Fast casual seafood chain to make Sarasota debut

A pair of longtime franchise development executives, Richard Reeves and Larry Lavigne, signed an agreement to open nine Captain D's fast casual seafood restaurant locations on the west coast of Florida.

The locations, to open in the next five years, will be in the Sarasota-Bradenton market and in the Tampa-St. Petersburg region, according to a statement. Nashville-based Captain D's has 10 locations in Florida. The majority of the Florida locations are in north or central Florida, with one in Dade City, Pasco County.

Reeves has more than 40 years of industry experience, and is a multi-unit operator of World of Beer, Taco John's, Checker's and Church's, the release states. Lavigne currently manages daily operations at 15 Jet's Pizza locations and oversees 25 additional franchise locations, and will oversee operations at each of the new Captain D's restaurants, the release adds.