ORANGE BEACH, Ala. - When the original occupant of a restaurant in Orange Beach closed, the owners of Rotolo’s Pizza at the other end of the same building thought it might be a good time move on that space as well.

“Two weeks after Arigato closed, we expressed interest in the spot,” spokeswoman Stefanie Reynolds said. “They had already leased it but we told them to give us a call if the space became available again.”

Bikini Wings opened in the place and made some noise for a while before it closed after only a few months.

Now Rotolos owner Bill Luebbert, who owns several Rotolos and Hurricane Wings and Grill franchises, can put his restaurant in the space. Hurricane Wings and Grill already has signs up.

Plans are to open on March 4. It is located in Orange Beach in the Publix complex between the grocery store on the north and CVS on the south.

The same building has a nail salon and a combination Subway and Bruester’s ice cream shop.

“We knew that another restaurant would soon open in that place, and we decided we would rather compete with ourselves,” Reynolds said. “We have a diverse menu, beach style decor, a unique music playlist, surfboard tables and a fun atmosphere.”

According to the company’s website, this will be the first franchise in Alabama. The company has about 50 with most located in Florida, but with franchises in Arizona, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina.

“Orange Beach is such a beautiful area with the same laid back coastal atmosphere that makes Hurricane Grill & Wings so enjoyable,” Martin O'Dowd, President of Hurricane Grill & Wings, said.

Rotolos has 27 locations, most in Louisiana. Alabama locations are both in Baldwin County in Orange Beach and Fairhope. There are two locations in the Florida panhandle as well.