It was a treat to attend the Grand Opening celebration of the new Bar Hana by Kojo on the ground level of the Palm Avenue Parking Garage. SOLSTICE was a part of the design team to reimagine the space for Hi Hospitality Group. They requested a tiki-inspired concept that would fill a void in downtown Sarasota - a late night bar but with food available all day.

It’s wonderful to be a part of the team given our history designing the Palm Avenue Parking Garage and then what was Louie’s Modern and the Francis event space on the ground floor. When we were hired by the City of Sarasota to design the parking garage in 2010, they had always envisioned retail or hospitality on the ground floor. The mixed-use concept was the perfect foundation for extending the vitality of Main Street onto Palm Avenue and into the theatre district.

One of our goals as a design studio has always been ‘place making.’ We love to create those “third spaces” - designing projects that encourage users to linger and interact outside of the daily routines of home and work.

According to Sarasota Magazine, “The space has a hip feel, with a sleek, black-tiled bar contrasted by natural tones from rattan-lined walls. Flowers and greenery hang from the ceiling above, creating an intimate environment.”

And the Bar Hana menu is inspired by the Pacific Rim but done in a fusion manner.

Attending the ribbon cutting was the staff, owners, also Mayor Kyle Battie - who had the honor of the ribbon cutting.

Project team
Client: Hi Hospitality Group, Mark and Natalia Levey
Sarasota Architect: SOLSTICE Planning and Architecture, Jonathan Parks AIA, Roy Witte
Interior Design: Blok Design Group
Photos: Dylan Jon Wade Cox