Kyle Arnold:

Former Seminole jail may become new eatery.

The former Seminole County jailhouse in downtown Sanford could become a new restaurant by this summer. Property investors Tony and Maria Sirica bought the property a year ago for $60,000 and tapped chef Bram Fowler to head the new restaurant called “The Old Jailhouse.”

Fowler is the former chef at Journey’s in Longwood and also headed operations at Park Plaza Gardens in Winter Park before that restaurant closed. The Old Jailhouse would look to join an influx of restaurants and drinking spots in the downtown Sanford historic district.

“My specialty is international cuisine, but we want to incorporate dishes from all across the sunshine belt,” Fowler said. “There will be some from California, TexMex, New Orleans, all the way to the Low Country in the Carolinas.”

The 3,500-square-foot building is next to the old firehouse in Sanford as well and across from the popular bar Celery City Craft and a few spots down from the new Inner Compass Brewing.

The building needs extensive work after not being occupied for several years, Fowler said, but they hope to have it renovated and open by summer. Most recently it was a dry-cleaning business, Fowler said.

The 1890 building also has been used as a blacksmith shop, a livery stable, a lunchroom and a county health department.