History of the Charles Ringling Building

The Charles Ringling Building stands at 1927 Ringling Boulevard Sarasota and reflects the early 20th century development vision of circus magnate Charles Edward Ringling.

Origins and Construction

Charles Ringling (1864-1926), co-founder of Ringling Brothers Circus and his wife Edith settled in Sarasota in 1912. Over the 1920’s, he heavily invested in local real estate and businesses including the Ringling Trust and Svings Bank. in 1924-1925. Ringling purchased the former Gillespie Golf Course Property and developed a business district along Ringling Boulevard. In 1924, he commissioned the architectural firm of Clas, Shepherd and Clas to design a two story steel and concrete commercial building in a Spanish Mediterranean design. The building was named the Charles Ringling Building. The builder was Martin L. Wread. The building was completed in 1926.

Early Use

When it opened , the ground floor housed the Triangular Drug Store and Clarence Saunders Grocery. The second floor served as offices and meeting rooms for Ringling and other business leaders. The Sarasota Herald in 1926 praised Ringling for transforming a sand wasteland into a thrivinng business and residentiao area.

Later History

In December, 1926, Charles Ringling died unexpectedly at his Sarasota home. Many local businesses closed to attend his funeral

In 1930, Saunders Grocery became Barth IGA store and was owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. William Barth. In 1945, the building was sold by Edith Ringling to Dolores Barth, the widow of William. The Barth Family operated the grocery store until 1953. Subsequently, the building hosted a succesion of restaurants and night clubs.

After sitting vacant since January ,2021 when its last tenant Sarasota Sky Bar and Club closed, the three story 11,720 sqyare fiit and three story structure to reopen in late December 2025 as the Venue 1927 Event Center.

     Thomas Theodore Watrous was a native of British Honduras, Central America. He arrived in Sarasota in 1912. He contracted with local builder Hugh Browning to build and design a hotel building in Sarasota

     The building was finished in 1912.  Construction costs were thirty-five thousand dollars.

     It was a three story brick building.  There were 34 rooms on the two upper floors.  The ground floor had a lobby and dining room. The second floor had guest rooms.  The third floor had a public shower .

     The building also featured a large billiard hall, electric call bells in every room, and a sound proof phone both.

Architecture and Features

The Watrous Hotel was one of Sarasota’s first brick buildings.

There is a 3-story porch supported seven large concrete and steel pillars

Electric lighting with milk glass globes visible from the bay

34 guest rooms with hot and cold running water

Mission style lobby furniture and screened porches

Dining room with a capacity of about 60 guests.

Watrous had said that” he will keep the hotel open year- round and looks for a very large and desirable list of customers for the coming season.”

Watrous later returned to British Honduras to work in the mahogany lumber industry. He returned to Sarasota in 1931 to re-establish his home. He died in 1943.

Later Management

R.B. Davis took over operation of the Hotel during the height of the Land Boom in 1926. He managed the Hotel for 18 years. He regularly advertised in the Sarasota Visitor’s Guide in the 1920’s and the 1930’s. One ad in the 1928-1929 Sarasota Guide stated that the Watrous Hotel is “the house that makes welcome, nice, clean airy and comfortable rooms and porches on beautiful Sarasota Bay. Rates are only $2 to $3 per day for a single.” These rates would remain constant during Davis tenure with the hotel.

In April,1944, an article in the Sarasota Herald Tribune stating that “Sarasota’s oldest hotel, the Watrous changed hands when R.B.Davis who has operated the Hotel for the past 18 years, sold the lease and furnishings to Earle E. Seele of Columbus, Ohio. The new management plans to thoroughly redecorate and remodel for next season’s business.

      This sculpture is located on Main Street/Orange Avenue Sarasota,Fl.

The Alcazar Building at 1355 Main Street downtown Sarasota is a notable example of early 20th Century architectural transformation and a long standing part of the citys business district.

The Alcazar Building is a historic Sarasota building located at 1355 Main Street in the downtown region. The building was originally built in 1915. The developer was George Prime. It was built as a utilitarian structure. Construction was with cement blocks. It was named the Prime Building. It was first used a a hardware store.

Renovation and Alcazar Name

In the 1920’s the building was gutted and redesigned by architect Thomas Reed Martin. The builder for the redo were Ricketts and Hasworth. In an article in the 1926 Sarasota Herald Tribune the renovation was described as turning a small utilitarian block into “a much larger structure”. There was a central tiled corridor, a modern restaurant room and display friendly shops. The building was renamed Alcazar Building. Renovation cost was $25,000.

Business History

1920’s–1930’s The first business after the renovation was the Circus Bar, a popular haunt for circus performers during prohibition

1938 Tropical Garden Liquors there

World War II era. The building became a popular night spot, later officially named the Tropical

1956 Metrome Room Night Club opened

1980’s After years of disrepair, Jay Foley rehabilitated the building and operated Coley’s a distinctive night club/ restaurant with themed rooms–a “greenhouse ” front area. and a bar decorated with a mounted dear head.

     The building has remained a functioning commercial property with 2 Senoritas operating there as a well known eatery.

The George Fuller Construction Company was a key Construction Contractor in the creation of the city of Venice, Florida. Its work is closely tied to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineer’s acquisition of land from Dr. Fred Albee in October,1925 and subsequent development plan designed by city planner John Nolan.

From land acquisition to city planning

After Dr.Albee’s purchase of 2916 acres, the BLE bought the property before Albee could implement his plan. The BLE Realty Company was formed to develop the area. John Nolan was retained to design a new city along the Gulf of Mexico. The plan included a downtown commercial district, residential areas, agricultural plots and public spaces. In October,2025, the BLE selected the George A. Fuller’s company as the construction contractor. Walter and Gillette of New York were chosen to be supervising architects. The landscape architect was chosen to be Prentiss French.

Major Projects

Fuller construction built the Hotel Venice at 200 North Nassau Street. This was the first structure erected by BLE in Venice. This 3- story, 92 room Italian Renaissance style Hotel was designed Walker and Gillette. It was constructed using local materials. It featured exposed cypress beams and stucco finishes. It opened June 21,1926 and became a landmark of the city’s early commercial district

Historic Photos Hotel Venice. Venice, Florida

Another project by Fuller’s Construction was The Ennes Arcade Located at 225-231 West Venice Avenue Venice,Fl.

It was completed in January 27,1927. It was constructed with stucco covered hollow tile and brick

Recent Photo Venice Hotel

The Fuller construction also oversaw residential construction, including large homes on Venice Avenue west of downtown and more modest homes in the Edgewood Section. Fuller’s work was part BLE’s broader plan for a”‘city on the Gulf” with hotels, wide avenues, and residential areas.

Under Nolen’s Mediterranean influenced plan, Fuller’s Company oversaw the construction of

Graded Streets and Sidewalks (first streets opened in June of 1926)

Early residential structures in the Gulf View Subdivision

Major civic and commercial buildings

Legacy

The Venice Museum and Archives notes that Fuller was among homeowners in the Venezia Park Historic District, a neighborhood designed for middle and upper-middle class residents and reflecting the Garden City movements ideals

Temporary Structures built for Fuller Construction Company. Used for Housing, Storage, and Offices at its peak the company employed over 4000 workers.

This drug store opened in 1902. It was Sarasota ‘s first drug store. It was an independently owned business. It was located at the southwest corner of Main Street and Palm Avenue Sarasota.  It operated for roughly one hundred years. It likely was at the same location throughout its history. It is also likely that the building was built by the owner.

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The drug store offered a wide range of goods, including pharmaceuticals, patent medicine and everyday items.

    Badger’s Drug Store in Sarasota opened in 1905. It was located at the southwest corner of Main Street and Pineapple Avenue in the area known as Five Points.

     The store was named for the owners home state of Wisconsin..  It was founded by Spencer Olsen and Doctor F.E.Schultz. It sold a little of everything. It’s lunch counter was a gathering place

      It was operated for years by S.Davis Boylston

       It was demolished in 1964 along with the rest of the block. The parking lot was replaced  b

he lot