Fogo de Chão expects summer debut for 3rd NJ restaurant

Fogo de Chão’s new location in Bridgewater is set to open in late June at Bridgewater Commons. - PROVIDED BY FOGO DE CHAO

Kimberly Redmond//June 6, 2024//

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Brazilian restaurant chain Fogo de Chão expects to soon open its third location in New Jersey.

After signing a lease agreement last summer with Bridgewater Commons in Bridgewater, the international brand plans to launch its new restaurant in late June, a company spokesperson told NJBIZ.

The Somerset County location will follow Fogo de Chão’s in-state debut in February 2023 at Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus and November 2023 opening at Willowbrook Mall in Wayne.

Founded in 1979, Fogo de Chão serves grilled, seasoned meats cooked churrasco-style on skewers and then carved at the table by the chefs, known as gauchos. Its menus for lunch, dinner, weekend brunch and group dining also feature chicken, lamb, pork, seafood and salads.

The Bridgewater restaurant will feature an expansive dining room centered around an open-air churrasco grill. – PROVIDED BY FOGO DE CHAO

The Dallas-headquartered concept has since grown to 75-plus restaurants throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, Brazil, Mexico, Dubai and Saudi Arabia, including a flagship in New York City.

Last year, Bain Capital Private Equity acquired Fogo de Chão from Rhône Capital in a deal reportedly valued at $1.1 billion.

A frequent restaurant investor, Bain Capital has a long history of partnering with companies to accelerate growth and has had past holdings in businesses including Domino’s Pizza, Burger King, Dunkin’ and Bloomin’ Brands.

Following the deal’s close in September 2023, both the new ownership and restaurant leadership said they planned to accelerate expansion of Fogo de Chão. As part of its strategic growth plans for 2024 and 2025, the brand expects to open 20 new locations in existing markets and previously untapped areas.

On the menu

Besides Bridgewater, this year’s launches include Brooklyn, Richmond, Miami, Seattle, Orlando, Toronto, Vancouver and New York City’s World Trade Center. The concept expects to open its 100th restaurant globally this year, too.

Fogo de Chão's Gaucho Chefs practice the culinary art of Churrasco-butchering, preparing and fire-roasting different cuts of protein over an open flame. — Fogo de Chão’s Gaucho Chefs practice the culinary art of churrasco-butchering, preparing and fire-roasting different cuts of protein over an open flame. – PROVIDED BY FOGO DE CHÃO

Recently announced domestic leases and planned international openings span from Washington, D.C., to the Philippines to Turkey to Nashville.

In a statement earlier this year, Barry McGowan, Fogo de Chão’s chief executive officer, said, “As we look ahead to the next 24 months, Fogo de Chão is positioned for yet another transformative chapter of growth as we continue to scale our authentic experiential dining concept globally.”

“We are a category-leading, international brand and are actively securing leases and forging development agreements in regions where we already have a presence, while simultaneously breaking ground in new capital cities around the world,” he said.