Ed’s Tavern, Nellie’s Deli, Five Nine Grill, EggTown: Restaurant News

SARASOTA-BRADENTON, FL — Here's the latest restaurant and bar news in the Sarasota and Bradenton area:

Demolition Underway for Hotel, Restaurant Project

Demolition continues at the site of a future hotel, 60-seat restaurant and retail project in Bradenton Beach.

101 Bridge Street, formerly the Freckled Fin, is the second of four buildings being torn down to pave the way for the 106-room resort, according to the Anna Maria Island Sun.

Meanwhile, demolition began at 129 Gulf Drive S., the former Joe’s Eats N Sweets, in December.

Nellie’s Deli Closes

Nellie’s Deli, Market and Catering, a long-running Sarasota business at 15 S. Beneva Road, has closed for good.

Owner Fredda Pohl has had a difficult time managing the business following the death of her husband and has decided to focus solely on catering, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Best Friends Open New Bradenton Sports Bar

Two Bradenton men, best friends who met playing sports together at 12, have opened a new sports bar, the Bradenton Herald reported.

Five Nine Grill & Tavern opened in early December at 5718 Cortez Road W. in the Cortez Commons shopping center.

New EggTown Restaurant Opening

A new EggTown restaurant is opening Feb. 24 in Sarasota, according to the company’s Facebook page.

The new location is in the Sarasota Crossing Shopping Center at 5495 Fruitville Road.

The restaurant, open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., is hiring for all positions. Weekend availability is a requirement.

Ed’s Tavern Opens Second Location

Ed’s Tavern opened its second restaurant in the Lakewood Ranch area fully opening at 1305 108th Street E., just off Upper Manatee River Road, the Observer Media Group reported.

The restaurant’s original location is on Main Street.

The new eatery is close to many of the restaurant’s regulars, co-owner Bob Bender said. "Many of our existing customers come from this area, and we are genuinely thrilled to be closer to them.”

Ohio Hot Dog Chain Opening in Venice

Hot Dog Shoppes, which has three locations in Ohio, expanded into Florida with a new Venice location, according to WFMJ.

The new location opened in a converted Burger King at 415 Venice Bypass.