A newly built Pollo Campero restaurant in Tampa has sold for $3.06 million, adding to a wave of quick-service restaurant deals attracting national investor interest across the region.
The 2,500-square-foot property at 6331 W. Waters Ave. opened in March 2025 and was sold this month in under 30 days. Marcus & Millichap, the national brokerage firm behind the deal, announced that the transaction involved a 1031 exchange buyer, a type of investor who reinvests profits from another property to defer taxes.
“This property attracted strong investor interest and ultimately closed in under 30 days,” said Don McMinn, senior managing director of investments at Marcus & Millichap. “It underscores demand for new quick-service restaurant assets in expanding markets and a growing 1031 buyer pool.”
McMinn and Andrew Koriwchak of the Taylor McMinn Retail Group represented the seller in partnership with Ryan Nee, Marcus & Millichap’s Florida broker of record.
What happened
The sale marks another milestone for the Taylor McMinn Retail Group, which specializes in quick-service restaurant properties across the state.
The group has closed multiple single-tenant transactions in Florida this year, reflecting investor appetite for corporate-backed ground leases with predictable returns.
The Pollo Campero site sits between major retail anchors and logistics centers, creating a strong base for steady traffic.
It is located next to a new Chipotle and across from a Target- and Lowe’s-anchored shopping center, reflecting how Tampa’s retail expansion is following population and employment growth along key commuter routes such as Waters Avenue.
The property is leased under a 15-year corporate ground lease, a structure that often appeals to institutional and high-net-worth investors seeking reliable cash flow with minimal management responsibilities.
Why this sale matters
The sale is small in dollar amount but symbolic of a larger trend.
Tampa’s west-side neighborhoods are becoming reliable investment zones for national food chains and the investors who follow them.
The area around Waters Avenue has long been defined by its industrial and logistics backbone. Within two miles of the site, there are more than 8.5 million square feet of warehouse and industrial space serving major operators such as Amazon, FedEx and UPS.
That mix of logistics, workforce density and access to Tampa International Airport makes the area a prime target for fast-food expansion and for investors seeking assets backed by national brands.
These deals appeal to private investors completing 1031 exchanges who are often looking for predictable, inflation-resistant assets in markets with job growth and stable demand. Quick-service restaurants, especially corporate-leased properties, continue to outperform traditional retail in those categories.
What it means for Tampa Bay
Tampa’s restaurant real estate market remains one of the most resilient retail segments in the region. As construction costs stabilize and consumer spending levels remain strong, new-build quick-service restaurant properties such as Pollo Campero, Chick-fil-A and Raising Cane’s are leading activity in mid-tier submarkets outside downtown and Westshore.
For local investors and developers, the takeaway is simple: demand has not slowed. Ground leases with corporate tenants are still closing quickly, often above asking price and frequently with exchange buyers.
For brands such as Pollo Campero, which operates more than 100 restaurants nationwide, Tampa offers an opportunity to reach a diverse, fast-growing customer base while benefiting from the region’s strong workforce and tourism.
The bigger picture
Tampa’s growth is creating a ripple effect in real estate activity, from large mixed-use projects downtown to smaller, targeted quick-service restaurant developments near logistics parks and workforce housing. Deals like this reflect how investment attention is expanding outward, following population shifts and infrastructure improvements.
Whether it is Waters Avenue, Hillsborough Avenue or neighborhoods near the airport, national brands are planting roots in areas once considered secondary markets. With each transaction, those areas become more established as reliable places to invest, work and grow.
Key takeaway
The Pollo Campero sale highlights the continued strength of Tampa’s retail real estate market and the region’s growing national visibility among investors.
Even smaller transactions are moving quickly, backed by population growth, business expansion and steady demand for brand-backed assets.
In areas around the airport, national brands are planting flags in neighborhoods once considered secondary markets. And with each transaction, those areas become more firmly established as reliable places to invest, work and build.
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