Speaks Clam Bar on St. Armands Circle Closes After Eight Years

A popular restaurant on Sarasota’s St. Armands Circle, Speaks Clam Bar, has closed its doors after nearly eight years in business. The restaurant announced its final day of operation was March 15, 2026, in a social media statement according to the Journal Sentinel.

A Community Staple

Speaks Clam Bar acknowledged the challenges it faced during its tenure, including red tide, the COVID-19 pandemic, and hurricanes. “Through every challenge, our team showed resilience, heart, and an unwavering commitment to hospitality,” the restaurant stated. The restaurant expressed gratitude to its customers and staff for their support and contributions.

History of Speaks Clam Bar

The concept for Speaks Clam Bar was inspired by early 20th-century, Prohibition-era Modern York-style Italian clam bars as detailed on Yelp. The first location opened in Lakewood Ranch in 2017, with the St. Armands Circle location following in 2018, taking over the space previously occupied by Tokyo Japanese Steak House.

Part of Hi Hospitality Group

Speaks Clam Bar is part of the Hi Hospitality Group, which also operates Kojo (Asian cuisine), Bar Hana (tropical bar and kitchen), and Palm Avenue Deli, all located in downtown Sarasota. The group is also behind Central Park, a food hall in downtown St. Petersburg, which includes a Palm Avenue Deli location.

Changes on St. Armands Circle

The closure of Speaks Clam Bar is part of a series of changes in the St. Armands Circle restaurant scene. Shore closed its location in December 2024, citing damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, though they have expressed interest in returning. Tommy Bahama subsequently opened in Shore’s former space in September 2025, after also relocating from a hurricane-damaged location. Nōnnō Umberto Italian. Seafood. Steakhouse recently opened in a space formerly occupied by Le Colonne, which had closed due to storm damage before being reopened under new ownership. Flambo Island Cuisine, serving Trinidadian and Tobagonian cuisine, has also recently opened on the Circle as reported by the Journal Sentinel.

Lakewood Ranch Location Remains Open

While the St. Armands Circle location has closed, the Speaks Clam Bar in Lakewood Ranch will continue to operate.