Award-winning restauranteur Chris Ponte confirmed that he is expanding his Tampa restaurants, On Swann and Olivia, to Sarasota, his largest and furthest expansion to date of his many local spots.
Ponte said Tuesday he is in the process of finalizing an agreement to expand the popular restaurants to University Town Center, the fast-growing shopping and entertainment destination in the Bradenton-Sarasota area.
The two restaurants will be located next to each other at the mall property at Interstate 75 and University Parkway, which has more than 100 stores and 20 dining spots.
Ponte, who also owns Ponte in Midtown Tampa and On Swann, Olivia and Bare Naked Kitchen in Tampa, will soon open another Olivia in downtown St. Petersburg. The two Sarasota properties will bring his holdings up to seven restaurants. He estimated the Sarasota restaurants will open in about a year…