Developing Sarasota dining club to buy neighboring property

A celebrity-backed private dining club in Sarasota that is opening in the months ahead is expanding while still under construction. 1000 North Sarasota is under contract to purchase a property adjacent to its location in the BLVD building, at the corner of Boulevard of the Arts and North Tamiami Trail.

“This expansion allows us to fully realize our vision of creating a destination that blends world-class dining, community and lifestyle at the highest level," 1000 North COO Alex Elshimy says in a statement. He did not immediately respond to a request for more information about the property and the club's plans for it.

1000 North Sarasota is currently under construction. Sarasota-based developer Kevin Daves, whose portfolio includes The Concession Golf Club near Lakewood Ranch and The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, is behind the project.

The 1000 North Sarasota concept is a two-story, 13,000-square-foot club for members only that officials say is designed to create both exclusivity and connection. It will feature private dining rooms, a wine lounge, wine and liquor lockers for members and an upstairs lounge that will serve as the centerpiece.

On the menu will be steaks, seafood and seasonal ingredients, complemented by sommelier-curated wine selections. Also among the culinary offerings will be tasting menus, a rotating celebrity chef program and classic tableside French cooking, according to a statement.

1000 North Sarasota will provide a “full-service hospitality platform,” the statement says, including valet service and a concierge team offering access to dining, cultural and travel experiences, from private aviation to yachts.

“As we approach opening, the response from Sarasota has been extraordinary," Elshimy says in the statement, "with exceptionally strong demand for memberships." While he does not immediately provide membership data, he says in the statement: "Membership is currently tracking ahead of initial projections.”

The Sarasota club will be modeled after and is associated with 1000 North, a private dining club in Palm Beach County that has celebrity backing. Founding partners of 1000 North include former New York Giants player Tucker Frederickson, golf legend Ernie Els, basketball icon Michael Jordan, wine industry leader Bill Terlato and publisher of Wine Spectator Marvin Shanken.

The expansion of its physical footprint is the latest milestone for the club, which announced in October 2024 that it was coming to the Sarasota market and in May secured financing for the project from First Horizon Bank. 1000 North Sarasota will be at 520 N. Tamiami Trail. While a statement says the opening will be "in the coming months," a countdown ticker on the 1000 North Sarasota website shows it is 25 weeks away as of April 8, which falls a little more than five months from now, at the end of September.