Two Massachusetts-based dining concepts with locations only in the Northeast are quickly expanding to Southwest Florida with multiple locations. Kelly’s Roast Beef and 110 Grill plan some of their first franchised restaurants in both Collier and Lee counties in 2023.
“We are moving down to Florida,” said Jeff Doward, the regional director of RAVentures, a hospitality franchise group that has 46 restaurants in New England and is opening Kelly’s and 110 Grill in Southwest Florida. “Obviously, there are a lot of transplants down here. Every day I get multiple calls from people who grew up with Kelly’s and can’t wait to see it.”
Kelly’s Roast Beef signed a commitment with three franchisee partners this year to build up to 43 units in Florida and New England. Up to 20 restaurants will be on the west coast of Florida and up to 17 will be on the east coast. Known in the Boston area for its roast beef sandwiches and lobster rolls, Kelly’s plans three fast-casual locations in the Naples area, “Though it’s very early, we do have some tentative time frames,” Doward said. “We are projecting to open at Founders Square in Naples sometime in the early part of 2023.”
Kelly’s plans a freestanding drive-thru on an outparcel fronting Immokalee Road just east of Collier Boulevard in Founders Square, the new mixed-use development on that corner. Kelly’s is targeted to open in March on a lot just east of the center’s Immokalee entrance and a 7-Eleven convenience store, gas station and car wash already under construction.
In the second quarter of 2023, Kelly’s projects a second Collier restaurant at an undisclosed location on Tamiami Trail East in East Naples and a third location at the end of next year or early 2024 in the Gateway Shoppes at North Bay at U.S. 41 North and Wiggins Pass Road in North Naples.
“As far as other locations, we are looking at Fort Myers to open (near Topgolf) in the late third quarter of 2023 and Babcock Ranch to open in the early fourth quarter of 2023,” Doward said.
The first Kelly’s outside of the Boston area is targeted to open Nov. 1 in a space that Sweet Tomatoes vacated at The Mall at University Town Center in Sarasota County. Other Gulf Coast locations are planned in North Port, Odessa, Parrish and South Pasadena near St. Pete Beach.
Meanwhile, Southwest Florida will be getting its first local taste of 110 Grill, a restaurant that features modern American cuisine in a trendy, casual atmosphere with a full bar. 110 Grill, named after Route 110 where it first opened in Massachusetts, has 36 locations in five states in the Northeast with the majority of the restaurants in Massachusetts. All locations feature horseshoe-shaped bars and outside patios with fire pits. The chain is especially known for its focus on allergy-friendly dining and its expansive gluten-free menu.
A 110 Grill will land first locally in The Plaza at Founders Square, under construction on the southeast corner of Immokalee Road and Collier Boulevard. The retail strip will be anchored by Sunshine Ace Hardware on its eastern end while 110 Grill will have the 6,200-square-foot western endcap with a large patio. The Founders Square location will probably open in July or August of next year, Doward said. “That will be one of our first one of those down here,” he said.
Other locations are planned near Coastland Center mall in Naples, near Topgolf in Fort Myers and in Babcock Ranch, Doward said.
