Hob Nob to reopen in Sarasota with new owner

Plans are underway to reopen a longtime Sarasota restaurant that shuttered in 2024. The Original Hob Nob Drive-In, which first opened in 1957, will come back to life this spring under the ownership of Sarasota resident Troy King with the support of his family, who founded locally based restaurant chain The Breakfast Company.

King grew up in Sarasota eating at the Hob Nob, an open-air restaurant along Washington Boulevard known for its burgers, hot dogs, milkshakes and diner food. He later took his children there, according to a statement. He learned about the opportunity to bring the brand forward while he was working on renovations at the business through his construction and remodeling company, King & Sons LLC.

The Karras family, which owns the property at 1701 N. Washington Blvd., confirms that it has leased it to King.

“Troy sees this opportunity not as a reinvention but as a responsibility to protect something meaningful to the community and ensure that a local landmark restaurant stays open for the next generation,” according to the statement.

When the business reopens, the menu will feature items like smash burgers, crinkle-cut fries, shakes and onion rings as well as national beer brands and rotating local craft selections.

Previous Hob Nob owner Cary Spicuzza leased the property and ran the restaurant there from 1991 to 2024. On his last day in business, Spicuzza told the Business Observer that consumer behavior as well as inflation and labor costs contributed to his decision to shutter, in addition to his desire to retire. 

Spicuzza owns eight lots surrounding the Hob Nob, he said previously, including the laundromat and car wash, which he planned to run in retirement.

“Troy hopes to work together with Cary on restoring the [restaurant] parking lot to its previous size, given Spicuzza’s ownership of the surrounding lots,” according to the statement. 

Currently, there are about 13 parking spots around the Hob Nob perimeter.

Photo by Elizabeth King

“Community engagement will remain central to the Hob Nob’s identity,” the statement says. “Plans include sponsoring local events such as classic car gatherings, bike nights and other activities that bring people together, a continuation of the Hob Nob’s long history of supporting Sarasota traditions. The restaurant also plans to publish stories from its past as part of its ongoing connection with the community."

King, also a retired law enforcement officer, says he is focused on long-term stewardship of the business. To preserve the "personal, local and welcoming" feel of the restaurant, he will partner with his stepson Dimitri Syros, who co-founded The Breakfast Company, and the team from that business, according to the statement. The Breakfast Company, established in Sarasota in 2020 by Sryos and his mother, Terri Syros-King, has four locations in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

"As Troy looks ahead, the goal is simple: to preserve what people love while creating space for a new generation to make memories of their own," the statement says. "For many in Sarasota, Hob Nob has always been more than a place to get great food at affordable prices: it’s a place to gather. This spring, that tradition continues.”