Sarasota Restaurant Replaced at Main Street Site
Owners of a closed pizza concept are pivoting to a new dining brand at their existing downtown Sarasota storefront.
Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Lucile Pizza & Wine Bar has closed its doors at 1660 Main St. in downtown Sarasota. Owners Ryan Boeve and Mark Baldwin will transform the space into a new concept called Mitchell's Food and Wine.
Why it matters
The transition represents an internal brand pivot for the ownership group at their existing downtown location. By refreshing the concept and decor, operators aim to align their offering with new market preferences at a proven site.
The location at 1660 Main St. has hosted a single ownership group since Lucile Pizza & Wine Bar opened in late 2020. The site now prepares for its next iteration under the Mitchell's Food and Wine brand.
The players
Ryan Boeve
Co-owner of the restaurant properties at 1660 Main St. in Sarasota.
Mark Baldwin
Co-owner of the restaurant properties at 1660 Main St. in Sarasota.
The details
The ownership team is undertaking a full repositioning of the 1660 Main St. space, moving away from the previous pizza-focused model. Mitchell's Food and Wine will feature an elevated menu including braised short rib brasato and Florida yellowtail snapper. The interior is undergoing significant renovations to incorporate Art Deco and mid-century modern design elements to define the new brand identity.
Timeline
Lucile Pizza & Wine Bar opened in late 2020.
Mitchell's Food and Wine is scheduled to open in mid-October 2026.
Market Landscape
This transition marks a departure from the business model established by the 2020 launch of Lucile Pizza & Wine Bar. The move follows a common cycle where operators refresh concepts at high-visibility downtown locations to maintain competitive relevance.
Operators looking at similar site transitions should track the costs of cosmetic and menu-driven rebrands versus full-scale buildouts. Managing the shift while retaining an existing leasehold allows for continuity but requires careful marketing to signal the change to established customers.
The takeaway
Rebranding an existing footprint is an effective way to test a new menu and aesthetic while avoiding the risks of finding a new location. Monitor how the transition from pizza to a more diverse menu impacts the site's daily customer traffic once the October 2026 opening occurs.
What happens next
Mitchell's Food and Wine is scheduled to open in mid-October 2026.
Further reading
For more trends on local storefront shifts, visit our Openings & Closings section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
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