Anna's Deli expands, opens Bradenton restaurant

BRADENTON -- Anna's Deli customers can now order a Surfer sandwich without leaving Bradenton.

The sandwich shop, originally opened in 1971 in Siesta Key, has added a third location at 4816 14th St. W. in The Fountains shopping center. The second Anna's Deli location opened in 2012 in University Park at 8207 Tourist Center Drive.

Anna's Deli went through several ownership hands before Dave and Denise Havill bought the business in 1998. The Havills added lettuce and tomato to the condiments menu as well as a couple varieties of bread, but overall, the couple didn't want to fix what wasn't broken.

"It was important to them to keep Anna's as what it was because it was successful and famous," said Ashley Paynter, director of personnel and business operations for Anna's Deli. "They didn't want to upset the masses."

The Havills are still proud of the best-selling Surfer sandwich, and Paynter said it's known as "the sandwich that made Siesta Key famous. We think that's pretty cool."

The famous Surfer is comprised of ham, turkey, Swiss cheese and cucumber.

"We sell so many of those in a day, I could probably make them in my sleep," Paynter said.

All Anna's sandwiches come with Anna's Famous Sauce, a mixture of deli mustard and mayonnaise. Sandwiches are assembled between the restaurant's "can bread," baked in a container similar in size to a coffee can. Anna's offers more than a dozen other sandwich and salad choices beyond the Surfer.

Anna's locations in Bradenton and University Park also boast a variety of hot sandwiches and hot soups, the latter of which change on a daily basis. The Siesta Key location only serves cold sandwiches.

Eric Havill, general manager at the 14th Street deli, is excited to show Bradenton what Anna's Deli can bring to the area.

"We're bringing something that's local, locally owned with local people running it, and we're going to be getting involved in the community and bringing the best sandwich in Sarasota to Bradenton," Havill said.

The Anna's Deli on 14th Street can seat about 60 people. Catering, phone-ahead orders, party platters and business delivery within certain hours are also available. Call Anna's Deli in Bradenton at 941-216-4024 for more information.

Janelle O'Dea, Herald business reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7095. Follow her on Twitter@jayohday.

This story was originally published January 25, 2016 at 5:11 PM with the headline "Anna's Deli expands, opens Bradenton restaurant ."