Kelly’s Roast Beef is coming to Sarasota, other locations – Sarasota Herald-Tribune

There's roast beef, and then there's the Original Roast Beef Sandwich - and it's coming to Sarasota this summer.

Kelly's Roast Beef, theiconic Boston-area restaurantknown for itslobster rolls, clam chowder and sandwiches piled with pastrami, chicken salad and roast beef, will opena 3,500-square-foot location in the Square at University Town Center in thesummer.

The fast-casual restaurantwill take overthe former Sweet Tomatoes location at 5407 University Parkway. Construction is expected to begin soon, and the site will have a drive-thru and both indoor and outdoor seating.

Kelly's, which started as a hot dog stand onRevere Beach north of Bostonin 1951, currently has four corporate-owned locations in Massachusetts. The companystarted franchising in 2020, and a story that ran in the Sun-Sentinelfrom that summer indicated an interest in the Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach markets.

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The expansion into Southwest Florida, however, is happening through a partnership with theMassachusetts-basedgroupbehind modern American restaurant concept 110 Grill. The company currently operatesfive brands - 110 Grill, Italian eatery Evviva Trattoria, amusement company Apex Entertainment, barbecue joint Willie Jewell's and now Kelly's.

Ryan Dion, 110 Grill's chief operating officer, said the company has the rights to franchise Kelly's in 22 Florida counties. His business partner spends winters in the Naples area, so they're familiar with the Florida market, and they think there's a dearth of quality sandwich and soup places in the area.

It also helps that Florida has few COVID restrictions, Dion said. That makes doing business here feel a bit more secure.

"Were excited that it'snot restricted down there, and also 1,000 new people relocate to Floridadaily which is extremely exciting," he said. "The weather also helps."

At Kelly's, customers can choose from sandwiches like the lobster roll -prepared Maine-style with diced celery and mayonnaise - the reuben, the pastrami sandwich and traditional grill dishes like hot dogs and hamburgers. The roast beef sandwich is usually served with barbecue sauce, Dion said, and it comes on a grilled sesame seed roll.

Sarasota will be the first location of Kelly's that 110 Grill brings to Florida, but it won't be its last. Already, the company has plans to bring Kelly's to Parrish, North Port and Venice, all in properties owned by University Town Center creator Benderson Development Co. of Manatee County.

Kelly's will be in the Cocoplum Village Shoppes at U.S. 41 and Sumter Boulevard in North Port, in the former Albertsons in Venice at 1590 U.S. 41 Bypass South and in Parrish's Creekside Commons.

"We believe Floridais a great state to do business in," Dion said.

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Kelly's Roast Beef is coming to Sarasota, other locations - Sarasota Herald-Tribune