Kelly’s Roast Beef Continues Florida Expansion, Bringing Boston Flavor to Naples
Table of Contents
- Kelly’s Roast Beef Continues Florida Expansion, Bringing Boston Flavor to Naples
- A Taste of Boston in Naples: Kelly’s Roast Beef Opens New Location
- More Than Just Roast Beef: A Menu of New England Favorites
- RAVentures Hospitality Fuels Expansion
- A look at Kelly’s Roast Beef’s Florida Footprint
- The Legacy of Kelly’s Roast Beef: A Boston Icon
- The Future of Kelly’s: Expansion and Innovation
- Kelly’s Roast Beef’s Florida Conquest: How a Boston icon is Sizzling in the Sunshine State
March 18, 2025 | world-today-news.com
RAVentures Hospitality announces the grand opening of the fifth Kelly’s Roast Beef location in Southern Florida, satisfying cravings for New England classics in the Sunshine State.
A Taste of Boston in Naples: Kelly’s Roast Beef Opens New Location
Naples, FL – New Englanders craving a taste of home and Floridians eager to experience a Boston culinary institution can rejoice. RAVentures Hospitality, a key franchisee partner, is set to open the fifth Southern Florida location of Kelly’s Roast Beef on March 19th, 2025, at 11 a.m. The new restaurant is located at Gateway Shoppes, 13585 Tamiami Trail N #2, Naples, and features a convenient drive-thru.
This expansion signifies the continued success of Kelly’s Roast Beef in the Florida market, building upon the foundation laid by the original location in Revere, Massachusetts, in 1951 [[3]]. The brand’s enduring appeal lies in its commitment to quality and tradition.
Kelly’s Roast Beef is renowned for its “melt in your mouth” roast beef sandwiches, featuring thinly sliced, medium-rare beef served on a sesame bun with options for James River barbecue sauce, mayonnaise, and American cheese. But the menu extends far beyond roast beef, offering a comprehensive selection of classic New England seafood.
Customers can indulge in fresh fried whole-bellied clams, lobster rolls, scallops, and homemade clam chowder. For those with dietary restrictions, Kelly’s Florida locations offer gluten-free menu items prepared in dedicated fryers. To complete the experience, soft-serve ice cream is also available.
The new Naples location provides multiple service options, including drive-thru, dine-in, outdoor patio seating, carry-out, and third-party delivery through services like DoorDash, catering to a variety of customer preferences.
RAVentures Hospitality Fuels Expansion
RAVentures Hospitality’s commitment to bringing Kelly’s Roast Beef to Southern Florida is evident in their rapid expansion. The company recognizes the demand for authentic New England cuisine in the region and is strategically opening locations to meet that demand.
Jeff Doward, regional director, RAVentures Hospitality, emphasized the positive reception in Southern Florida, stating, “Our guests in Southern Florida have proven that they enjoy Kelly’s uniquely New England fare along with the quality and value we bring to these communities. We truly enjoy serving our crave-worthy food to both newcomers to Kelly’s and to those who consider us a ‘taste of home’ for some of our locals and tourists from Kelly’s hometown in the Northeast.”
A look at Kelly’s Roast Beef’s Florida Footprint
The opening of the Naples location marks the fifth Kelly’s Roast Beef in Southern Florida. The existing locations are:
- 5407 University Pkwy., University Park, FL 34201
- 8900 Founders Square Dr., Naples, FL 34120
- 1530 Pasadena Ave. South,South Pasadena,FL 33707
- 8465 Dani Drive at Palmetto Commons in Fort Myers,FL 33966
A sixth location is planned to open this spring at 20 US-301 at Creekside Commons in Parrish,further solidifying kelly’s presence in the Sunshine State.
The Legacy of Kelly’s Roast Beef: A Boston Icon
Founded in 1951, Kelly’s Roast Beef is more than just a restaurant; it’s a Boston institution. Credited as the inventor of the North Shore roast beef sandwich, Kelly’s has become a cultural touchstone, even earning mentions in popular culture, including “30 Rock” and Good Will Hunting.
The brand’s commitment to roasting its beef in-house daily and serving everything fresh and made-to-order has contributed to its enduring popularity. Kelly’s estimates serving a staggering 1 million sandwiches this year, a testament to its loyal customer base.
In early January of 2025, the original owners sold the brand to AAM15 Management, a private equity company [[3]].AAM15 Management aims to continue the brand’s legacy while exploring opportunities for future expansion [[2]].
The Future of Kelly’s: Expansion and Innovation
With a new location opening and plans for further expansion, Kelly’s Roast Beef is poised for continued growth in the Florida market and beyond.The company’s success hinges on maintaining its commitment to quality,tradition,and customer satisfaction.
As Kelly’s expands, it will be crucial to adapt to evolving consumer preferences and embrace innovation while staying true to its core values. This includes exploring new menu items, leveraging technology to enhance the customer experience, and expanding its reach through online ordering and delivery services.
The brand’s ability to balance tradition with innovation will determine its long-term success in an increasingly competitive restaurant industry.
Kelly’s Roast Beef’s Florida Conquest: How a Boston icon is Sizzling in the Sunshine State
Senior Editor, world-today-news.com: Welcome, everyone, to today’s exclusive interview. We’re joined by renowned culinary historian and restaurant industry analyst, Dr. Eleanor Vance.Dr.Vance, it’s quite remarkable to see a Boston culinary institution like Kelly’s Roast Beef experiencing such explosive growth in Florida. Many would say, it’s even a bold move. Can you share some insights into what’s driving this expansion, and how Kelly’s is succeeding where others may have faltered?
Dr. eleanor Vance: Thank you for having me. It’s truly engaging to observe. The rapid expansion of Kelly’s Roast Beef in Florida is a testament to the enduring power of a well-crafted brand combined with keen market understanding. They are succeeding not only as a business but also ensuring the restaurant chain maintains its identity and roots. Many successful restaurants have roots, and Kelly started in Revere, Massachusetts, in 1951.
Senior Editor: Absolutely. What specific elements of kelly’s, its menu, and overall concept, do you believe are resonating so strongly with Floridians, and notably, new Englanders in Florida?
Dr. Vance: Kelly’s achieves success by authentically translating an iconic New England experience. Here’s why and how; Firstly its menu, it remains the heart of their success. The roast beef sandwich, their signature dish, is a classic. The quality of the ingredients—thinly sliced medium-rare beef, a sesame bun, and the option of James River barbecue sauce, mayonnaise, or American cheese—speaks to a desire for simple, high-quality food.secondly, the nostalgia factor plays a significant role. For new Englanders now living in Florida, Kelly’s offers a nostalgic taste of home. Even for Floridians, there’s an appeal in experiencing a taste of another region’s cultural heritage. Thirdly,the brand’s commitment to quality,evident in roasting beef in-house daily and offering fresh,made-to-order food,builds trust and loyalty.they offer drive-thru, dine in, patio seating, take-out, and 3rd party delivery.
Senior Editor: That’s a fantastic perspective! what role does the franchisee structure,especially with RAVentures hospitality,play in this expansion?
Dr. Vance: The franchisee model, particularly with a partner like RAVentures Hospitality, enables speed and scalability. RAVentures’ recognition of demand for authentic New England cuisine and the strategic approach to opening locations in key areas certainly shows that it is a profitable partnership.It allows them to build the locations to cater to specific local market needs. Jeff Doward, regional director, RAVentures Hospitality, highlighted that Southern Florida guests enjoy Kelly’s unique New England fare while bringing value, serving both newcomers and people from Kelly’s hometown in the Northeast. It’s a win-win for both companies.
Senior Editor: The article mentions a drive-thru, dine-in, and delivery options. In today’s competitive restaurant landscape, how vital is it for restaurants to offer such a range of service options?
Dr. Vance: Flexibility is the name of the game in today’s food scene. Providing multiple service options is no longer a luxury, it’s absolutely critical for restaurants. Customers today want convenience and choice.The expansion of these services at Kelly’s reflects this trend, and they adapt to what consumers want.
Drive-thru: Appeals to those seeking swift, on-the-go meals.
Dine-in & outdoor seating: Offers a more relaxed dining experience.
take-out: Customers pick it up, and customers can avoid wait times.
Third-party delivery: Expands reach and offers more options.
Senior Editor: Kelly’s has a rich history, even earning a place in pop culture.To what extent does this history contribute to its current success,and is there a risk of the brand losing some of its appeal as it expands beyond its past roots?
Dr. Vance: The heritage of kelly’s Roast Beef is a significant advantage. Mentioned in “30 Rock” and “Good Will Hunting”, this history forms a powerful foundation. However, expansion can also lead to the brand losing its authentic appeal. Maintaining Kelly’s values as they go on is key.
Critical steps
Consistent Quality: The quality of food needs to remain consistent.
Embrace Innovation: While holding true to the core values, keep an eye on the future by creating new menus, adding technology, and expanding through delivery services.
Senior Editor: What are the primary challenges that Kelly’s will face as it continues its expansion in Florida and perhaps other markets?
Dr. Vance: The most significant challenges will be maintaining consistency, managing growth while safeguarding their brand’s identity, and adapting to changes.
Consistency: ensuring that each location delivers the same quality and experience, as well as not sacrificing quality for the sake of quantity.
Competition: Florida’s already competitive restaurant habitat is another hurdle to navigate.
* Adapting to consumer preferences: Embracing innovation, new menus, and technology.
Senior Editor: what’s your forecast for the future of kelly’s Roast Beef?
Dr. Vance: I believe Kelly’s Roast Beef is well-positioned for continued success if it stays true to its core values while embracing change. Its ability to balance tradition offers significant possibilities,even though the competitive restaurant industry is a changing world. The brand could become even more prominent, and its ability to meet diverse consumer needs.
Senior Editor: Dr.Vance, thank you so much for sharing your insights with us today.It’s clear that Kelly’s Roast Beef is more then just a restaurant; it’s a piece of Boston history thriving in Florida.
What do you think about Kelly’s expansion? Would you be interested in experiencing a taste of their authentic New England offerings? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
