Renovations begin on first-in-area restaurant

SARASOTA — Bavaro’s Pizza Napoletana & Pastaria broke ground on its renovation of a downtown Sarasota location on May 7. 

The location is at 27 Fletcher Ave. off Main Street. Bavaro purchased the 2,600-square-foot building and plans to remodel it to reflect a modern industrial look. He will also add a 750-square-foot patio for outside seating. 

“We’ve been working on finalizing plans for over a year,” says Bavaro's founder Dan Bavaro in a statement. “We have a history of being a pioneer with our locations in downtown Tampa and the Edge District in St. Petersburg. This free-standing building in the heart of downtown Sarasota is very comparable to our other sites.” 

The restaurant's menu will include Neapolitan-style pizzas, soups, appetizers, salads, Italian entrees and desserts. 

According to a press release, the restaurant is expected to open by July. 

Bavaro opened the first Bavaro's restaurant in downtown Tampa in 2009.