A popular New York pizza chain plans to bring its signature Brooklyn-style pies to Sarasota as part of a five-restaurant expansion across Southwest Florida.
Grimaldi's Pizzeria is a traditional brick-oven, coal-fired pizza restaurant that opened in Brooklyn in the 1990s, drawing on traditions that originated in the borough more than a century ago.
Founded as a family-owned business, Grimaldi's is serving its "secret recipe dough" and signature sauces at about 40 locations in the United States.
The chain announced that it has partnered with UNIV Hospitality of Fort Myers, LLC, a restaurant operating company, to bring five additional Grimaldi's restaurants to Southwest Florida. The expansion will include five restaurants across Sarasota, Lee and
Collier counties, according to a news release.
As part of the expansion, the chain announced the sale of its Bell Tower Fort Myers location to UNIV Hospitality, led by principals Gary Patel and Anil Harkhani. UNIV Hospitality entered into a franchise development agreement with Grimaldi's to expand the brand's presence in Southwest Florida.
“With the acquisition of Grimaldi’s Bell Tower restaurant and plans to expand across Southwest Florida, we look forward to building on the restaurant’s success and bringing Grimaldi’s to even more communities throughout the region,” Harkhani said in a prepared statement.
“We plan to bring the same family-friendly, casual yet upscale atmosphere and award-winning pizzas to communities across southwest Florida.”
According to the release, Southwest Florida is Grimaldi's third domestic franchise territory, following Alabama and Iowa. The Bell Tower restaurant in Fort Myers will continue to operate as a Grimaldi's Pizzeria, as part of the UNIV Hospitality franchise portfolio.
The Herald-Tribune's sister publication the Fort Myers News-Press described Grimaldi's pizzas as "equal parts science and artistry."
"Each one [is] made following a specific ratio of thin crust to balanced sauce to luscious mozzarella cheese," the News-Press' food critic opined in 2015. "The intense heat of the coal ovens means quickly cooked pies beautifully blistered just so.
The Grimaldi's Pizzeria locations in Tampa, Palm Beach Gardens and Miramar Beach will remain company-owned and operated restaurants.
Sarasota's pizza scene
Grimaldi's will join a crowded Sarasota pizza scene.
Tralia Pizza in Gulf Gate, which earned Michelin Guide recognition earlier this year, recently announced plans to open a second location in downtown Sarasota’s Rosemary District at 1420 Boulevard of the Arts by early December.
Additionally, a Michelin-recommended pizzeria from Miami Beach recently joined Sarasota's dining scene, with Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza opening its University Town Center location at 5231 University Parkway in June.
A Sarasota craft taco spot also recently rebranded as a pizza restaurant. VCo Pizzeria is now open at 3080 Fruitville Commons Blvd., Unit 100, in the former space of Irma's Tacos, Craft Beer and Tequila Bar, which opened there in October 2023.
Despite some openings, another pizza joint, Bavaro's Pizza Napoletana and Pastaria in downtown Sarasota just east of Washington Boulevard closed in July, after serving acclaimed pizza for seven years. The restaurant expanded to Sarasota from Tampa in 2019.
Kendal Asbury is the real estate and development reporter for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Have an idea, tip or question about development? Send her an email at kasbury@usatodayco.com. Connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on Instagram @wordsbykendal, and support local journalism by subscribing to the Herald-Tribune.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Popular New York pizza chain plans Sarasota County location
