New Stores, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Coming to Westfield Brandon

Ruby makes way for red at the Westfield Brandon shopping mall, with construction under way for a fall opening of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, which debuted in 1969 with a restaurant in Seattle.

Red Robin takes the place of the newly closed Ruby Tuesday, across from Panera Bread, and is slated to open in the fall, according to spokeswoman Dawn Arvidson.

“We’ve heard nothing but great, great things about Red Robin and we’re excited to have them here,” she said.

Also coming to the mall are Crazy 8, Great Glam and Pandora, all slated for spring openings.

• Crazy 8, the newest addition to the Gymboree chain, offers “fashionable outfits at a great value for girls and boys sizes 0 to 14,” according to a mall news release.

• Great Glam features for ladies “affordable, trendy clothing and accessories.”

• Pandora specializes in “hand-finished, modern jewelry that inspires women to express their individuality” by building their own charm bracelets.

As for Red Robin, the chain has more than 450 restaurants across the nation, including in Miami. The menu features gourmet burgers and chicken sandwiches, “as well as salads, entrees and signature ‘Bottomless Beverages,’ ” according to the company’s Web site. For those craving a burger, but not eating meat, the restaurant serves turkey burgers and fish sandwiches as well as “Gardenburger” and vegan “Boca Burger” offerings.

Red Robin joins , The Brass Tap, , Ryuu Japanese Steak House, and GrillSmith in the Westfield Brandon Restaurant Courtyard.

“Red Robin, they do make a nice burger, it’s massive,” said mall diner Dann Berkowitz, who added that he was surprised to learn of Ruby Tuesday’s closing. “If I had to choose between the two, Red Robin is much more family and kid-friendly. Ruby Tuesday was more for older people, and where you bring a date. It’s going to be a good change.”

Arvidson said she expects a fall opening for Red Robin Gourmet Burgers. Currently, there is a large, white box space in front of the space. Behind that façade, “the whole space will be demolished and redone,” Arvidson said. “It’ll be a whole new space [design] inside.”

Update: As for the , a new restaurant has signed on, Arvidson said, but that announcement will be coming once the permitting is complete. Arvidson said she expects to announce the new tenant in three to four weeks.

As for Ruby Tuesday, the closest restaurant is open at 1812 East State Road 60 in the Greater Brandon community of Valrico. The restaurant opens every day at 10:45 a.m. and closes Friday and Saturday at 11 p.m. and all other days at 10 p.m.