Fabio Viviani's New American restaurant is taking over an old Applebee's in Oldsmar
By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Sep 9, 2021

Celebrity chef Fabio Viviani's New American restaurant is adding a third location in the Tampa Bay area — this time by retrofitting a former Applebee's.

Chuck Lager America's Tavern has signed a lease for the 5,257-square-foot freestanding restaurant at 4016 Tampa Road in Oldsmar. Paul Fischetti, managing director with Colliers in Tampa, represented Viviani and the restaurant in the lease transaction. A team from LandQwest Commercial — Tom Strauss, Jessica McEvoy and Charlie Alloway — represented the landlord.

The Chuck Lager menu features classics like sandwiches, tacos, flatbreads and burgers and as well as a selection of more upscale entrees.

The deal comes just one week after Westshore Marina District announced it had signed a deal with Viviani for the Chuck Lager concept to anchor its retail village. The Bay area's first Chuck Lager location opened in Wesley Chapel in late 2020.

Operating partners Brian Henry and Anthony Sandstrom are behind all three locations in the Tampa Bay area.

Viviani is best known for the three seasons he spent on Bravo's "Top Chef," where he won the title of "fan favorite." Fabio Viviani Hospitality, based in Chicago, has more than 30 restaurants across the U.S.

After exiting the restaurants he owned in partnership with Nocturnal Group, Viviani said he was planning to rebuild his brand in the Tampa area.