What’s new in Manatee County: Zaxby’s, Chick-fil-A and more

Zaxby’s, a fast-casual restaurant best known for its chicken fingers, wings and salads, will open its first Manatee County location on Monday at 6591 State Road 70 E., adjacent to Manatee Technical College.

Connoisseurs of the chicken chain laud its extensive menu, which includes “zappetizers” and “zalads” as well as several types of chicken, ranging from wings to tenders to grilled sandwiches.

The 3,800-square-foot, 70-seat eatery will be the second Zaxby’s store for licensee Britt Smallwood.

“I have grown up around the brand and couldn’t be more excited to open a Zaxby’s in Bradenton. My dad opened his first store six years ago, and since the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, I opened my first Zaxby’s two years ago,” Smallwood said. “Bradenton is the ideal location to expand the brand in Florida, and I look forward to establishing long-term partnerships with local organizations.”

Zaxby’s operates more than 800 restaurants in 17 states, mostly in the Southeast.

The East Manatee location will be open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

For more information, visit zaxbys.com.

New Chick-fil-A set for UTC area

What would be the sixth Chick-fil-A location in the Bradenton-Sarasota region is working its way through the Manatee County approval process, with the new restaurant slated for University Parkway between Interstate 75 and Honore Avenue.

Chick-fil-A has two Bradenton locations: at 4573 14th St. W. and 5206 73rd Lane E. The chain’s three Sarasota stores are on Fruitville Road, Clark Road and in the Westfield Sarasota Square mall.

Donut House to hold official grand opening

Donut House Espresso & More, 3211 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, has been up and running since mid-September, and the family-owned business will hold its official grand opening on Friday.

In addition to coffee and doughnuts, owners Van Le and Mai Ngo said they are adding Vietnamese items to the lunch menu starting on Saturday.

Donut House is open from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily, except Monday when the shop is closed.

For more information, call 941-201-6315 or visit lesdonuts.com.

Shared workspace opens in Bradenton

Connect Bradenton, a shared workspace where startups, mobile entrepreneurs and freelancers can work in an environment that suits their style, is now open at 600 Old Main St. on the first floor of the former Bank of America retain banking center.

Office spaces are available for hourly, daily and monthly rental. A variety of office space – private desk, shared office, private single office or a team office – is available. Connect Bradenton provides printers, scanners, phone lines, internet and office furniture.

“Flexible workspaces and co-work centers have been spreading across the country, and we’re excited to bring this to downtown Bradenton,” owner Bernie Croghan said in a news release. “But it’s more than just space. We have the ability to help small businesses create a complete business identity, from a prestigious address, mail and phone service, to having your own live telephone answering service and meeting room service.”

For more, call 941-216-2600 or visit connectbradenton.com.

Club Pilates begins expansion into region

Club Pilates, which has nearly 150 locations in 35 states, recently opened its first studio in the Bradenton-Sarasota region at 5408 Lockwood Ridge Road in East Manatee.

In November, owners Gary Keith and Peter Kilcullen told the Bradenton Herald that they also would open a studio at 8308 S. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota and were searching for a third location.

Club Pilates offers workouts that help with posture, balance, flexibility and strength.

Hours for the East Manatee location are 6 a.m.-9 p.m. seven days a week.

For more, call 941-260-3360 or visit clubpilates.com/bradenriver.

This story was originally published December 14, 2017 at 8:39 AM with the headline "What’s new in Manatee County: Zaxby’s, Chick-fil-A and more."