Cock & Bull, an iconic Sarasota craft beer bar and live music venue, has a new owner after a local real estate investor and past patron purchased the property for $3.35 million.
The decision was an easy one for Frank Giuffre, who purchased roughly two acres that include the establishment at 975 Cattlemen Road and frontage along South Packinghouse Road.
Giuffre, manager of F&H Properties Sarasota LLC, told the Herald-Tribune that when he moved to the area in 2007, the Cock & Bull was a place he truly enjoyed.
“I just loved the local, dive-bar feel,” he said. “Not a corporate feel, just a local bar — a really laid-back type of place.”
What’s the history of the Cock & Bull?
After originally opening on Main Street in downtown Sarasota in 1997, Cock & Bull moved into the Cattlemen Road space in 2002. It developed a following with fans of craft beer, with BeerAdvocate naming it the sixth best place to have a beer in the U.S. in 2006. The venue also hosted live music, including local music festival Noise Ordinance, and served pizza and other foods over the years.
In 2021, Sarasota brewery Big Top Brewing Company took over the space in what Cock & Bull called at the time “the biggest tap takeover ever,” with Big Top leasing the space from owners Dawn and Howie Hochberg while renaming it Big Top Live and continuing to feature concerts — including national acts — and Big Top’s craft beer.
Last year, the owners of local restaurant The Parrot Patio Bar & Grill announced plans to purchase the property and operate it as The Parrot Live. However, Parrot owners Jeff and Melanie Gambino later backed out of the deal, citing permitting issues, undisclosed code violations and unpaid tangible property tax they had discovered.
What’s the future of the Cock & Bull?
Giuffre’s current plan is to restore the existing structure and either lease or sell it to someone to reopen the place as a local hangout.
“Because I have such a love for this place, I want to completely renovate it,” Giuffre said.
That to-do list includes all-new siding, windows, doors and a roof outside, as well as repairing and rebuilding the deck — all while maintaining its Old Florida charm.
While some logistics will be decided by the person who operates the business, the bar will sell beverages. Food trucks would likely be brought in to provide food.
While live music may be in the future too, Giuffre doesn’t anticipate it becoming a live music venue on the same scale as when it was operated by Big Top Brewing — especially since that previous use ran afoul of Sarasota County codes.
“Having live music and having a live music venue are two totally different things,” Giuffre said. “We’re not ruling out the live music but it will be on a lower scale.
“It will be nowhere near what was happening there before and it will be within county regulations.”
What else is planned on the property?
Property on the back side of the bar that fronts South Packinghouse Road, much of which was used as overflow parking for the venue, will be developed commercially, Giuffre said.
Some of that lost parking will be offset by parking along the side and back of the Cock & Bull.
Currently, the plan calls for the new structures to be warehouse flex space light commercial space.
Giuffre has a history of restoring areas in the Cattlemen Road corridor, including 963 Cattlemen Road and 1705 Cattlemen Road.
Giuffre plans to sell those new Packinghouse Road commercial structures.
Most recently, Giuffre bought, restored and sold several warehouses in the Seaboard area of Venice.
When may the Cock & Bull beer taps be flowing again?
Giuffre estimates that, including permitting, renovations at the Cock & Bull will take four months, and then he will solicit offers to sell or lease the property.
After that, the timetable depends on the new proprietor.
“I feel like it has everything that it needs to be that local dive bar that people really want,” Giuffre said. “It’s a great location and there’s not too many places like that left.”
Gabriela Szymanowska contributed to this story.
Earle Kimel primarily covers south Sarasota County as well as land development and environmental issues for the Herald-Tribune. Follow him on Facebook, and X. He can be reached by email at earle.kimel@heraldtribune.com. Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Iconic Sarasota ‘dive bar’ site sells for $3.35 million
Reporting by Earle Kimel and Jimmy Geurts, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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