According to recent reporting in OBJ, a classic local establishment will be shutting down and give way to a seafood restaurant by Mike Smith.
“The Imperial Wine & Beer Garden in Sanford closed its doors Dec. 8 after 12 years in business, marking a significant change for the downtown property at 116 E. 1st St,” the report states.
The report states that while The Imperial has been popular there, co-owner John Washburn says he’s had enough of the frequent drives from Winter Park to Sanford.
“The business didn’t fail. It’s just I decided to do something else with it,” he said.
Replacing The Imperial will be the upcoming Current Seafood and Raw Bar, a new restaurant from Mike Smith.
“The pub will stay like it is,” Washburn said. “I sold Mike all the contents of the bars, and I’m leasing him the space for both bars.”
The two spaces — the former Imperial lounge and Sullivan Public House — are connected by an interior doorway, which can be opened or closed as needed.
“The outpouring of emotion from customers when we closed has been very touching,” he said. “People have been sending me photos and sharing stories — ‘I got engaged here,’ ‘I met the love of my life here,’ or ‘we held my father’s wake here.’ It’s been moving and made me feel like we made a little bit of a difference in people’s lives.”
