Exciting news for downtown Sarasota: Two well-known restaurants have a new landlord. Baird Inc., a Sarasota-based family office, has acquired the commercial properties at 1355 to 1373 Main St., which house Café Amici and El Melvin Cocina Mexicana.

The properties span 12,527 square feet and include a mix of restaurant, retail, and art gallery/studio spaces. This acquisition highlights Baird Inc.’s ongoing investment strategy in downtown Sarasota’s real estate market.

Both Café Amici and El Melvin Cocina Mexicana will continue to operate under the new ownership. The acquisition cost $4.5 million for the Café Amici buildings and $4 million for the El Melvin building.

This move follows Baird’s recent purchase of the former Sarasota Kennel Club property in May 2023 for $9.5 million. The site has been cleared, though future development plans have yet to be announced.

Stay tuned as Sarasota’s downtown continues to evolve with these exciting changes!