Wagamama USA Shifts Headquarters From New York to Tampa in December

Wagamama USA will relocate its main offices from New York City to Tampa on Dec. 1. The pan-Asian restaurant chain shared this news Wednesday as part of plans to grow bigger.

The new workspace will sit at 1408 N. Westshore Blvd., Suite 200. Leaders from the company said this transition helps them expand more smoothly, bring in better workers and update how things run day-to-day.

"Relocating to Tampa positions us for long-term growth," Stephen Judge, CEO of Wagamama USA, said in a statement per WTSP. "It allows us to continue building a world-class team and strengthen the foundations required for disciplined expansion."

London saw the birth of this chain back in 1992. Seven restaurants now serve customers throughout the United States, with spots popping up in New York, Boston, Virginia, and Tampa.

You'll find the Tampa spot on Water Street. Other places in America? Midtown, Murray Hill, and Nomad in New York City. There's Prudential Center and Faneuil Hall over in Boston. Arlington, Virginia, has one too.

The Restaurant Group controls the brand through Apollo. Decision-makers picked Tampa because it mixes skilled workers, easy access, and room to grow for years ahead.

Suk Singh just got named chief development officer. He'll handle where new restaurants go and which markets to enter. This hire came during a year packed with new leaders and big changes to how the business operates.

Tampa has pulled in many national companies lately. Why? The area costs less to operate in, workers with the right skills live there, and life feels good — all things that matter when corporations decide to move.

This relocation brings one more worldwide brand to Tampa's growing list of corporate names. Business experts think the shift will help Wagamama stretch into more U.S. markets.

Officials from the company spent last year rebuilding how operations work to get ready for bigger plans. Moving to Tampa? Leaders say that's what comes next as the brand pushes forward.

The choice mirrors what lots of companies are doing — hunting for places away from the usual coastal cities. Tampa's welcoming stance toward business keeps pulling in money from hospitality companies and others.

Monday, Dec. 1 is when the headquarters change becomes real.