Caragiulos Reopens at Ringling Blvd After 37 Years on Palm Avenue in Sarasota

cxxSARASOTA, Fla., May 31, 2026 — Caragiulos Italian American Restaurant has reopened in downtown Sarasota at its new address of 1833 Ringling Blvd., ending a months-long transition that began when the family-owned institution closed its doors at the historic Mira Mar building on South Palm Avenue after 37 years at that location.

The Ringling Boulevard space, 4,300 square feet, between Osprey and Links avenues and less than a mile from the restaurant's original home gives Caragiulos a modern, purpose-built dining room while keeping the restaurant anchored in downtown Sarasota, where the Caragiulo family has built one of the city's most recognized restaurant brands since founding the business in 1989.

Caragiulos Sarasota: Why the Restaurant Left Palm Avenue After Nearly Four Decades

Caragiulos opened in February 1989 at 69 S. Palm Ave., inside the historic Mira Mar building, a 1922-era structure with vibrant décor evoking its Roaring '20s setting, overlooking what residents know as "gallery row" along one of downtown Sarasota's most storied blocks.

The move became necessary after Seaward Development purchased the Mira Mar building in May 2023 for $17.3 million. Seaward's plans to redevelop the property were recently approved. The developer pursued plans to build two 18-story condominium towers behind the building, with the historic Palm Avenue façade to be retained and rehabilitated. The redevelopment displaced Caragiulos and other long-standing tenants from the building's interior spaces.

"We are relieved and excited to be staying in downtown Sarasota," owner Paul Caragiulo said. "Our family has established deep roots in this community. Downtown Sarasota is our home."

Construction delays pushed the opening of the Ringling Boulevard location back from its original January 2026 target. The restaurant's website updated patrons in early 2026 that it expected to welcome guests at the new space in February. The Yelp listing for the new Ringling Boulevard address confirms the restaurant is now open and operating.

New Space Seats Roughly 150 in a 4,300-Square-Foot Layout

The new space seats roughly 150 guests across its 4,300-square-foot footprint, a significant expansion from the intimate, historic rooms of the Mira Mar that shaped the restaurant's character for nearly four decades. The new Ringling Boulevard location opens Monday through Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Sunday from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The menu continues the Italian-American traditions that defined Caragiulos on Palm Avenue, house-baked bread produced on the premises each morning, freshly made mozzarella, and biscotti still baked by Mrs. Caragiulo. The restaurant's formula, as the family has always described it, centers on simple, inviting recipes built from fresh, locally sourced ingredients in a setting that feels closer to a friend's home than a formal dining room.

A Family Restaurant Portfolio with Sarasota Roots

Caragiulos was founded by patriarch Tony Caragiulo and his sons after the family relocated from Brooklyn, New York. The Caragiulo brothers, John, Mark, Rob, Anthony and Paul, have operated the restaurant through multiple decades of Sarasota's growth, earning recognition from celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse and an appearance on his Cooking Channel television show along the way.

Caragiulos was founded in 1989 as a family-owned restaurant, and its portfolio has grown since then; the Caragiulo family founded Owen's Fish Camp in 2010 in Sarasota, which added a Lakewood Ranch location in 2023. The family also operates Veronica Fish and Oyster, making Caragiulos the flagship of a three-restaurant group that has shaped Sarasota's independent dining scene across more than three decades.

The closure of the Palm Avenue location in late 2025 was marked by a collectibles raffle for loyal customers, offering artwork, tabletops, gift baskets and opening-weekend dining tickets at the new location as prizes. The raffle reflected the community goodwill the restaurant has accumulated over a generation of Sarasota diners who built their own memories at the Mira Mar address.

Caragiulos is located at 1833 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, Florida 34236. The restaurant can be reached at (941) 951-0866. For ongoing updates, follow Caragiulos on Instagram and Facebook.

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