The historic American National Bank Building, later known as the Orange Blossom Hotel and known today as Orange Blossom Tower, is located at 1330 Main Street.
It’s an architectural masterpiece and an historic Sarasota landmark that has stood since 1926. By Florida standards for that era, the American National Bank was a skyscraper – 9 floors. Built at a time when the Mediterranean Revival influence was all the rage with architects in Florida, the American National Building remains as a rare Sarasota example of Neoclassical architecture, then the predominant trend nationally for large public buildings. The American National Building was designed by Atlanta architect Francis P. Smith. Smith also designed Atlanta’s Cox-Carlton Hotel and remained prominent as an architect until his death in 1971.
The American National Bank Building was a product of the optimism of the booming, “roaring” early 1920s. It was originally conceived as a 17-story luxury hotel when construction began, but the plans were quickly altered, and in 1926, the 9-story bank and office building opened. It was hailed as an architectural triumph. Steam heat was available in every room, and fire-hoses were placed on every floor. The building offered 124 office rental units, many with panoramic views of the Sarasota skyline and waterfront. 1926, however, was also the year the boom started going bust. A major hurricane struck south Florida, and area real estate slowly slid south, right into the Great Depression. American National Bank went out of business in 1928. Several banks occupied the first floor until the mid-1930s, and the office spaces remained at least partially occupied.
In 1936, a new owner began converting the building into an elegant luxury resort, and the building was renamed the Orange Blossom Hotel. The hotel’s cozy cocktail lounge, The Aztec Room, became a hugely popular night spot. Until the 1960s, the Orange Blossom provided luxury suites to the powerful and the famous, including cast members from the 1952 Cecil B. DeMille film, The Greatest Show on Earth. The Orange Blossom Hotel closed in 1965, a time when trendier luxury resorts on the beaches were offering aggressive competition.
But this is a building that’s weathered many storms. After extensive renovations, it re-opened in 1967 as retirement residences named the Orange Blossom Club/Apartments. In 1994, the building was once again sold and once again extensively remodeled. The American National Bank Building is now officially Orange Blossom Tower, the site of 7 ultra-luxurious condominiums in the heart of downtown Sarasota. Lucky residents have access to all the joys and delights of downtown Sarasota living, concierge service, and access to all the amenities next door at 1350 Main. The American National Bank Building was designated as an historic landmark by the City of Sarasota in 1998, and it remains today as elegant and attractive as it was in 1926.