James Scala had seen enough.
The owner of a property on Easterly Avenue came to the April 15 Auburn City Council meeting to speak about issues that he, his tenants and others have faced with residences of a nearby property, 1 Easterly Place.
With the eyes of city officials fixed squarely on him, Scala said he has been hearing concerns from his tenants and the neighborhood watch in that area. He talked about drugs, needles, money and guns. He was told earlier that week that a magazine for a high-capacity rifle was found. This is just escalating, he said. It s not getting any better. I think everybody knows about it. What can we do? That s my question to you.
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Kojo to open in downtown Sarasota
A new Asian restaurant, featuring the same ownership as a popular Sarasota-Manatee dining destination, will take over a prime location in downtown Sarasota.
Kojo has moved into the 1289 N. Palm Ave. space that formerly housed Lemon Tree Kitchen on Palm Avenue Parking Garage’s ground floor, with hopes to open by late February, said co-owner Natalia Levey. She is also an owner of Speaks Clam Bar, a New York-style Italian clam bar with Lakewood Ranch and St. Armands Circle locations.
Levey said Kojo was inspired by time she spent in Asia as well as traveling with her husband, and will incorporate cuisines from across the continent in its menu.
Tripletail s 4870 S. Tamiami Trail location is the same as where the original Gecko s opened in 1992 before moving to Stickney Point Road and U.S. 41, with the space then becoming Signature Events & Catering in 2019.
Mike Gowan, who co-founded Gecko s Hospitality Group with Mike Quillen, said the pandemic made operating a banquet facility a more challenging prospect and they decided to make the location a restaurant again, using Dry Dock as a model. We really love our Dry Dock menu; it s fresh seafood, we re getting fresh local fish in every day, we do lobster rolls, Gowan said. It s a great menu, it s all seafood-driven, and we felt that The Landings could use a really nice seafood restaurant.
The Parrot X-Press Grill opens in Sarasota
The Parrot X-Press Grill has opened at 2407 Bee Ridge Road in the former space of Smacks Burgers & Shakes, which closed in September. The new business is owned by Jeff and Melanie Gambino, who also own The Parrot Patio Bar & Grill restaurants in Sarasota and Bradenton on State Road 70 near Interstate 75.
“We’re super excited about it,” Jeff Gambino said about the new concept. “It’s got that great Parrot vibe to it, inside and out, and we’ve heard a lot of positive response from the general public, both at our other locations as well as just stopping by here.”