Two more Peach’s restaurants to reopen in Bradenton, 3 years after closing for COVID

Sandy Strunk has been a Peach’s Restaurant fan for more than two decades, so she was delighted when the Bradenton-based company recently reopened its Creekwood restaurant.

“This is the best place I’ve ever been. I live six miles from here and I made it a point to come down Interstate 75 to eat here. The staff takes care of their customers and they are glad to see you come in,” Strunk said.

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, Peach’s temporarily closed all of its restaurants. In May of 2020, the daytime company, which serves breakfast and lunch, began reopening some of of them.

On April 14, it reopened the Creekwood restaurant at 7315 52nd Place E., said Patrick Thomas, the son of owner Alison Thomas.

They’re also working to reopen the location at 3201 Manatee Ave. W., and once that resumes operation, Peach’s will move from its current six-day schedule to seven days a week, Patrick Thomas said.

Many of the Creekwood staff are new, but regulars will also recognize some of Peach’s veteran crew.

“It’s awesome. It feels like we’re home,” said Candy Best, who has been a Peach’s wait staff member for 18 years.

Andrai Voight has worked at Peach’s for nine years. “This is family,” she said.

Beth Peace would agree. She’s worked at Peach’s for 19 years.

Peach’s announced the reopening of its Creekwood store on its website, and also marked the occasion with colorful helium balloons at the restaurant’s entrance.

Word has trickled out to Peach’s faithful who are returning to the restaurant in increasing numbers.

In a 2020 story, the Bradenton Herald reported that Peach’s took its time reopening out of concern about the pandemic and safety for guests and staff. The Creekwood store took longer to reopen in part because of the need to recruit and train new staff members.

The Peach’s restaurants are currently open 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

In addition to the Creekwood store, Peach’s has restaurants open at:

▪ 2207 60th Ave. E., Ellenton

▪ 3240 E. Bay Drive, Holmes Beach

▪ 5240 S.R. 64, Bradenton

▪ 6386 N. Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota

▪ 4292 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota

▪ 1230 Jacaranda Blvd., Venice

The Peach’s restaurants at 5702 Cortez Road and 6057 26th St. W. will not be reopening.

For more information, visit https://peachs.net/.