Former NFL Player Opening The Peach Cobbler Factory In Bradenton

BRADENTON, FL — A former NFL player is opening a new eatery in Bradenton this month.

Michael Lehan will open the doors to The Peach Cobbler Factory, 629 Cortez Road W., on Saturday, according to a news release. Raffle prizes will be given away throughout the grand opening event, which takes place from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. that day.

The dessert restaurant, a national chain, offers various signature treats, including cobblers, cookies, banana puddings, cobbler cookies, Pudd-N shakes, brownies, cinnamon rolls, churro stix and Belgium waffles.

Lehan, a Bradenton resident, was inspired by his biological father, Melvin, to open The Peach Cobbler Factory.

The former pro football player was adopted and spent time in foster care. Later in life, he met his biological family after his freshman year of college.

One core memory stands out for Lehan: Every time he visited his biological father, Melvin would have a peach cobbler waiting for him as soon as he walked in the door. His birth father died a few years after they met.

“The smell meant I was home. A man of few words, his love language was an act of service — and that cobbler was his way of saying, ‘I love you,’” Lehan said. “As we open our doors, we offer love in the form of service, hoping to bring a little sweetness and maybe even a touch of peace. I am thrilled to open The Peach Cobbler Factory … and share this full-circle moment with our community.”

He plans to open additional locations in Manatee County.

Lehan spent six seasons in the NFL as a defensive back for the Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints.

After retiring from professional football, he shifted his focus to education. With a doctorate in education, he now serves as the district vice president for Fusion Education Group. He also serves on the board for several local nonprofits.