RIPCO Real Estate Brokers Long-Term Pinchers Lease at St. Armands Circle in Sarasota

Gulf Coast seafood chain Pinchers has signed a long-term lease for more than 8,000 square feet at 300 John Ringling Blvd. in Sarasota's St. Armands Circle, with RIPCO Real Estate representing the property owners in the transaction. The restaurant, operated under the Phelan Family Brands umbrella, plans to open at the two-story space — formerly occupied by Tommy Bahama — this fall.

Alison Horbach of RIPCO Real Estate brokered the deal on behalf of the landlord, a group of Michigan-based LLCs that acquired 300 John Ringling Blvd. for $8 million in 2022, according to Sarasota County property records. Horbach described the agreement as a "long-term lease" in comments to the Business Observer.

Pinchers Plans October Opening at Former Tommy Bahama Space

Kevin Rooney, vice president of marketing and advertising for Phelan Family Brands, said the company is targeting an October opening. The St. Armands location will seat approximately 200 guests across both floors and is expected to employ between 75 and 100 people. A small portion of the space will be set aside for branded retail merchandise such as Pinchers shirts.

"We are shooting to be open in October," Rooney told the Business Observer.

Plans call for the restaurant to occupy both levels of the building, with the possibility of expanding one of the two bars so they are equal in size on each floor. The interior will feature decor consistent with other Pinchers locations, including Gulf-themed posters and crabbing paraphernalia. Rooney noted that Phelan Family Brands founder Tony Phelan has been personally involved in sourcing artwork for the walls.

"It's going to look and feel like any other Pinchers that we have," Rooney said.

A Backfill of a High-Profile St. Armands Retail Box

The 300 John Ringling Blvd. space became available after Tommy Bahama relocated to 465 John Ringling Blvd. — the former Shore restaurant site — following hurricane impacts in late 2024.

While St. Armands is not directly on the water, Rooney acknowledged the proximity to Lido Beach fits the brand's site criteria. The atmosphere, he said, will be "relaxed" and "always family-friendly," with many customers expected to arrive in flip-flops.

"Our founder, Tony Phelan, is incredibly active with what the restaurant looks and feels like," Rooney said. "He's been actively procuring, assembling and gathering all of the art that's going on the walls."

Phelan Family Brands Expands Gulf Coast Footprint to 27 Locations

Phelan Family Brands was established in 1997 with the debut of Pinchers Crab Shack in Bonita Springs and has since grown into a multi-concept restaurant group. Its portfolio includes Pinchers, Deep Lagoon, and Texas Tony's Rib & Brewhouse, among more than a dozen concepts. With the addition of the St. Armands location, the company will operate 27 restaurants along the Gulf Coast.

Pinchers currently has 10 locations stretching from Naples to Wesley Chapel. The nearest existing units to St. Armands Circle are in Lakewood Ranch, approximately 14 miles away, and Venice, approximately 20 miles away.

Landlord Context and Lease Significance

The Michigan-based ownership group acquired 300 John Ringling Blvd. in 2022 for $8 million, according to Sarasota County property records. Horbach of RIPCO Real Estate characterized the transaction in broader terms on LinkedIn.

"It is more than just another lease signed," Horbach wrote. "It's a sign of new beginnings … It's a sign of success to both the ownership entity and the expanding restaurant that will soon open its doors. It's a sign that rebuilding is possible even when the odds are stacked against you. It's a sign that where faith and purpose live, results will follow."

Rooney said Phelan Family Brands has contingency plans in place for its Gulf Coast restaurants in the event of future storms. "What you try to do is set your restaurant up for success with how you lay it out from the get-go," he said. "Prior planning permits peak performance — that is a mantra that we certainly live by each day."