Here’s why Gecko’s Grill and Pub has been a Bradenton-Sarasota staple for 30 years
Two young friends set out 30 years ago to open a new restaurant, but weeks before opening they still hadn’t settled on a name.
That’s when graphic designer Michele Chilson made a genius suggestion. Why not call it Gecko’s?
It was a punchy name, easy to say and remember.
Gecko’s it’s been ever since, with a cartoon lizard holding a martini, a chicken wing or other food offering, illustrating the menu and other company branding.
And that was eight years before the insurance company gecko made his first TV appearance.
From their first restaurant, childhood friends Mike Gowan and Mike Quillen have grown The Gecko’s Hospitality Group of Family Restaurants to six Gecko’s Grill and Pubs.
In Bradenton, patrons can find a Gecko’s at 7228 55th Ave. E. in the Twelve Oaks Plaza, and at 4310 S.R. 64 E., in Braden River Plaza.
In Sarasota, Gecko’s are at 5585 Palmer Crossing Circle, at 351 N. Cattlemen Road, at 6606 South Tamiami Trail and at 1900 Hillview St.
In addition, The Gecko’s Hospitality Group now includes
- Dry Dock Waterfront Grill, 412 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key
- Dockside Waterfront Grill, 509 N. Tamiami Trail, Venice
- Tripletail Seafood and Spirits, 4870 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
- The Red Barn Bar, 2058 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota.
Gowan and Quillen, 62, have known each other since 1970 when they were in junior high school in Sarasota. They shared a love of tennis, which they played in high school and at the college level.
Even though they were still in their early 30s when they started Gecko’s, they were already veterans of the restaurant business.
Looking back, that first Gecko’s had more of a bar atmosphere, Mike Quillen said.
But as the partners grew older, married and had children, their restaurants changed, too, taking on a more family atmosphere with the emphasis on food rather than drink.
The times changed too, and even though Gecko’s burgers and wings remain popular, healthy choices such as salads, tuna dishes and poke bowls gained favor among diners.
The restaurant menu morphed into what Quillen calls “polished casual.”
“We look at ourselves as a family sports bar,” he said.
The ability to evolve and grow to satisfy guests is part of Gecko’s recipe for success. An important part of the recipe also is showing appreciation for the work that the staff does.
“Our staff members are our heroes,” Quillen said.
Arrica Dallas has tended bar at Gecko’s for eight years.
“I love the regulars and the management. We are well taken care of. I have a 401(k) and insurance,” she said, adding that her satisfaction is directly related to how she is treated.
Kevin Thompson, general manager of the Cattlemen Road store, has been with Gecko’s for 16 years.
“I love the business and the team,” he said.
Diane Brown and her friend, who asked to be identified only as Pam, are Thursday regulars at the Cattlemen Road, Sarasota restaurant.
“The drinks are good, the food is good and the service is good,” the women said.
Over the years, the restaurant has employed thousands of people. Some of the current staff had parents who worked at Gecko’s years ago.
“We have had folks who started out working for us washing dishes and busing tables who now own restaurants. There are a lot of career paths you can take in the hospitality business,” Quillen said.
The owners also value their partnerships with local farmers, such as Honeyside Farms and Jones Potato Farm, both in Manatee County, who supply cabbage, tomatoes, lettuce, peppers and other fresh produce. Gecko’s also has a partnership with Dakin Dairy in Myakka City, and with local craft brewers.
Gecko’s was one of the first restaurant companies to earn a “Fresh from Florida” designation from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
To celebrate its 30th anniversary, the Gecko’s at 351 N. Cattlemen Road, Sarasota, will be the site of a house-smoked barbecue bash to be held 4-9 p.m. Saturday, June 4.
“We are inviting our friends to come out and join us so we can say thank you to our teams and our community, enjoy some barbecue, and help us celebrate,” Gowan said.
Quillen added: “We started Gecko’s as a little neighborhood bar and pub, focusing on fresh fare and with a strong hospitality quotient. Our guests are our friends and our bosses, and our employees are our heroes. We believe in the community, and we live, work, and play here, too.”
The party will benefit the 4-H Foundation, whose emphasis upon investment in youth and preserving the agricultural legacy of the state of Florida resonates with the Gecko’s Hospitality Group.
The party will offer something for the entire family with performances by Kettle of Fish, Clogging Clovers and Music Compound as well as activities including a bouncy house, face painting, a photo booth, cornhole, raffles from local businesses and 4-H children showcasing their baby animals.
A prize will be offered for the oldest Gecko’s Anniversary collectible T-shirt and one guest will win Beer for a Year at the Gecko’s of their choice.
