Restaurant chain eyes Southwest Florida

Vapiano, named the "Future of Fresh Casual" by Foodservice Europe, secured its first U.S. franchisee this week. Vapiano KFC veteran franchisee Konrad Woest and his daughter will develop multiple Vapiano restaurants in Southwest Florida including Naples, Fort Myers and Sarasota. The father-daughter duo expects to open their first restaurant by spring of 2008.

"I have seen first hand Vapiano's amazing success and popularity in one major European markets after another," says Woest. "It is a very unique and exciting concept that I know will be well received here in Florida."

Vapiano has grown from a single unit to over 25 locations open in only three years. Many of their restaurants can be found throughout Germany, in key European markets such as Zurich, Vienna, Istanbul, Budapest and now the United States. Vapiano has already opened two corporately owned restaurants in the greater Washington, D.C. area and plans to open three additional corporately owned restaurants in the same area over the next few years to serve as the launching pad for an aggressive U.S. expansion.

In addition to D.C, Vapiano will be targeting Chicago, Miami and other key markets for corporate expansion and already has a number of prospective franchisees identified for supplementary markets across the country.

Vapiano's unmistakably modern image was created by Milan's star architect and designer, Matteo Thun. The restaurant radiates an energetic, cosmopolitan lifestyle with a Mediterranean flair. Contemporary fine oak furnishings, natural stone, and soft earth-toned leather compliment sophisticated Villeroy & Boch dinnerware and hip pop-lounge music.