Herald-Tribune: Dickey’s Barbecue Pit opening State Road 70 restaurant

LAS VEGAS - Dickey’s Barbecue Pit cut a deal with Benderson Development Co. on Tuesday for a new restaurant at Lockwood Ridge Road and State Road 70 in Manatee County.

The barbecue joint expects to be serving in the Publix-anchored shopping center within the next five to six months, according to Chad Cione, real estate manager for Dallas-based Dickey’s.

The deal was facilitated by regional brokerage Michael Saunders & Co. at the annual International Council of Shopping Center’s three-day 2016 ReCon event in Las Vegas.

The State Road 70 location will be the Dallas-based chain’s second in the Southwest Florida. Dickey’s launched its first Sarasota restaurant on Clark Road in late 2015.

The chain expects to open other restaurants in the Sarasota area, Cione said.

The intersection of State Road 70 and Lockwood Ridge Road has boomed in recent months and welcomed both an ALDI and a Walmart Neighborhood Market.

A Wawa is also expected to open there later this year.

Earlier this week, Benderson confirmed that iPic, a luxury dining and movie experience, is slated for an development on the east portion of the Mall at University Town Center development.

Mark Chait, executive director of leasing for the Manatee County-based Benderson, confirmed iPic's arrival. The theater also is visible in a rendering Benderson is displaying of that project at ReCon.