Pollo Tropical closer to opening in Sarasota

SARASOTA COUNTY — Plans for the area’s first Pollo Tropical are moving forward at Fruitville Road and Honore Avenue.

The Miami-based fast-casual chicken chain has been rapidly expanding throughout the Sunshine State and has been eyeing the site of the former Shell station at Sarasota Crossing for nearly a year. Permits for the filling station’s demolition were issued in mid-December and the restaurant chain has planted a “Coming Soon” sign outside the construction zone.

Officials with Pollo Tropical did not return calls for comment on Wednesday; when the restaurant will open could not be determined.

Sandra Pascual, the director of marketing for the chain, told the Herald-Tribune in an interview last February that Pollo Tropical has aggressive growth plans and she expected to open more stores in the Sarasota-Bradenton area within the next few years.