World of Beer to expand to Eat Here building

Downtown Sarasota will get another new face this fall, as World of Beer will open a location at the Main Street space currently occupied by Eat Here.

World of Beer, which already has a location off University Parkway near I-75, will move into the building at 1888 Main St. later this year. Co-owner Dean Lambert said the new site excited him — particularly given the other activity being generated in the area.

“The area has been a little slower in the last few years, but it really seems to be filling in now,” Lambert said. “I think we’ll be a good addition.”

Sean Murphy, owner of Eat Here, said World of Beer contacted him with an unsolicited offer to buy out the rest of the restaurant’s lease. Murphy said the bar would be an excellent asset for the eastern end of Main Street, which also recently saw the addition of McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre. He said the move will have no impact on Eat Here’s other locations.

“The Eat Here family's smaller restaurants on Anna Maria Island and Siesta Key will continue offering chef-focused, chef-crafted, coastal cookery at their island locations," Murphy said in a press release

World of Beer, which offers hundreds of bottled beers and dozens more on tap, will also have a mid-sized food menu. Lambert said the bar is targeting a late summer or early fall opening date and that he’s looking forward to becoming a part of the downtown area.

“It’s exciting,” Lambert said. “It’s going to be a great location for us.”

Contact David Conway at [email protected].