The former owner of a Sarasota bar plans to take over a popular restaurant and pub near Siesta Key as its longtime owners prepare to retire.
Shakespeare's Craft Beer & Gastro Pub is a Sarasota favorite known for serving one of the city's most acclaimed burgers, along with a smartly curated collection of craft and import beers in a cozy pub setting.
Longtime owners Richard and Marilyn Neal announced they were selling their "beloved pub" and retiring in a Facebook post shared on Oct. 16.
"After 22 amazing years it is time for us to retire and enjoy new adventures," the Neals wrote on Facebook. "We can't even begin to thank everyone for the incredible support and loyalty that we have received over the years and all the friends we have made along the way."
Michael Calomeris, a local entrepreneur and Sarasota resident, told the Herald-Tribune that he would be taking over Shakespeare's but he said he plans to keep everything the same, from the general manager down to the signature burgers.
"I don't have plans on changing anything," Calomeris said. "Shakespeare's been around for 22 years. It's a great local place, great following, great neighborhood. I'm honored to continue the traditions this place has established."
Calomeris, who sold his former business 8-Ball Lounge in July, said that he was ready for another business venture when he saw that the Neals were selling their business to retire. He said that while the SBA loan has been approved, the sale would likely close in three or four weeks.
Richard and Marilyn Neal opened Shakespeare’s in October 2003 and continued running the pub along with their son, Richard Murrell, and daughter, Samantha Murrell. Calomeris said that Richard Murrell would remain the establishment's general manager, despite the ownership change. He added that he also plans on retaining all of Shakespeare's staff.
The most important thing, Calomeris said, was letting the community know that the beloved British pub was going to remain open and remain the same concept that they have come to love.
"Shakespeare's is going to be Shakespeare's, just owned by someone else," Calomeris said.
What is Shakespeare's Craft Beer & Gastro Pub?
The longtime family-owned restaurant, tucked away at 3550 S. Osprey Ave. in a small shopping center near Siesta Key, is renowned for its award-winning burgers and offers a smartly curated collection of craft and import beers.
A previous column in the Herald-Tribune described Shakespeare's as having "Sarasota's best burgers for more than two decades," with its signature cold pint of Guinness featuring a "velvety sip transporting you a little farther from the Florida heat waiting just beyond the door."
The pub’s signature burgers feature hand-formed, eight-ounce Black Angus beef patties served on toasted rosemary Kaiser buns, with none more famous than the Caramelized Onion & Brie Burger, topped with balsamic caramelized onions. Other essentials include the Black & Blue Burger, featuring Cajun spices, Stilton blue cheese and Swiss, and the Horseradish Cheddar & Bacon Burger.
Other menu favorites include fish and chips, spicy English beer cheese dip and English dustbin lids, crispy potato skins filled with English sausage, onions, mushrooms and cheddar cheese.
The pub features a dark and inviting atmosphere, with a handsome wood bar that spans most of the long, narrow space connecting the smaller front and larger back dining areas. There’s covered outside seating as well.
Originally, Shakespeare’s specialized in imported beers, particularly those from the United Kingdom, before shifting its focus to local and national craft brews.
If you go
Shakespeare's Craft Beer and Gastro Pub is at 3550 S. Osprey Ave., Sarasota, and remains open for business during the sale. For more information, visit shakespearesenglishpub.com.
Kendal Asbury is the real estate and development reporter for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Have an idea, tip or question about development? Send her an email at kasbury@usatodayco.com. Connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on Instagram @wordsbykendal, and support local journalism by subscribing to the Herald-Tribune.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Former Sarasota bar owner to take over Shakespeare’s pub | Exclusive
