SARASOTA-BRADENTON, FL - Check out the latest restaurant and bar news in the Sarasota- and Bradenton-area:
Luxury Fitness Center with Restaurant Opens In Lakewood Ranch
A more than 180,000-square-foot luxury fitness and wellness destination featuring resort-style pools, 14 pickleball courts, and a range of recreation and recovery amenities, including a restaurant and bars, opened earlier this month in Lakewood Ranch.
Life Time Lakewood Ranch is open at 5000 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. N.
Basic membership starts at $339 a month for a single person with $499 monthly dual memberships and $100 junior memberships for children 90 days to 11 years old available
The fitness center features a LifeCafe, a lounge and bar, a poolside bar, and a Beach Side Bistro.
Downtown Restaurant Closes, Owners Open New Concept
After closing a downtown Sarasota restaurant, its owners have rebranded the space to open under a new concept.
Lucile Pizza & Wine Bar at 1660 Main Street, known for serving mostly plant-based pizzas, closed its doors for good on Sept. 12, according to its social media pages.
That closure paved the way for Mitchell's Food & Wine from the same ownership team.
Mitchell's, known for season new American cuisine and Neapolitan-style pizzas, opened its doors for the first time on Tuesday, according to its social media page.
In addition to pizza, main plates include braised short rib brasato, yellowtail snapper, sea scallops and sous vide Guinea hen.
Popular UTC-area Restaurant Closes
Earlier this month, a popular University Town Center-area restaurant and bar - Georgie's and Bar George - closed its doors for good after five years in business, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported.
The eatery was located in UTC's West District at 229 N. Cattlemen Road, Suite 69.
"It's with a heavy heart we have to close our doors today after five years of serving all our patrons and friends," Georgie's reportedly posted on its restaurant at the time of its closure. "We hope to see you all again soon. We wish all of you the very best for the future and good health. Again, thank you from George."
Brick's Closes After Fire
Brick's Smoked Meats in downtown Sarasota closed permanently after a fire earlier this month.
The kitchen fire broke out at the Texas barbecue restaurant, located at 1528 State Street, on Oct. 6, Brick's shared in a social media post.
The restaurant already had plans to permanently close on Oct. 10, but the fire forced it to shut down several days sooner.
"As many of you know, we had already announced our final day of service would be Saturday, October 10th, as we prepare for new ownership," the post read. "Unfortunately, due to fire, we are unable to continue operating and will not be reopening."
Brick's was in business for 9.5 years.
There were no updates about the status of the new owners taking over the restaurant.
New Development Planned for Former Checkers Site
A new development, including a restaurant, could be moving into the former site of a Checkers restaurant.
The Sarasota Development Review Committee partially signed off on plans for an apartment building with a full-service restaurant at the former Checkers location at 2101 Ringling Blvd., the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported.
Submitted plans for the .23-acre parcel call for 22 market-rate apartments, a rooftop pool and dog walk, a 3,100-square-foot restaurant, and 800 square feet of ground-floor commercial space.
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