Largest steakhouse chain commits to Lakewood Ranch location

The restaurant will be located within CASTO's Center Point development.

By Business Observer Staff
| 1:46 p.m. January 21, 2022
| 2 Free Articles Remaining!

Courtesy. A rendering of an office building that's part of the 50-acre project.

Manatee-Sarasota

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Ruth's Chris Steak House, the country's largest steakhouse chain, has committed to opening a 6,500-square-foot restaurant in Casto's Center Point development just east of the intersection of University Parkway and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard in Lakewood Ranch.

The announcement was made through a Casto press release, according to a story in the East County Observer, sister paper of the Business Observer. The development is a 50-acre collection of office, medical office, retail and restaurant space known as Center Point.

“We are pleased to announce the signing of a lease with Ruth’s Chris Steak House in CASTO’s new Center Point project,” CASTO Southeast Realty Services President Brett Hutchens says in a release. "Ruth’s Chris brings a fine dining complement to the cuisine offering of seafood by Owens Fish Camp and modern Italian dining by Olivia."

Ruth's Chris Steak House will have an address of 6490 University Parkway.

“Brett and I have been working on a second area location for quite some time," says Cheryl Henry, the president and CEO of Ruth's Hospitality Group. "We’ve enjoyed success in the Sarasota/Bradenton market and are excited to create a second location to serve the explosive growth of the area in and around Lakewood Ranch.”

Ruth's Chris Steak House has another area location at 6700 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.

The release said construction will begin this summer with an expected opening in the first half of 2023. The release said it will follow its chain's renowned menu of signature steaks, handcrafted cocktails, award-winning wine list, seafood and other specialties.

Casto is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, but has 26 million square feet of commercial property and over 4,000 residential units located through the Midwest and Southeast, according to the release. Casto Southeast acquired the University Parkway and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard property from an affiliate of Lakewood Ranch master developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch for $2.2 million in early 2019.

Ruth's Hospitality Group is headquartered in Winter Park and has more than 140 Ruth's Chris Steak House locations worldwide.