Southern fast-food chain Cook Out buys Tampa real estate
By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: May 17, 2024

Cook Out, a fast-food chain with locations throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, has purchased two Tampa properties that will be among the company's first Florida locations.

North Carolina-based Cook Out in early May acquired two former Boston Market locations: In Carrollwood at 16215 N Dale Mabry Hwy. and 5501 E. Fowler Ave., near the Museum of Science and Industry. The Fowler site traded for $3.5 million; the Carrollwood property sold for $2.5 million, according to Hillsborough County property records. The transactions closed on May 9 and May 10.

Both properties are stand-alone, single-tenant buildings with drive-thrus. It's not known whether Cook Out intends to renovate the buildings or demolish them to make way for new ones. The Fowler property is just over 3,272 square feet on .55 acres; the Carrollwood restaurant is 3,157 square feet on .95 acres.

With a dearth of retail real estate development, it has been difficult for new-to-market concepts to open in the Tampa area.

Plans for Cook Out's first Florida locations emerged in 2023, with sites in the works in Tallahassee and the Pensacola area. No Florida stores are listed as coming soon on Cook Out's website.

Representatives for Cook Out did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Cook Out is known for backyard cookout favorites — chargrilled hamburgers, chicken breasts and hot dogs — and milkshakes and side dishes like hush puppies, fries, slaw and onion rings. Buying shuttered Boston Market locations appears to be Cook Out's real estate strategy in 2024: Earlier this month, the chain closed on a former Boston Market in Raleigh. Cook Out has been on a real estate buying spree in the Triad area of North Carolina.