New Bradenton area businesses are born, even during a pandemic. Owners know it won’t be a bed of roses
It takes special commitment to open a small business, especially during a pandemic.
Chris Sloan has that commitment. He recently opened The Rustic Oven, 551A 17 St. W., Palmetto, on little more than a wing and a prayer.
“We were supposed to open three months ago. I was literally scraping pennies together. We didn’t get any help,” he said.
Pandemic or not, Sloan opened his restaurant on May 30 with a determination not to fail. Although business has been slow, it has been building.
“We are going to fight, no matter what,” said Sloan, a one-man band at his wood-fired restaurant.
Sloan, 35, has been in the restaurant business most of his life and previously operated the Epic Eats food truck, which served many local bars and breweries.
Eventually, Sloan hopes to have the retail space next door as well as his business grows.
“I am one of those guys who doesn’t give up. It is my passion, it is my dream. I enjoy seeing people smile,” he said.
His menu includes specialty pizzas, strombolis, calzones, bread bowls, salads and keto-friendly offerings.
His advice to anyone thinking of getting into business now?
“Do it. Don’t give up. It’s hard. It really is. But if you have a dream, put the time and effort into it. It will be worthwhile, I promise. The reality is that there are so many people giving up. Don’t be one of those. I did this with nothing. You can, too,” he said.
The Rustic Oven offers take-out and has 50 percent of its dining room open. Business hours are 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and 11 a.m.- 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
For more information, visit https://www.therusticpizzeria.com/ or call 941- 981-9456.
In other pandemic business news:
▪ Fratello’s Chicago Pizzeria ended its lease at 7110 Cortez Road W. in 2019, and in June was in the process of looking for a new location.
“In the midst of looking for new locations for Fratellos, we opened a new concept in Lakewood Ranch and Venice called Urban Taco. And then in the midst of that, COVID happened. Fratellos is temporarily on hold while we focus on our new concept and introducing some new business opportunities at Riverhouse,” Peter VanDerNoord said in an email.
Urban Taco is located at 11161 State Road 70 E., unit 103, in the Lakewood Walk shopping center.
Urban Taco invites guests to build their own tacos, burritos, bowls and quesadillas,using a variety of rices and beans, proteins, toppings and sauces.
For more information, call 941-253-0911 or visit https://urbantacofl.com/menu.
▪ Joey Bennett bought The Old Main Pub, 313 12th St. W., Bradenton in December and has been reinventing it as an island bar with bright, new renovations and a new name, The Bamboozer. Projected opening date was July 3. But an order by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation on Friday means the The Bamboozer and other Florida bars will only be able to make sales of sealed mixed drinks and package sales until further notice.
Bennett also owns the Play and Pour Decisions bars.
Artist Matt McAllister is the creative talent that Bennett turned to in the makeover of The Bamboozer.
▪ Among well-known restaurants that have closed in the past few months are Sweet Tomatoes, which closed 97 of its restaurants nationwide, including the one on University Parkway due to COVID-19. Jason’s Deli, anther national chain, also closed its University Parkway location after the arrival of the pandemic.
Peach’s Restaurants, a daytime restaurant chain in the Bradenton and Sarasota area, reopened, but announced that two of its locations were permanently closed.
