Three Firms Selected For Design, Build Of New Palm Ave Garage Restaurant

Interviews with 7 leading firms spanning from Florida to Philadelphia confirmed best partners are in Sarasota

SARASOTA, Fla., June 18, 2012…Three local firms, (JPA), Mills Gilbane and CJ Fishman & Associates, earned their selections as the best design and building companies for the and special events facility in the Palm Avenue Garage. 

Spanning from Florida to Philadelphia, the interior design architectural search included interviews and presentations from seven top firms who specialize in hospitality design.  Mills Gilbane, who will handle the construction, along with JPA, were also part of the original team for the Palm Avenue Garage project.   Venice-based CJ Fishman & Associates, who is responsible for the kitchen design, was also selected based on its reputation and expertise in the hospitality industry.  All three firms were also able to demonstrate their ability to take the Seidenstickers’ vision and translate that into the actual design and build out process.

“The combined backgrounds and experience of Jonathan Parks Architect (JPA), Mills Gilbane and CJ Fishman & Associates and their shared vision for helping make Palm Avenue and downtown Sarasota more vibrant are a perfect fit for us,” said Joe Seidensticker, co-owner of Libby’s Café + Bar, who with brother Patrick, will be directing the design and branding for the new restaurant and special events facility.  “It is also very gratifying to know that we can keep this project locally based, while still meeting our needs to bring new dining and special event facility concepts to the region,” he added.

Architect/Design/Builder Team

JPA, Mills Gilbane and CJ Fishman & Associates all bring award-winning reputations as family owned and operated businesses as well as a team of original designers and project executives for the Palm Avenue Garage project.  These include Jonathan Parks, AIA of JPA, Michael Beaumier with Mills Gilbane and CJ Fishman and Marisa Mangari with CJ Fishman & Associates. In addition to JPA’s and Mills Gilbane’s award-winning work on the Palm Avenue Garage facility, their collective experience includes many other notable local projects such as Citrus Square (JPA), and Selby Library and Ed Smith Stadium (Mills Gilbane).  Highlights of CJ Fishman & Associates hospitality projects include First Watch Restaurants, Bijou Café, Sarasota Yacht Club and the Crow’s Nest Restaurant.

“Being the architect for Palm Avenue Garage, it was almost like an unfinished art piece, so to be selected to finish what I started is ideal and a real honor,” said Jonathan Parks, AIA, Senior Principal for JPA.  “As a downtown resident, I’ve always wished for more energy and nightlife.  The vision of the Seidensticker family to completely re-imagine that part of Palm Avenue and to have not only new dining and social venues, but also an understanding of how they will work with the street, walkability and landscape is wonderfully compelling. It is really going to change that end of Palm Avenue,” Parks added.

 CJ Fishman adds:  “We’re honored to be part of the team to bring an exciting new dining concept and local and independently owned special events venue to Sarasota and the region.  This is a wonderful opportunity to transpose the more traditional dining out concept into an entirely new experience,” Fishman added.

Michael Beaumier, Project Executive for Mills Gilbane notes, “These new venues have the ability to really help the city reach its economic goals by attracting an important clientele to downtown Sarasota and Palm Avenue.  It’s an exciting opportunity for the entire neighborhood and community.”

New restaurant and special event concepts

With the architect, kitchen design and construction company selections completed and renderings in the development stage, the new restaurant and special event facility concepts are being finalized.  These include entirely new dining and large group facility catering venue designs and experiences that will continue to raise the bar for Sarasota as a leading culinary and social destination. The concepts are designed to carry on the Seidensticker family legacy and reputation for evolving award-winning dining and culinary programs. Further details will be announced as finalized.

Scheduled opening

Current plans are to have the new restaurant and special events facility open in time for the 2012/2013 winter season, with a tentative opening date slated for mid-November 2012.