Ford Fry expanding his restaurant empire to Charleston and Houston

Restaurateur Ford Fry is on the move again. Atlanta's culinary king is bringing his Tex-Mex concept, Superica, to Charleston, S.C., as reported by the Charleston City Paper and Chris Fuhrmeister of Eater.

Ford Fry

Fry told the AJC that although the details on the lease are still being worked out, he is confident that an agreement will be reached. "We are not signed yet. It is coming really close," he said and anticipates opening that Superica location in the spring of 2016. Another Superica location is also slated to open in Atlanta in February of next year. That eatery will be located in the Buckhead Court shopping center at 3850 Roswell Road.

This year has proven to be a busy one for Fry and his Rocket Farms Restaurant group. Superica opened at Krog Street Market in February. Marcel, which the AJC recently awarded three out of four stars, was added to the lot this summer. Bar Margot debuted less than two weeks ago and , last week, Fry announced  that his casual seafood-centric BeetleCat will unlock doors in Inman Quarter this November .

Fry's Rocket Farms Restaurants group also operates JCT. Kitchen, No. 246, The Optimist, King + Duke ,  St. Cecilia and The El Felix in Atlanta. The empire is heading west, too, with State of Grace, a Southern inspired coastal-cuisine concept, slated to open in Houston Oct. 19. And Houston may not be a one-and-done for Fry and his team. "In Houston, it kind of makes sense to do something more than one. If anything, it would lean to the seafood side of things and the Mexican side of things."

Atlanta, Charleston, Houston. Any other cities on Fry's radar? "We are looking in Nashville," said Fry. "It would most likely be a Superica or a sister spinoff to something we are currently doing."