Daiquiri Deck owners buy Siesta 7-Eleven

The long-standing 7-Eleven in Siesta Key Village closed Jan. 3, but island residents will likely recognize the new owners.

Jim Syprett and Jay Lancer bought the convenience store for $1.6 million last week after nearly a year-and-a-half of talks with the corporate owners. The pair also own the five neighboring properties to the south, including Daiquiri Deck Raw Bar and Gidget’s Coastal Provisions, which was the first new building in the Village in nearly 30 years.

“Quite frankly, we don’t know what were gonna do with the property yet,” said Syprett, who was the founding chairman of the Siesta Key Crystal Classic. The new owners will soon put up a sign seeking tenants, which will include a build-to-suit option.

“It is my view that we will continue to gradually see redevelopment in the Village,” Syprett said. Although restrictions in the Siesta Key Overlay District, which guides building on the island, have made new construction difficult.

Last year, real estate investor Jeff Berlin bought the Siesta Center on the other end of Ocean Boulevard for $4.6 million, after which the building underwent renovations including a new paint job. The county is currently processing permits for 12 new signs at that property.

Syprett and Lancer also purchased an office building on Avenida Navarra north of the 7-Eleven for $345,000 last year.

“Everybody’s approach over the last 15 years has been to remodel primarily because of the provisions in the SKOD,” Syprett said. “But, hopefully that is gradually changing, and I think you’ll continue to see an upgrade in the quality of businesses in the Village.”