NEW Florida Business Opportunity on Anna Maria Island

Today we learned about a new business opportunity for Florida immigrants who are searching for good investments that can help them qualify for an E-2 or EB-5 visa.  It comes in the form of a 3,088 sq-ft restaurant on a barrier island near Sarasota with a cozy 3-bedroom apartment above – makes for an easy commute.

STOCK image of restaurant interior. Contact the broker for real photos.

The details:

• 3,088 SF restaurant with full bar (4-COP) located in Holmes beach, with gulf views.
• Additional 1,400 SF 3BD apartment above.
• Sale price: $475,000.
• Rent would be $5,000 per mo. (including the apt. above) plus Tenant pays
• Property taxes, insurance & Maint. (about $13,000 yr)
• The restaurant did about $500k for 2013 (open only for dinner 7 nights)
• Cash flow: $183,000.
• If you deduct the expense of rent and NNN charges ($73,000) the net to a new operator would be about $110k.
• Real estate is also for sale for $1.3M

Interested parties should contact Mr. John Caragiulo, an experienced business broker, at jcaragiulo@hembreeco.com.

As always, the attorneys at Jaensch Immigration Law Firm stand ready to advise you on making any investment with the goal of securing a temporary E-2 or immigrant EB-5 visa.

Catching Up With Sarasota Immigrant Christophe Coutelle

Last time we spoke with Sarasota immigrant Christophe Coutelle he was running C’est La Vie on Main St. and making plans to open his second restaurant, Lolita Tartine.  C’est La Vie began as a part of a plan to move from France and start a business in the US.  It was very successful, turning a profit within weeks!  So Christophe decided to build on his success.  Lolita Tartine opened on October 23rd and is now serving the delicious pastries and coffee that Christophe is known for as well as the new tartines, or open-faced sandwiches, wine, and other lunch and dinner items such as salads and stews.

Christophe invited ImmigrationSarasota.com to a cafe au lait at the new restaurant.

IS.com: This is a beautiful new restaurant, did you have a hand in designing it yourself?

Christopher Coutelle: Thank you.  Yes, this is one of the typical renovated spaces you see in the Rosemary District.  My friend, another Frenchman actually, introduced me to it.  At first I said I would think about it.  With time I decided this was the place to open Lolita Tartine.

IS.com: You use a lot of red, an attention grabbing color, was that on purpose?

CC: The window frame is red so we went with that for the interior.

IS.com: I noticed the famous artists’ portraits on the wall.  Picasso, Dali, Delacroix, why them?

CC: We had help from the design studio next door.  We decided to name the different tartines after famous artists and we added their portraits on the wall for continuity.

IS.com: SO why not stick with what you know, pastries and coffee?  Why add lunch and dinner?

CC: My wife and I had seen a restaurant in France call Dame Tartine, short for Madame Tartine, and we had originally wanted to open a place like that in the States.  For business reasons we decided to open C’Est La Vie first.  But serving good food all day long is always something we wanted to do, and now we are.

IS.com: So how late is Lolita open?

CC: We open at 8:30am and close the kitchen at 9pm.

IS.com: I noticed a large selection of wines behind the bar.  Are they all from France?

CC: At the moment, yes.  I have a friend who is an importer who finds good French wines.  But people have been asking and I am also thinking about expanding into Spanish, Italian, and Argentinian wines.

IS.com: Tell me more about the tartine.

CC: Well, it is an open-faced sandwich and I always say that if people want to know more they should come to the restaurant and try one!

You can find Christophe at his new restaurant most hours of the day.  We wish him all the best in his new endeavor.  Go and visit Lolita Tartine and let Christophe know where you heard about him.

Italian Restaurant for Sale near Lakewood Ranch

A photo of the interior or Gio’s Restaurant, currently for sale

Our friend Eric Massey recently told us about an Italian restaurant called Gio’s that is closing immediately and will be available for lease.  It is 2800 square feet at 12 Oaks Plaza on the corner of State Road 70 and I-75 near Lakewood Ranch.  This plaza includes a Publix and Geckos’s.  All equipment and furniture will remain in place including a wood oven.  The landlord is looking for $10,000 in key money and take over the lease.  Rent is $5,016.67 per month plus the 6.5% sales tax.

Investing in or buying a business is a viable strategy for obtaining an E-2 investment visa.  It depends what country an immigrant is from but an E-2 visa can be valid for up to five years.  Click the link to read more about strategies for obtaining an E-2 investment visa.

For more information about the business listing contact Eric Massey (941) 809-6351.