Entrepreneur plans $4M Champagne bar and piano lounge in Sarasota

A high-end Champagne bar and piano lounge is coming to downtown Sarasota. 

The concept, from local entrepreneur Ronnie Shugar, will be called Sugar Champagne Bar and will have a menu centered on fine Champagne, wines, spirits and chef-inspired small plates, according to a statement. And, of course, a piano — a pink piano. 

Sugar Champagne Bar is at 127 S. Pineapple Ave., which is the corner of South Pineapple and South Lemon avenues, outside The Mark condo building and Paul N. Thorpe Jr. Park. A spokesperson for the project and Shugar says Sugar Champagne Bar will be a $4 million investment and could be open by the end of the year. Shugar, through an LLC named 127 Pineapple Partners, paid $1.8 million for the 1,947-square-foot building in May 2021, Sarasota County property records show.