Cameron Mitchell Restaurants is kicking its Ocean Prime expansion into a higher gear, with plans to open 10 new locations over the next five years as the Columbus-born fine-dining brand celebrates its 20th anniversary. The company says it will debut the brand's 21st location in Nashville this spring and is scouting trophy markets across the Sun Belt and East Coast, with executives citing strong per-unit sales and a new guest program as key reasons they are comfortable speeding up growth.
What the company announced
As reported by Columbus Business First, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants told reporters it plans to add 10 Ocean Prime restaurants over the next five years. The outlet details company statements and industry context around the stepped-up growth strategy.
Targets and timing
In a press release via PR Newswire, CMR said Ocean Prime will open its 21st location in Nashville in March 2026. The company also identified Houston, Atlanta, Charlotte and parts of southeast Florida as priority markets it wants to explore. "I'm incredibly proud of the team and excited for the next chapter of growth," Cameron Mitchell said in the release.
The numbers behind the push
Industry reporting shows Ocean Prime is projecting roughly $285 million in sales this year and an average unit volume approaching $14 million, figures that help explain why CMR is comfortable accelerating openings, according to Nation's Restaurant News. Those metrics place Ocean Prime among the better-performing fine-dining concepts in the United States.
Local roots, national reach
CMR is based in Columbus and lists its corporate offices at 390 W. Nationwide Blvd.; the company operates dozens of restaurants across multiple concepts, per Cameron Mitchell Restaurants. That Columbus home base gives Ocean Prime a proving ground for menu and service tweaks before the company rolls them out more widely.
Where Ocean Prime could land next
The PR Newswire release says the company will focus on "trophy locations" that can support high average unit volumes and that it plans to launch a new guest loyalty and rewards program to deepen repeat visits. Operators and brokers will be watching how quickly CMR turns site scouting in those target metros into signed leases and full buildouts.
What to watch
The next big milestone is Ocean Prime Nashville, slated for March 2026, which the brand lists on its growth page as the next scheduled debut, per Ocean Prime. After Nashville, the company is expected to roll out expansion news city by city instead of unveiling a single, coast-to-coast launch plan.
