Project Snapshot
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Location: Downtown Sarasota, FL
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Square Footage: 2,694 SF
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Project Type: Historic Commercial Restaurant Conversion
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Key Features: 1924 historic building restoration, Neapolitan pizzeria and custom bar buildout, structural floor reinforcement, commercial kitchen integration, and historic brick preservation.
Project Overview
Holliday Group was hired to transform a 1924 Ringling-era office building in Downtown Sarasota into Bavaro’s, a high-volume Neapolitan pizzeria and bar. The goal was to preserve the beautiful architectural history of the 100-year-old building while completely rebuilding the inside into a clean, modern, and highly functional restaurant. We had to strike the perfect balance between keeping the historic Sarasota charm and meeting the heavy-duty utility needs of a modern commercial kitchen.
The Challenge: Putting a Modern Kitchen in a 100-Year-Old Box
Turning a century-old office into a high-volume restaurant is full of hidden surprises. First, old office buildings simply weren’t built to hold the massive weight of heavy commercial pizza ovens and kitchen equipment. Once we cleared the inside, we realized the original 1920s wooden floor supports needed serious help to safely carry the new load. Second, historic buildings in Downtown Sarasota have notoriously narrow, tight footprints. We had to figure out how to squeeze a massive commercial grease trap and a modern kitchen exhaust system into a space that was never designed for them. Finally, working on a 100-year-old building means throwing the original blueprints out the window. The 1920s drawings did not match the actual walls, making it incredibly difficult to get the custom-built bar and modern finishes to fit perfectly into the space.
The Strategy: Hidden Strength and Historic Care
To make this historic building safe and functional for a modern restaurant, we focused on smart structural upgrades and careful preservation.
Strengthening the Floors
Before bringing in any heavy kitchen equipment, our team engineered a solution to reinforce the original 1920s floor supports and masonry. We gave the building the massive strength it needed without having to tear down the original exterior walls or the 100-year-old storefront windows.
Squeezing in Modern Utilities
We carefully mapped out the narrow building to retro-fit brand new plumbing, electrical wiring, and a modern fire suppression system. We successfully hid these bulky, modern utilities inside the old walls so they wouldn’t ruin the historic look of the dining room.
Navigating City Rules
Working on a 1924 building means dealing with strict city rules. We worked directly within the City of Sarasota’s Historic Preservation guidelines, managing the complex permitting process to ensure the project stayed completely legal and on track.
Conclusion
The Bavaro’s project is a perfect example of how Holliday Group uncovers and solves the deep structural problems hidden inside historic buildings. By carefully reinforcing the 100-year-old floors, updating the outdated utilities, and navigating strict city guidelines, we delivered a flawless commercial restaurant space. The final result is a beautiful, high-volume pizzeria that perfectly blends modern restaurant utility with original Sarasota historic charm.
Turning an old building into a modern restaurant requires specialized expertise. Contact Holliday Group to plan your commercial kitchen and restaurant buildout.
