Iconic Burger Stand To Reopen In Sarasota Under New Ownership

SARASOTA, FL — The Hob Nob Drive-In, an historic Sarasota burger stand that opened in 1957 and closed in 2024, is reopening this spring under new ownership, a news release said.

New owner Troy King, who also owns The Breakfast Company, is reviving the beloved eatery.

A Sarasota native, he grew up eating at The Hob Nob and said that bringing the restaurant back is deeply personal.

“[King] 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 news release.

He’s partnering with his stepson, Dimitri Syros, on the project.

The menu will be centered on old school drive-in classics, such as smash burgers, crinkle-cut fries, shakes and onion rings. It will also serve beer, both national brands and local craft selections.

The Hob Nob was most recently owned by Cary Spicuzza, who operated the restaurant from 1991 to 2024.

"Ever since COVID, the restaurant business has changed," Spicuzza told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune at the time of its closure. "The challenges you face are a little more insurmountable."

King plans to work with Spicuzza to restore the parking lot to its previous size.

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