A restaurant on St. Armands Circle has announced its closure, in yet another recent change to the Sarasota dining and shopping district.
Speaks Clam Bar at 29 N. Boulevard of the Presidents had its final day of business on March 15 “after nearly eight unforgettable years,” the restaurant announced in a social media statement. Speaks also has a Lakewood Ranch location that will remain open.
“Since opening our doors, Speaks has weathered a lot alongside this community — red tide, the pandemic, tropical storms, and hurricanes that brought water inside our walls,” the statement read. “Through every challenge, our team showed resilience, heart, and an unwavering commitment to hospitality.”
“We are incredibly grateful to every guest who sat at our bar, shared a plate of pasta, and created special moments with us. We also want to thank the extraordinary team members who made Speaks on St. Armands what it was. To our Sarasota community — thank you for years of support, laughter, and memories.”
What’s the history behind Speaks Clam Bar?
Speaks first opened its Lakewood Ranch location in 2017, followed by the St. Armands location in 2018 in the former Tokyo Japanese Steak House space. Its concept was inspired by early 20th century, Prohibition-era New York-style Italian clam bars.
The restaurant is part of Hi Hospitality Group, which also operates Asian concept Kojo, tropical bar and kitchen Bar Hana, and Palm Avenue Deli, all located by each other on downtown Sarasota’s Palm Avenue. Hi Hospitality Group is also behind the food hall Central Park in downtown St. Petersburg, which houses multiple concepts including Palm Avenue Deli.
What else is new in St. Armands’ restaurant scene?
Speaks’ closure is one of several changes to St. Armands Circle’s restaurant scene in recent years, especially in the wake of hurricanes Helene and Milton. Shore closed its 465 John Ringling Blvd. location in December 2024, citing “the devastation caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton,” though they recently announced interest in returning to the Circle. Tommy Bahama took over Shore’s former space and opened there in September, after closing their previous St. Armands Circle restaurant location at 300 John Ringling Blvd. due to hurricane damage as well.
Nōnnō Umberto Italian. Seafood. Steakhouse recently opened in the space formerly known as Le Colonne, which closed in 2024 due to storm damage before reopening under a new name and owners, albeit ones in the same family. Also recently opening on St. Armands was Flambo Island Cuisine, serving cuisine from the dual-island Caribbean country of Trinidad and Tobago.
Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Beloved Sarasota restaurant announces closure after 8 years
Reporting by Jimmy Geurts, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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