Nonprofit buys Sarasota restaurant property for apprenticeship school

A former restaurant property on Fruitville Road has sold, and the nonprofit that purchased the site plans to turn it into an apprenticeship academy for those seeking careers in construction. Suncoast Apprenticeship Academy bought the property at 5921 Fruitville Road, which used to be a Perkins restaurant, for $1.65 million, according to the deed filed in Sarasota County. News of the sale was first reported in January.

The seller is Medallion Home, a Manatee County-based homebuilder that previously bought the Fruitville Road site for $1.65 million in 2024, according to Sarasota County property records. Medallion Home was founded and is run by Carlos Beruff, a prolific developer and philanthropist who has served on and chaired multiple boards in the Sarasota-Manatee region.  

Members of the Suncoast Builders Association and assistance from a private donor helped raise the funds needed for the 1.36-acre purchase, which closed Aug. 3. The association, an organization that represents more than 400 builders and developers, established the apprenticeship academy to address the shortage of skilled, licensed trade professionals in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

"Closing on this property is a major milestone, but it is only the beginning,”  Suncoast Builders Association CEO Jon Mast says in a statement. “Now it's time to come together and build the future of the skilled trades."

Plans call for renovating the 5,305-square-foot single-level restaurant property into a two-story building that houses the headquarters of the Suncoast Builders Association and the Suncoast Apprenticeship Academy, expected to open in 2028. The academy will include 5,000 square feet of classroom space and a 6,000-square-foot workshop for hands-on training, according to the Suncoast Apprenticeship Academy website. The addition will add 13,000 square feet, Mast says, and the entire project is estimated to cost $10 million, including the property purchase.

Photo by Amber Elsenheimer

Designed for those 18 years old and up, the academy will begin offering a 12- to 16-week pre-apprenticeship program in fall 2028 focused on developing trade skills and industry readiness, the website says. In 2030, it will launch its two- to four-year apprenticeship program with pathways across multiple trades, from plumbing and carpentry to HVAC and electrical.

Now, the association is turning its attention toward renovation of the former restaurant property. Renovating the existing space will cost up to $2 million, Mast estimates. The addition will cost $6 million to build an educational wing with advanced training labs and classrooms, according to Mast. The association is asking for builders, contractors, suppliers, manufacturers and community partners to help through financial contributions, donated building materials, professional services, equipment and volunteer support. 

“The construction industry is experiencing a dire shortage in skilled laborers across multiple sectors,” Mast says. "This not only affects businesses, but it also affects the community looking to fill service needs at their homes. This is our opportunity to create a lasting legacy and a pipeline of skilled laborers for our industry and our community."