WEEK OF FEB. 23, 2023

BY THE NUMBERS

Rocco’s Tacos set to open in UTC on March 6

The long-anticipated Rocco’s Tacos restaurant at University Town Center will open March

6. Veteran restaurateur and owner Rocco Mangel opened his first Rocco’s Tacos 15 years ago in West Palm Beach, following a quest to find the best ways to build an authentic Mexican taco.

Several trips to Mexico were part of the quest, along with trips to California.

“I didn’t want to open the typical Mexican restaurant, you know, with a pinata, a skeleton on the wall, where you would be playing the Mexican Hat Dance.

So I decided to go to Mexico, buy furniture, fixtures and equipment for my restaurant. I am half Italian and half Jewish, but I wanted to embrace the Mexican culture.”

He used that base knowledge to launch Rocco’s Tacos, and it has worked well. The Sarasota location will be his 10th restaurant.

Mangel, who lives in Palm Beach County, said the Sarasota restaurant will have a new look for his chain.

“We went with a little different design,” he said. “We will have a

Avelo adds route to Raleigh-Durham

A value-priced airline has added another route to and from SarasotaBradenton International Airport.

Avelo Airlines has announced new nonstop service between SRQ and Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina.

One-way fares on the new route will start at $49. Flights will operate on next-next-generation Boeing 737 aircraft. Avelo also operates nonstop service between SRQ and TweedNew Haven Airport in New Haven, Connecticut.

“We appreciate the reception Avelo has received from Florida’s Gulf Coast and look forward to continuing to bolster our presence with Avelo’s convenient and reliable air service,” Avelo Chair and CEO Andrew Levy said.

More than 50 nonstop destinations are now offered at SRQ. Last week, Breeze Airways announced new service to and from T.F. Green International Airport near Providence, Rhode Island.

Painter falls 15 floors at Bayso building site

Sarasota Police Department detectives are investigating a fall at a construction site in The Quay that resulted in the death of a worker. At around 10:30 a.m. Feb. 15, a 21-yearold man was painting on the 18th floor and, for reasons unknown, fell to the fifth floor of the building. He later died from his injuries at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

The identity of the victim has not been released.

ton of stuff from Mexico, but not as much as in our other stores.”

The outside of the restaurant is lined with seating, including a substantial bar area for those who like to watch the world go past. The menu itself will offers lots of tweaks to traditional Mexican favorites.

Hours will be 11 a.m. to midnight Sundays and Mondays; to 1 a.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; to 2 a.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. Visit RoccosTacos.com.

Sarasota County Fire Department responded to the initial 911 call. Officers with the SPD were dispatched at about 2:15 p.m.

As is standard procedure, detectives interviewed witnesses and crime scene unit technicians examined and photographed evidence at the site.

SPD considers the death accidental. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating.

The developer of Bayso is Kolter Urban. Kast Construction of West Palm Beach is the general contractor.