Minnesota salad and smoothie chain to make Florida debut

Crisp & Green, a Minneapolis-based healthy quick service restaurant chain, is making a big push into Florida, with its debut Sunshine State location scheduled for Venice, in south Sarasota County. The chain is known for its salads, grain bowls and smoothies.

Under the company Steele Brands, Crisp & Green plans to open five locations in Central and Southwest Florida this spring and summer and a total of 30 locations statewide over the next two years, according to a statement. The Venice location, scheduled to open May 14, is at 1695 U.S. 41 Bypass. A second location is scheduled to open at Founders Square I in Naples June 18. Crisp & Green will open additional locations this summer in Sarasota, Tampa and Orlando, company officials say.

“Floridians are seeking high-quality food with great flavor that is healthy and they can grab on the run,” Steele Brands Founder and CEO Steele Smiley sys in the release. “We are grateful to be able to meet customer demand with fresh menu items and become the fast and healthy option in Central and Southwest Florida this summer. We are ready to expand aggressively across the entire state of Florida during the next two years.”