Tampa-based Boca Kitchen plans Sarasota eatery

Another popular Tampa Bay restaurant brand is headed to downtown Sarasota, following recent news about St. Petersburg-based Cask & Ale coming to Main Street.

The latest is Boca Kitchen Bar & Market, a farm-to-table focused restaurant and retailer. The company plans to occupy a 2,500-square-foot eatery on North Lemon Avenue next to Brooks Brothers, according to a development application filed with the city. The location would take advantage of unused space with a new canopy and storefront windows across the street from the historic Gator Club building.

"Lots of Sarasota residents come to the Tampa location and have asked us to bring Boca Kitchen Bar & Market down to Sarasota,” Lydia Lopez, director of sales and marketing at Be-1 Concepts, which owns Boca, tells the Sarasota Observer, sister paper of the Business Observer. "We love Sarasota and Boca fits in well with the art community and health conscious-trending audience.”

Be-1 Concepts has Boca brands in the Hyde Park area of Tampa, as well Riverview and Winter Park, with an additional restaurant coming to St. Petersburg.

“This location will have a similar vibe to our other three locations with a rustic-modern design in an easy communal setting,” Lopez said. "The Sarasota location will also have a market carrying local provisions, fresh produce and homemade items such as jams, mustards and dressings.”

The restaurant hired 120 employees to staff its Riverview location, according to a November press release.