1 Week After Shooting, Banana Factory Bar Says It Will Close

BRADENTON, FL — A week after a man was shot in the parking lot, the Banana Factory restaurant and bar says it will shut its doors for good.

“It is with great regret that we announce the closing of The Banana Factory. Thank you to all our valued patrons who made us their neighborhood watering hole for 20 plus years! You will be missed,” the business wrote on its Facebook page.

The bar and live music venue, which opened in 1997, left open the possibility that it could reopen down the road, though.

“As the daughter of Banana Bob, I can tell you this has been an incredibly difficult decision. I can only say that the ‘perfect storm’ has been developing for a while…but don’t count The Banana Factory out completely. We just don’t know what the future holds,” the Banana Factory commented on its announcement.

The shooting happened early March 20 just before 2:30 a.m., the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said. Deputies responded to reports of a disturbance at the business, which is located at 6916 14th Street in Bradenton.

As they cleared a crowd of people gathered in the parking lot, multiple gunshots were fired and a suspect ran from the scene by foot, the sheriff's office said.

Deputies chased the suspect, later identified as Brandon D. Baker, 30, and tackled him in the parking lot of a neighboring business. They also recovered the firearm used in the shooting, MCSO said.

A 30-year-old man whose name is being withheld under Marsy's Law was shot multiple times.

Baker, a three-time convicted felon, was charged with attempted murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.