Pollo Tropical slated for South Trail

Less than five months after filing plans for its first restaurant in Sarasota, Pollo Tropical has targeted another location in the area.

The fast-casual chain plans to open a 3,600-square-foot restaurant on South Tamiami Trail at the site formerly occupied by Square 1 Burgers, according to a request for a pre-application conference filed with the city yesterday. The property at 1737 S. Tamiami Trail is across U.S. 41 from Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

The Caribbean-themed concept, which has more than 160 locations, was founded in Miami in 1988. The restaurant operates under the umbrella of Addison, Texas-based Fiesta Restaurant Group Inc., and is known for marinated chicken and pork dishes.

In February, the restaurant filed permits with Sarasota County to replace the Shell station at Sarasota Crossings, the shopping center at the northeast corner of the intersection of Fruitville Road and Honore Avenue.

Pollo Tropical’s marketing department is participating in a conference this week and unavailable for comment, and the engineer of record for the project could not be reached.