First Watch, Outback, Selby Gardens, Rise Up Cafe: Restaurant News

SARASOTA-BRADENTON, FL — Check out the latest restaurant and bar news in Sarasota and Manatee counties:

First Watch Former CEO, Co-Founder Dies

The co-founder and former CEO of Bradenton-based First Watch, Ken Pendery, died Monday at age 70 from a rare neurological disorder, the Tampa Bay Business Journal reported.

In 2022, he retired from the company’s board of directors.

Pendery and the breakfast, lunch and brunch brand’s other co-founder, John Sullivan, launched the company in California before moving operations to Manatee County in the mid-1980s. He served as CEO from the late 1990s to 2018, when he became executive chair.

Garden-to-Table Restaurant Opens at Selby Gardens

The Green Orchid by Michael’s On East, a fully solar-powered garden-to-table restaurant, has opened at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

It will be the world’s first net-positive energy restaurant, generating more energy than it consumes, according to a news release.

The eatery was designed by Overland Partners and is operated by Sarasota Michael’s On East restaurant.

The Drs. Andrew and Judith Economos Rooftop Edible Garden at Selby Gardens provides fresh produce for a seasonally inspired menu. The garden was planned, planted, and is maintained by Operation EcoVets, a non-profit organization that provides personal, educational and professional growth opportunities for military veterans.

The Green Orchid’s menu incorporates vegetarian and vegan options, caters to a wide range of dietary preferences, and showcases the versatility of vegetables and grains, the news release said.

Downtown Cafe Moving to Airport

Cafe and ice cream shop Rise Up Cafe is moving into the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport. It closed its downtown Sarasota location Feb. 24 ahead of the move.

“This is HUGE for our team of dedicated employees to be seen and interact with an infinite number of people everyday, reaching far beyond the limits of our current location,” Rise Up’s owners wrote in a Facebook post.

They’re now focusing fully “on the expanded opportunity at the airport along with our collaborations with The Haven - that we guarantee will have a massively positive impact on the lives of the people we serve,” they wrote. “We thank you all for your support in the first stages of our development and now it’s time to FLY at the SRQ airport! Bring. It. On.”

Mexican Restaurant Opening Soon at Waterside Place

Agave Bandido, a new Mexican restaurant and tequila bar, will open March 11 at Lakewood Ranch’s Waterside Place, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune said.

"Agave Bandido at Waterside Place is poised to be a standout culinary destination, bringing the spirit of Mexico to Sarasota with its vibrant ambiance, exceptional cuisine, and exclusive experiences," the owners said in a statement.

The restaurant boasts a menu described as a "contemporary twist on traditional Mexican cuisine” and more than 200 tequilas.

Sarasota Outback Among 41 Closing Nationwide

The Outback Steakhouse restaurant at 7207 South Tamiami Trail in Sarasota is among the dozens of restaurants closed nationwide by Tampa-based Bloomin’ Brands Inc.

In addition to Outback, the company’s brands include Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, and Aussie Grill.

The company’s CEO, David Deno, told Nation’s Restaurant News that Bloomin’ Brands would close 41 restaurants across the country.

“We periodically review our asset base and, in our latest review, we made the decision to close 41 underperforming locations. The majority of these restaurants were older assets with leases from the ‘90s and early 2000s,” he said, adding, “This decision considered a variety of factors including sales and traffic-trade areas and the investment that would have to be made to improve the restaurants. Despite this initiative, our confidence in our portfolio remains high as we plan to open 40 to 45 new restaurants across the system in 2024.”