- April 23, 2026
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When Kevin Daves arrived in Sarasota in the early 1990s, he saw opportunity in what was missing — a luxury waterfront hotel in downtown, recognizing that potential in what is now The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota at the former location of the John Ringling Towers.
Expanding the Ritz-Carlton brand here, he turned his sights eastward to Lakewood Ranch and, through his Core Development Inc., developed a Ritz-Carlton-branded private golf course, which opened in 2005, as part of the Ritz-Carlton Members Club. Core Development then followed that up with The Concession Golf Club in 2006, designed by golf legends Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin.
This fall, Daves’ latest project, 1000 North — in partnership with Michael Jordan, pro golfer Ernie Els, retired NFL player Tucker Frederickson, wine industry leader Bill Terlato and other notable names — will open as perhaps Sarasota’s most exclusive private club in the BLVD Sarasota condo tower at the corner of Boulevard of the Arts and North Tamiami Trail.
It’s the second location for 1000 North, the original opening in Jupiter Island in 2017. Unlike the original, though, 1000 North Sarasota will not be open to the general public.
Of all the places across the country to bring such a concept, though, the question begs: Why Sarasota?
“I have always believed Sarasota has the foundation to stand alongside the most refined destinations in the country,” said Daves. “With 1000 North, we are building on that legacy by introducing a private club experience centered on exceptional cuisine, elevated service and a true sense of belonging. It is about raising the bar in a way that feels natural to Sarasota’s continued evolution.”
Alex Elshimy, the club’s general manager overseeing the buildout of the 13,000-square-foot facility, said that bar is being set high.
“Our goal is to become the best club and restaurant in the entire world, and mark my words, one day we'll make it the top in the world,” Elshimy said. “Everything we do, all the people we're hiring, everybody involved in this project, if they don't believe in this vision they don't belong here. Everything has to be done to the best way possible, to go above and beyond and you anticipate the guests’ needs before they even know that they need it. We live and breathe this hospitality concept.”
What 1000 North is not is a golf, tennis or beach club. It is designed to augment the exclusive country club lifestyle enjoyed by many of its members as a dining and social club, complete with full suite of concierge services such as travel, local transportation, charter air and yachting arrangements, planning culinary and wine travel anywhere around the globe, even scheduling home maintenance.
“We are looking for those members who already have a golf membership somewhere, but they're looking for something else, and for those who don't play golf and would like to join a nice community,” Elshimy said. “Our members all have the same things in common — they love food, they love wine and cocktails, they love to be pampered, and they love convenience and services.”
That pampering includes deep familiarity with members’ preferences. Don’t have a rare wine they love? It can be sourced from anywhere in the world, providing it is available. Have a dish mom used to make but no recipe? The club’s chefs will source the ingredients and attempt to replicate it. Need to store wines or spirits? The club has the capacity to store hundreds of bottles for each of the members in temperature-controlled rooms.
“We even have a separate generator just for the wine rooms,” Elshimy said.
Exclusivity, though, comes at a cost. The annual fee for members is $6,000, which is a relative value compared to higher-end country clubs. What is not disclosed is the initiation fee and, as the saying goes, “If you have to ask …”
Daves said he is confident Sarasota’s trajectory will drive qualified membership.
“Over the years, I have seen firsthand how the market has matured, both in the sophistication of its residents and in their expectations,” he said. “When I shared that perspective, along with the momentum we are seeing in luxury development and lifestyle demand, it became clear Sarasota was not just viable, but compelling. The city is ready for this, and that alignment made the decision an easy one.”
Also ready is new member Stephen Buckley, CEO of Dakota Biotech.
“I am thrilled that there is going to be a club of this caliber in Sarasota,” Buckley said. “I believe the club will be a worthwhile investment as like-minded business people will have the opportunity to network and talk together in a relaxed atmosphere, most likely introduced by the master of networking Alex Elshimy.”
1000 North will employ three executive chefs, one classically trained, one Michelin level chef to oversee a tasting menu and a traditional French gueridon chef to execute tableside preparation of entire meals. “It's showmanship, an art that has been disappearing from America for years,” Elshimy said.
Also on staff is a dietitian whose full-time job will be to meet with members, learn about any dietary restrictions and work with the chefs to customize recipes exclusively for them.
“She will be with the chef to substitute some of the ingredients so it does not sacrifice the taste, the presentation or the integrity of the dish,” Elshimy said.
And, those preparing the dishes won’t be strangers to the members.
“Our chefs are required to come in the dining room and meet our members,” Elshimy said. “We don't want the relationship between the member and the chef to be the server.”
The club will also offer a visiting celebrity chef program to work with the executive chefs to craft menus for special dining events, mix and mingle with members and even take photos with them.
Members will be asked to fill out a member profile regarding favorite foods, wines, cocktails and dining experiences they wish they could have, but can’t find, at least not locally. The data is collected and used to customize their experience.
“This is personalization at the highest level,” Elshimy said.
