LIME Fresh Mexican Grill, a South-Florida-born fast-casual Mexican restaurant concept, plans to open seven new locations in the next 24 months. This will include restaurants in Palm Beach Gardens, Midtown Miami, North Miami, Dania Beach, West Palm Beach, Aventura, and Brickell. Slated for May of 2017, the Palm Beach Gardens location (3331 Northlake Boulevard) will be the first to open in the new store roll-out.
Recently purchased by EverFresh Endeavors LLC, LIME Fresh Mexican Grill boasts a buzzing social atmosphere with neighborhood appeal and prides itself on providing outstanding service to regulars and new customers alike. Elevating the standards of the fast-casual industry, LIME offers Mexican-inspired dishes made with quality ingredients sourced daily from local vendors and prepared without the use of microwaves or freezers. The restaurant currently has six locations throughout South Florida (Downtown Dadeland, West Kendall, Doral, Pembroke Pines, Plantation and West Boca Raton), plus two on-campus locations at the University of Miami and Texas A&M University.
In 2004, LIME opened its first location with a modest 800-square-foot store on Alton Road in South Beach. The concept quickly established a following of LIME craving fanatics while expanding to other locations throughout Miami-Dade and beyond. Now under the direction of EverFresh Endeavors, LIME has renewed its core mission to elevate the standard of the fast-casual segment by providing guests with unparalleled customer service and fresh, quality ingredients.
EverFresh Endeavors, based in Fort Lauderdale, is comprised of an impressive team of industry veterans. CEO Joey Belmont has executed the sale, lease and buildout of over 50 restaurants and understands the importance of franchisee quality, brand management and location selection. Prior to joining EverFresh, Belmont was a partner at Belmont Investment Corp/ Weston Leasing and a former operator of 7 Class-A retail shopping centers located throughout South Florida. Belmont is responsible for the LIME’s expansion strategy, market analyses, site acquisitions and development. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Government and Real Estate Law from Cornell University and recently completed an organic/non-GMO nutrition program.
COO Mike Outlaw brings 25 years of experience in the restaurant industry, holding positions spanning from VP of Operations at Compass, PLC to VP of Ops at Hard Rock Café. At HardRock, he personally oversaw the operations of 78 locations. Outlaw oversees the operations at LIME’s locations.
CMO Nick Castaldo has over 30 years of experience in the chain restaurant industry and is responsible for LIME’s branding, marketing, and public relations. He was an equity partner and member of the founding management team of Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza and served as President, Senior Vice President/Chief Marketing Officer and Board Member for 12 years. He also served for eight years as President of Pollo Tropical, a Miami-based, fast-casual restaurant chain and held executive positions at a number of industry-leading restaurant corporations.
CFO Vinay Rama is a life-long hotelier with experience in hotel investments, development, operations and brokerage. Starting with entry level positions in housekeeping and food operations, Rama advanced into the ranks of hospitality management before moving into a corporate position in sales and marketing. Rama is a graduate of Cornell University School of Hotel Administration.
CIO Lee Babcock has been in the hospitality industry for more than fourteen years and the field of commercial real estate for more than twenty. Babcock’s career in commercial real estate has included experience in office, retail and multi-family assets, with a focus on hospitality since working for Gaylord Entertainment and RLJ Development, a $1 billion hotel and mixed-use private equity fund.
Lee holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where he concentrated in analytical finance and accounting. He is a former infantry officer in the Army National Guard and was deployed as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
“The LIME brand stands out from the other fast-casual concepts because it is service driven and features the best and freshest ingredients,” says Joey Belmont, CEO of Lime Fresh Mexican Grill. “LIME fanatics crave our unique offerings because we serve real, freshly-made-to-order food accompanied by an enthusiastic staff that really enhances the guest experience. LIME is edgy yet friendly, and we have built a laid-back culture with a focus on flavor and fun.”
EverFresh currently has two franchisees developing the Miami, Broward and Palm Beach markets. Left Field Holdings LLC is represented by Grant Gussin, President, which owns and operates the three LIME Fresh restaurants in Downtown Dadeland, West Kendall, and Doral in Miami. Franchisee group Salsa Management Inc., run by Nick Boros and David Pettit, owns and operates three LIME Fresh restaurants at The Shops at Pembroke Gardens in Pembroke Pines, The Fountains in Plantation, and Shadowood Square in Boca Raton.