First Watch opens in Gainesville

Breakfast, brunch and lunch chain First Watch is now open in Gainesville. The Bradenton-based restaurant, located at 3729 SW 40 Blvd. off Archer Road, is serving free coffee to Gainesville customers through Nov. 22 to celebrate opening week.

From 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily, First Watch is open for pickup, delivery and dine-in at the 3,900-square-foot storefront that features a covered patio and indoor and outdoor bar.

According to a press release, the daytime diner operates in more than 540 locations across 29 states. They serve an "elevated approach" to traditional favorites such as Avocado Toast, Lemon Ricotta Pancakes and Million Dollar Bacon., as well as five seasonal menus that offer fresh ingredients based on the position of the sun. All dishes are made to order in a kitchen without heat lamps, microwaves or deep fryers.

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The restaurant bar brews fresh juices made in-house daily and Project Sunrise coffee, sourced by women coffee farmers based in South America.

The Gainesville location will offer its first seasonal menu in 2025 and will employ around 30 people under a "No Night Shifts Ever" approach. This aims to help the team enjoy their evenings and build a better quality of life. Newsweek and the Best Practice Institute named First Watch the 2024 #1 Most Loved Workplace in America, and in 2023 Yelp included the restaurant on the inaugural list of top 50 most-loved brands in the U.S.

Anyone interested in placing an order or joining a digital waitlist can. Job applications can be found here.