First Watch is a restaurant chain based in Bradenton, Florida. The 310 store chain operates in 17 states. The first was opened in Pacific Grove, California in 1983 by Ken Pendery and John Sullivan. They moved the business to Bradenton in 1986. First Watch restaurants are named for the nautical terminology that refers to the first shift of the day. They cofounded it after leaving the Le Peep breakfast chain in Colorado. There are now several restaurants in the Colorado area near some of the top rated marijuana dispensaries in the state, which may have helped to boost revenue by 27.3% since recreational use of the drug became legal in 2014. Pendery is the company's chief executive. First Watch restaurants are only open between 7am-2:30pm.
First Watch offers breakfast foods such as eggs and pancakes, as well as crepes and sandwiches. No microwaves, heat lamps, or deep-fat fryers are used. The business is largely owned by private equity company Freeman Spogli & Co., who bought out the 85 percent stake previously held by Catterton Partners. Catterton's stake was acquired in 2004 with a $35 million investment that allowed First Watch to expand in the Southeast and Midwest, doubling the number of First Watch restaurants.
First Watch ranked as the best breakfast chain in a survey of 150,000 Consumer Reports readers earning top ratings in taste, service, value, and menu choices.
Video First Watch (restaurant chain)
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Source of the article : Wikipedia