Q: Do you know what is being built in front of Bealls where Old 41 and 41 meet? —Deb Wagner Stratmann, Bonita Springs
A: The second area location of Kelly’s Roast Beef will join two undisclosed retailers in that multiunit outparcel in the Gateway Shoppes at North Bay on the northwest corner of U.S. 41 and Wiggins Pass Road in North Naples.
The restaurant franchise group for the Boston-based Kelly’s Roast Beef and Oar & Iron Raw Bar & Grill recently burst out of the gate in Collier and Lee counties with aggressive expansion plans for both dining concepts. RAVentures Hospitality Group recently opened its first area locations of Kelly’s and Oar & Iron at Founders Square in Collier County but the company already plans at least three more area locations of each brand.
Kelly’s Roast Beef launched its first area location last August on an outparcel lot at Founders Square, a mixed-use development on the southeastern corner of Immokalee Road and Collier Boulevard. Oar & Iron launched dinner service Dec. 27 and lunch Jan. 9 nearby on the western end of The Plaza at Founders Square, a retail strip anchored by Sunshine Ace Hardware.
It’s been common over the years for franchisees or restaurant groups with the best of intentions to promise future expansion in the region, but those plans rarely pan out. RAVentures, though, has done more than talk about what it’s going to do. Signs everywhere support its intentions for regional expansion.
At least three other Oar & Iron casual upscale restaurants and three other Kelly’s Roast Beef drive-thru locations are planned in the region.
“Our next ones will be next summer. We’re going up to Fort Myers. We’re right next to Topgolf, right off of 75 literally right next to Topgolf,” said Ryan Dion, chief executive officer of RAVentures Hospitality. “We’re going to do an Oar & Iron as well as a Kelly’s Roast Beef, which is part of our family, there. We also have a hotel that’s going to be opened probably next year that we’re building as well, which is very exciting.”
The Fort Myers location is under construction and targeted to open this summer, Dion said, near a planned SpringHill Suites, an all-suite hotel brand operated by Marriott International. Kelly’s Roast Beef will be in another freestanding building about 200 yards away near Interstate 75 and Colonial Boulevard.
“We’ve got another (Oar & Iron) coming to Naples which I know we’re focused on over by the Coastland mall near the Macy’s there. We’re going to have a 6,000-square-foot standalone right in front of there. As well, we’re looking for some more pieces of real estate in Florida. We’re sticking on the west coast for now.”
Expect groundbreaking of the Coastland Center location soon for a restaurant targeted to open in early 2025, Dion said. “We need to build that building as well as, obviously, do the interior fit out. They have some sitework to do there, rearrange the parking lot and all that.”
The hospitality team also plans an Oar & Iron in Babcock Ranch. “That most likely will end up being early next year—or it could be late this year—but most likely early next year,” he said.
Founded in 1951 in Revere, Massachusetts, Kelly’s Roast Beef is known for its roast beef sandwiches, lobster rolls and fried seafood. The first Kelly’s Roast Beef on the Gulf Coast opened in The Square at University Town Center in Sarasota, followed by one in South Pasadena near St. Pete Beach. The third one opened last fall in Founders Square.
The next area Kelly’s is targeted to open this summer in a new outparcel building along U.S. 41 just north of Wiggins Pass Road in the Gateway Shoppes at North Bay. The shell has been completed and a “coming soon” sign is in the window for Kelly’s, which will have a drive-thru on the northern end of the building. Expect others in Fort Myers and in East Naples, near the Collier County Government Center.
“We’ve got one coming probably in a year or so from now over on Airport-Pulling in Naples, which will be exciting,” Dion said. “So, it’s going very well.”
The first Oar & Iron has been well received at Founders Square.
“It’s been very, very good. Business has been strong. A lot of people coming in,” Dion said. “We made the bar larger here. Happy hours are very popular in Florida. People love to sit at the bar.”
Oak & Iron is a modified version of the Northeast’s 110 Grill, named after Route 110 where it first opened in Massachusetts. Dion said 110 Grill has darker colors and darker millwork than its Florida sibling, Oar & Iron.
“We decided that we want to bring something similar to Florida but make it make it more Florida-like. So, we brought in some nautical colors. We’ve got the turquoises, we’ve got the blues, lighter colors at the bar, lighter millwork. It’s a similar layout to 110, but different colors.”
Differences also are apparent in their menu, which entirely is available gluten-free.
“So, 110 Grill is more comfort food, pertaining to the menu. The Oar & Iron menu is enhanced a bit,” Dion said. “We took some 110 favorites like the Chicken Caprese parm; it’s plated a little bit differently.”
The Chicken Caprese entree features lightly fried seasoned chicken breast, fresh mozzarella, basil, roasted tomato, nut-free pesto, artisan greens, shaved parmesan and a balsamic reduction.
“We got a raw bar here (in Florida), which we don’t typically do back home. We have some nicer cuts of beef and some nicer pieces of fish,” Dion said. “So, it’s just enhanced.”
Another enhancement is more outdoor space in the Sunshine State.
“We have a large patio over there that we’re going to do live entertainment on which opens into the restaurant,” Dion said. “Very exciting. We’re just thrilled to be here.”
The “Tim Aten Knows” weekly column answers local questions from readers. Email Tim at tim.aten@naplespress.com.
