Former NFL player opens Peach Cobbler Factory in Bradenton

BRADENTON, Fla. - Before opening up their doors for the first time on Saturday morning, The Peach Cobbler Factory in Bradenton already smelled like heaven.

What owner Michael Lehan and his brother, the GM, Paul Nordstrom, were baking tasted pretty close to heaven too.

"These are our peach cobblers," Nordstrom said taking a batch out of the oven. "These are so good. They’re going to taste delicious today," he said.

Former NFL player opens Peach Cobbler Factory in Bradenton.

Lehan, a former defensive back in the NFL, has his doctorate in education and serves as the District Vice President for Fusion Education Group. He said it was his dad that got him into the sweet shop.

"I was interested in owning a business," Lehan said. "I've had real estate rental properties and so forth, and because I was growing up and I had the opportunity of meeting my biological family when I was 19-years-old, my birth father would always make peach cobbler and I saw peach cobbler [with The Peach Cobbler Factory opportunity]. I thought about my history. I thought about the affinity. I thought, ‘this is serendipitous. Like, this is what I need to do,’" he said.

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Lehan said making the dessert was his dad’s love language, and now he wants to do the same for his community. It’s a community that showed up big time for the store’s grand-opening Saturday morning. The line was out the door, and many lined up before it opened at 11 a.m.

While the peach cobbler is the star of the show, there are plenty of other options on the menu too, including massive cookies, cobbler shakes, brownies, cinnamon rolls and more. It’s a sweet treat paired with some nostalgia.

"My dad would love it. My dad honestly would steal the show. He would be here with all his bubbly personality, serving up peach cobbler, serving up love, serving up joy and just welcoming people figuratively into the home," Lehan said.

Before opening up their doors for the first time on Saturday morning, The Peach Cobbler Factory in Bradenton already smelled like heaven.

Lehan’s dad’s presence is felt in this new home.

"This is a letter, a handwritten letter from my father that said, Call me if you need me.’ So, sentimental value there. It has a little recipe for gumbo. It has a little recipe for boiled chicken breast. And down here is his recipe for peach cobbler. So, he sent this to me, and this is an artifact that obviously I carry with me, significant sentimental value. And this truly is what inspired The Peach Cobbler Factory," Lehan said.

Lehan said he wants to bring the franchise to other locations in Manatee County too.

The Bradenton Peach Cobbler Factory location is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, opening day, and 11 a.m. to eight p.m. seven days a week. It’s located at 629 Cortez Road West in Bradenton.

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