New restaurant brings iconic Detroit food to Bradenton. Take a look inside
A new Bradenton restaurant and deli is bringing some Detroit classics to the local food scene.
Kelsey’s Coney Island and Deli, located at 7824 Cortez Road W., opened in July with a menu that stars the coney dog — a hot dog topped with chili, onions and mustard.
“We actually have the sauce brought in from Detroit,” owner Ken Dowse said.
For Dowse, the restaurant is more than just a new business venture — it’s a chance to reconnect with his own Detroit roots.
Dowse has lived in Florida for 30 years. He previously owned Kelsey’s Bar and Grill at 7020 Cortez Road W., as well as a thrift store in the Coral Way Plaza, also off Cortez.
When a convenience store in the plaza closed, Dowse jumped at the chance to launch a new restaurant where he could share his Detroit favorites.
What else is on the menu?
In addition to the Detroit-style coney dog, Kelsey’s menu features other dressed up dogs and deli sandwiches.
The New Yorker hot dog is topped with sauerkraut, mustard and onion; the Beach Bum with chili, onion and coleslaw; and the Cortez has chili, onion, mustard and cheese.
The hot dogs are priced at $4.25 each, and most menu items are less than $12.
That includes two signature sandwiches: the Italian and the pastrami.
Dowse said those are their two best sandwiches.
“We steam (the pastrami) rather than grill it,” Dowse said. “It tastes a heck of a lot better.”
Kelsey’s Coney Island and Deli also sells beer and wine.
Coney dog craving
Before opening a coney shop, Dowse said his family would travel all the way to Largo, St. Petersburg or Tampa to get a coney dog.
“Joey D’s has a good coney, but it’s not a Detroit,” Dowse said. “It’s just different.”
Dowse said there’s only one major difference between Kelsey’s coney dogs and the Detroit version.
“We use a Boar’s Head hot dog,” Dowse said. “Detroit uses a Koegel. It’s just not cost-effective to bring it down here. We’d have to charge $6 a dog. One of my big things with this restaurant, any restaurant I’ve had, is I like to keep the price down.”
What’s in a name?
The restaurant is named after Dowse’s daughter, Kelsey.
It’s the second time Ken Dowse has named a place after her. The first one, Kelsey’s Bar and Grill, is off Cortez Road West and 71st Street West. Dowse sold the original Kelsey’s to new owners three years ago. He said his non-compete agreement with them expired right when his daughter expressed interest in a new restaurant.
“This is gonna be hers,” Dowse said.
Hours of operation
The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., though the hours and menu will likely evolve.
Dowse said they will add french fries, milkshakes and root beer floats in the future.
“So (it will) be like more of a diner feel than a bar,” Dowse said.
For more information, visit Kelsey’s Coney Island and Deli on Facebook.
This story was originally published September 9, 2025 at 5:50 AM.
