By Laura Kinsler
LUTZ — On the heels of opening their fourth Ford’s Garage restaurant — this one in Brandon — the owners of the gourmet burger and craft beer eatery are eying a parcel at Cypress Creek Town Center.

Founder Mark Brown has scheduled a meeting with Pasco County planners to discuss filing plans for a 7,500-square-foot restaurant at the shopping center, which is home to Tampa Premium Outlets, now under construction.
Brown and his co-owners — Daniel Kearns, Zak Kearns and Mike McGuigan — started the chain in Fort Myers in 2012 and have locations in Cape Coral and at Miromar Outlets in Estero. They took over a former Buca di Beppo building on Causeway Boulevard in Brandon and opened in June.
All Ford’s Garage restaurants are designed to emulate a 1920s service station with Ford Model T and Model A cars hanging over the bars. The founders have a first-of-its-kind brand-licensing agreement with Ford Motor Co., which Brown said gives them access to Ford trademarks and logos.
They plan to franchise the concept in the future.
“Ford has really become strong partners from a community relations and branding perspective,” Brown told The Tampa Tribune last year. “They are excited about the concept and are really encouraging us to open up in the Detroit area. We have plans to grow the concept throughout the United States.”
The restaurant specializes in prime burgers, meatloaf, steak, salads and a variety of macaroni and cheese variations including versions with pork or lobster. They also feature 180 different types of bottled craft beers and 20 draft beers.
“It’s a prime burger and comfort food menu,” Brown said. “We do sell a terrific amount of burgers.”