecue restaurant chain that is based in Maryland and has locations in 19 states across the U.S.
Construction on the new Mission BBQ location in Escambia is nearing completion on Monday, Oct. 13, 2024.
Florida has almost 30 Mission BBQ restaurants and there are a few more opening soon, including Pensacola’s incoming location.
7 Brew
National coffee chain 7 Brew was approved by the DRC to develop its first Pensacola location in September, which will be created using a vacant lot in the Home Depot plaza near Smalls Sliders.
7 Brew was approved to make a 500-square-foot building with two drive-thru lanes using a near one-acre parcel.
7 Brew is a multi-state coffee chain that originated in Rogers, Arkansas, in 2017 with 18 locations up-and-running across Florida, according to their website.
There are three operating 7 Brew locations within 50 miles of Pensacola in Bay Minette, Crestview and Foley. There are also shops in Fort Walton Beach and Niceville.
Dutch Bros
The Oregon-based Coffee chain Dutch Bros was approved to develop their first Pensacola-area location in January that has already opened for business and is serving customers at 523 W. Nine Mile Road.
Developers built the 950-square-foot store and its drive-thru using a 0.75-acre parcel near Home Depot.
Since opening in September, the coffee establishment has seen long lines and eager faces looking to try their products.
Dutch Bros could have another store in Escambia County that is planned at the home of a former Checker’s restaurant on Barrancas Avenue. Their plans for that store have not been approved at the time of writing.
The chain has five stores open for business across Florida at this time.
Smalls Sliders
Pensacola’s new spot for Louisiana-style burgers, Smalls Sliders, opened their doors for business a month ago to empty stomachs and full lines.
Their plans to expand into Escambia County were approved by the DRC in late April and the chain brought in one of its signature cans shortly after.
Smalls Sliders plans to build more locations across Escambia County, but they have not announced where those potential locations are planned yet.
Escambia County hasn’t received development plans for more Smalls Sliders restaurants either.
