Venice relocating near Venice Bypass

BUYER: Fit Fore Golf Inc. (principal: Jason Fitchett), Nokomis
SELLER: Joe Collins
PROPERTY: 1564 and 1590 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice
PRICE: $1.1 million
PREVIOUS PRICE: $2 million, November 2010
LAW FIRM ON DEED: Icard Merrill Cullis Timm Furen & Ginsburg PA, Sarasota

PLANS, DESCRIPTION: Melanie and Jason Fitchett, the co-owners of Affordable Golf Cars of Venice Inc. purchased the 8,830-square-foot former Golden Imports retail building and a 1,200-square-foot secondary building for $1.1 million.

The price equated to $110 per square foot. That figure is lower than the two-year average price per square foot for retail space ($146) in the Tampa Bay area, according to the CoStar Group.

The golf-cart sales, parts and service business is relocating from a smaller, roughly 4,000-square-foot, leased location at 902 Tamiami Trail S., Nokomis. It has occupied that space for the past three years.

“We're just waiting on our certificate of occupancy right now,” says Melanie Fitchett. “This will allow us to add some new employees, offer rentals and store golf carts for seasonal visitors.”

The company, which previously had six employees along with the two owners, has added another six employees over the past two months.

Fitchett says the new location was recently renovated by the prior owner and is nearly three miles from its currently location.

The seller, Joe Collins, provided a $1 million mortgage to the buyers.