The Caragiulo family—the restaurateurs behind Caragiulos, Owen's Fish Camp and Veronica Fish & Oyster—has plans to open a new restaurant that will be located just off the Legacy Trail.

"It's a beautiful piece of oak hammock property," says Paul Caragiulo. "Our idea is to put a minimal footprint on the property so that we don't disturb the natural environment. The location is exceptional."

The dining portion of the restaurant will be primarily outside, with a small indoor building used for food production and some seating.

"It's all about atmosphere," Caragiulo says.

The restaurant will be located near Sawyer Loop, just off the original southern portion of the Legacy Trail. "We wanted to do something that was engineered for the trail," Caragiulo explains. "We believe in it not only as a recreational component, but as transportation infrastructure, as well."

The Caragiulo brothers, who are currently finalizing the second location of their successful Owen's Fish Camp in Lakewood Ranch, anticipate that they will ramp up construction on this new endeavor in early 2023.

"We're in our third round of conceptualizing it," says Caragiulo. "It's going to be an homage to the ranching and agricultural tradition of the area. We want to celebrate the history of Sarasota." The final details, including the menu and name, are still in the planning phase.

The brothers initially consulted board members of the Friends of the Legacy Trail, asking what they'd like to see to ensure the restaurant is well-designed for the needs of people using the trail.

Other major metropolitan areas have made great use of their pedestrian and bicycle trails in similar ways. For example, the BeltLine in Atlanta has several commercial stops integrated seamlessly into the city trail. So does the High Line in New York City.

"The prospect of a restaurant south of Clark Road is exciting," says Friends of the Legacy Trail board chair Louis Kosiba. "It will provide a needed rest stop, as well as food and beverage service right on the trail. It will be very convenient for cyclists and pedestrians who won't need to venture onto busy streets."