About us

The foundation of the Above the Bar Hospitality Group is based upon family first, hospitality, and sustainability. It is the vision of owners, Chris Brown and Mike Javier Granthon, who are committed to ensuring that their mantra is echoed within their businesses and throughout the community.

Chris Brown, a Midwest native, became intrigued by the laid-back coastal vibe of Sarasota in the early nineties. Siesta Key became his home as he immersed himself in the wholesale car business, eventually leading to the development of commercial real estate. Marriage and family followed, as his appreciation for the beauty and quaintness of Siesta Key Village continued to be instrumental in developing core businesses.

Mike Javier Granthon, developed an entrepreneurial spirit as a young child while making and selling ice pops along the beaches of Peru. After selling out one day, he was struck by a car and required medical treatment in America. Once in America, Mike never left and found employment as a dishwasher, but was determined to move his way up the ladder to management while in his early twenties. Hospitality and the drive to make guests happy were rooted deep in his blood, likely from watching his mother work in the hotel industry for years. He eventually came to Sarasota as a restaurant manager, married and settled down.