The historic Charles Ringling building—a nearly 100-year-old commercial property in downtown Sarasota that once included Charles Ringling’s offices—has sold for $2.1 million. The new acting owner, Civil Creative Agency, will restore the building to serve as an upscale music venue called SRQUS (pronounced “circus”).

The 11,720-square-foot property was built in 1926 and is located at 1927 Ringling Boulevard. Early tenants on the ground floor were Triangle Drug Store and the Clarence Saunders Grocery, while the second floor was used for Ringling’s and others’ offices and meeting rooms. Since the 1950s, the building has been occupied by restaurants and nightclubs. It has been vacant since January 2021, when Sarasota Sky Bar & Club closed.

Civil Creative Agency, previously based in Atlanta but recently relocated to Sarasota, will work in partnership with Sarasota-based Bay Area Creative to restore, relaunch and manage the property as SRQUS, an upscale music venue and social club. Renovations are expected to begin in May. Plans for the restored property include seating and standing capacity for between 300 and 500 people, depending on the configuration of the event; a new mezzanine level for VIP ticket holders; a speakeasy-type social club on the top floor; and restoring the cupola as an elevated design element.

SRQUS is expected to open in early 2023. Jag Grewal and Amy MacDougall of Ian Black Real Estate represented the seller, 1927 Ringling Blvd, LLC, in the transaction. Joe C. Hembree of Hembree & Associates represented the buyer.