An acclaimed Sarasota restaurant that created a buzz when it opened in Gulf Gate has abruptly closed after three years in business.
Kolucan Mexican Bar and Grill announced Friday morning that it had closed its doors effective immediately “due to circumstances beyond our control.”
“Thank you for three amazing years," reads the second of two messages Kolucan posted on social media Sept. 4. "It has been an honor to serve this community. We hope that every meal and every conversation brought you joy.”
Kolucan occupied a modern white building with large windows, a limestone-clad facade and an outdoor dining area at the prominent corner of Gateway Avenue and Gulf Gate Drive. The impressive space stands out in the funky Gulf Gate district, known more
for bars and pizza joints than upscale dining.
The 6644 Gateway Ave. location had previously been home to multiple restaurants, most recently Opus, before Kolucan held its grand opening Sept. 6, 2023.
Still, I had high hopes for Kolucan considering its rich pedigree and cuisine, which I enjoyed before placing Kolucan on my list of best new Sarasota restaurants.
Kolucan opened as a partnership between Gino Calleja, owner of Sarasota's beloved Reyna’s Taqueria, and Jose Rojas, former chef of downtown Sarasota’s Louies Modern, a fine-dining destination that built a loyal following during its roughly five-year run before closing in 2019.
Offering a more upscale counterpart to Reyna’s Taqueria, Kolucan paired chic indoor and patio seating with an elevated dinner menu. It could also delight with a deceptively simple lunch of uncommonly good tacos and equally alluring sopa de tortilla paired with a cold beer.
While Kolucan will be missed, Reyna’s, by all accounts, continues to thrive at its Sarasota Commons location at 935 N. Beneva Road, Suite 701.
Wade Tatangelo is the executive editor of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and Florida dining and entertainment editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X. He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Acclaimed Sarasota restaurant abruptly closes after three years
