Sarasota optometrist retires, vacates building on US 41

A longtime optometrist has retired in Sarasota. Dr. Frederick E. Soto Jr. retired Nov. 21 after serving patients for 40 years, according to a statement.

Soto is the son of former Sarasota mayor Fred Soto Sr., who owned nine optical shops across Florida’s west coast, the statement says. After earning his degree from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee, Soto acquired one of his father’s optical centers for his own practice.

The former Soto Eye Center was purchased in 2020 by the Center for Sight, which Soto worked under for the last four years, according to the statement.

Now that Soto has retired at age 70, the building at 2650 S. Tamiami Trail will be vacated, and his patients will be transferred to other doctors within the Center for Sight network, the release states.

His brother, Ron Soto, continues to own and operate Soto Optical Boutique on Main Street.