A popular waterfront place to drink, eat and stay near Sarasota has been sold.
Fishermen’s Village, an iconic waterfront destination in Punta Gorda on Charlotte Harbor just south of Sarasota County, will remain in local hands following the $43 million sale of the complex, which has offered waterfront shopping, dining, a marina and hotel rooms since opening in 1980.
The sale of the 14-acre complex took nearly three years after it entered receivership following PNC Bank's foreclosure on promissory notes held by companies controlled by Jonathan Moynahan Larmore, including the firm that acquired Fishermen's Village for $8.1 million in 2012.
Larmore, 52, was arrested in Florida and convicted in 2024 as part of a $77 million fraud scheme following an investigation
by the Federal Bureau of Investigation into his "fake tender offer to manipulate the stock price of WeWork Inc.," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Marketing of the property started prior to the 2024 hurricane season and was complicated by the impacts of hurricanes Helene and Milton on Southwest Florida.
Rather than pursuing a rushed sale, SVN advised the receivership to stabilize the complex and rebuild its tenant base.
New owners have strong ties to Punta Gorda
"This transaction represents far more than the sale of a commercial property," Ashley Bloom, Managing Partner of SVN Commercial Partners, said in a prepared statement. “Fishermen's Village has been a cornerstone of Punta Gorda for decades.
“After overcoming two historic hurricanes, navigating complex and evolving assets, and conducting an extensive national marketing process, we are especially pleased to have helped transition this iconic waterfront destination to a local ownership group that understands its importance and is committed to its future."
Harborview Capital Group partnered with Miami-based Torose Equities on the purchase.
Harborview CEO Anthony Dubbaneh is a lifelong Punta Gorda resident focused on long-term ownership and community stewardship, while Harborview Managing Partner Ankur Patel was born and raised in Punta Gorda and has a lifelong connection to Fishermen's Village.
The sale includes approximately 97,000 square feet of waterfront retail and office space, five waterfront restaurants, 47 waterfront hotel suites, and a 142-slip marina.
The new owners plan to work with the city of Punta Gorda to continue revitalizing Fishermen's Village, which sits across the Peace River from Sunseeker Resort, the 785-room property developed by Allegiant Travel Company and now managed as part of Hilton's Curio Collection.
“We are honored to become the next stewards of a place that has meant so much to our family and our community. Fishermen’s Village is the next step in our long-term commitment to investing in Punta Gorda,” Dubbaneh said in a prepared statement. “We previously acquired the former Muscle Car City property, transforming it into a renewed community asset, and we also acquired the Military Heritage Museum complex, where we are investing to ensure it remains an important destination for residents and visitors. We view each of these investments as a commitment to strengthening the community for generations to come.”
In the same statement, Patel said, “This is a responsibility we take seriously, and we look forward to working alongside the city and the community for many years to come.”
Scott Sherman, principal of Torose Equities, said Fishermen’s Village is an exciting addition to its Florida Gulf Coast portfolio, which includes Midtown at Bonita in Bonita Springs and Modera Retail in St. Petersburg.
The new owners have several immediate priorities, including restoring the marina to full operation, enhancing hotel operations, investing in guest amenities and supporting existing merchants and marina tenants.
They have another goal of preserving the existing waterfront character and leadership.
What’s new at Fishermen’s Village?
One of the key tasks SVN Commercial Partners undertook while marketing Fishermen's Village involved rebuilding the tenant base. The company brought occupancy rates up from 60% to 100%.
“The recovery of Fishermen's Village has been extraordinary,” Corrie Gates, Director of SVN Commercial Partners, said in a prepared statement. “Achieving full occupancy after everything the property and community experienced is a testament to the ownership, tenants, management
team, and the loyalty of visitors from across Southwest Florida.”
The waterfront destination features several new restaurants.
The Islands Kitchen & Cocktail House featuring Caribbean-style sushi and other seafood dishes replaced The Pier Restaurant in a 300-seat space.
The Tidewater Group opened Latitude 26 in the upstairs dining space once occupied by the Captain’s Table.
It will soon open Castaways, an open-air dockside bar and grill in the downstairs space once filled by Harpoon Harry’s.
Leroy’s Fish Shack, owned by Lee Richardson, operator of Leroy’s Southern Kitchen in downtown Punta Gorda, is opening soon in the space once occupied by the Village Fish Market.
It will feature local seafood caught and delivered daily.
Bloom told the Herald-Tribune that while there was interest from chain restaurants, it was important to keep the local flavor.
If you go
Fishermen's Village is located at 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda. From Interstate 75, take exit 164, turn west then drive three miles to Fishermen’s Village.
In addition to restaurants, Fishermen’s Village is home to more than two dozen shops, an all-suites hotel and a marina.
For more information visit fishermensvillage.com.
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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Popular waterfront destination near Sarasota sold for $43 million
