What will happen to former Bradenton-area Jo-To restaurant? It may involve food trucks
An empty restaurant building near the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport off U.S. 41 in southern Manatee County may turn into a food truck paradise.
Paperwork was filed with the county to establish a food truck court at 7971 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.
The site was previously home to Jo-To Japanese Steak House. The popular family-owned restaurant operated for 40 years before closing in 2023, the Herald previously reported.
According to building records, the existing empty restaurant would turn into a food service kitchen with bathrooms, while the rest of the 1-acre area would house five food trucks, tables, shade covers, a plane-spotting observation deck and 60 parking spaces.
SRQ North Trail LLC owns the land, according to property records.
The food truck village plan would “likely not be long term, but would allow something on the property until the site is redeveloped,” the proposal said.
The proposal did not include potential food truck names or a construction timetable.
