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Wagamama moving its U.S. headquarters to Tampa
The pan-Asian restaurant chain currently has seven locations in the country.
Wagamama, a British-based pan-Asian restaurant chain, is moving its U.S. headquarters from New York City to Tampa.
Operations at the approximately 4,000-square-foot facility, at 1408 N. Westshore Blvd., are to begin Dec. 1. To start, 15 to 20 employees will work out of the new office.
“Tampa has proven over time that it is a great base for testing new concepts, fine-tuning them before you expand them across the country,” said Wagamama USA CEO Stephen Judge. “I also find that the customer base is quite discerning and that they give you feedback.”
Wagamama leadership wanted to find a central location to foster new growth strategies.
The area’s road system and the proximity to Tampa International Airport were attractive factors, Judge explained. Employees can travel from St. Petersburg, Brandon, Plant City or Clearwater easily.
He added that Tampa Bay’s local workforce played a role in the decision.
“We see Florida as a big growth market for us going forward, and we see the Tampa and St. Petersburg area being the base of that.”
Judge and his team hope to develop additional restaurants in the area and around the state in the future. Along with Florida, the company plans to focus on Texas and the southeastern U.S.
Wagamama has hired Suk Singh to serve as chief development officer to oversee U.S. site strategy and growth.
“Growth, if it is not done in a disciplined manner, can be a significant detractor to business performance,” Judge said.
The company, which was founded in London in 1992, currently has seven locations in the U.S., including one in the Tampa Water Street development. It also has restaurants in Boston, New York City and Arlington, Virginia.
Wagamama will no longer have an office in New York, Judge said.
It is owned by British-based The Restaurant Group, which is a subsidiary of New York-based Apollo Global Management.
