SUN PHOTO/CINDY LANE Ace's Lounge is under new ownership at Cortez Road and Palma Sola Boulevard. From left to right are Renee Ranallo Bennett, original owner Carol Ranallo, Monique Ranallo, Peter Barreda and Marisela Barreda.

By Cindy Lane
sun staff writer

CORTEZ – Ace’s runs in the family.

Renee Ranallo Bennett and sister Monique Ranallo have paired with former Cortez Kitchen owner Peter Barreda and wife Marisela Barreda to buy Ace’s Lounge.

The establishment at Cortez Road and Palma Sola Boulevard was built in the mid-1980s by Bennett and Ranallo’s mother, Carol "Ace" Ranallo. It has since been sold and operated under other names, most recently, Riptide.

The new Ace’s sports several changes, according to Peter Barreda, including a new bar menu featuring tacos, spring rolls and Japanese and Indian appetizers.

"It’s an ethnic collage of different tastes," he says, adding that the menu will be light fare because smoking is allowed at the lounge, where an improved air conditioning system and high ceilings make it friendly to non-smokers too.

"We want people to be comfortable here," he says. "Everybody’s welcome. We’re bringing more energy back to Ace’s."

Some of the energy comes from the live music lineup, which includes rock and roll (Wicked Jester), reggae (Democracy) and blues (James Peterson) set to a backdrop of cable sports television highlighting NASCAR and football.

Surf videos also are on the schedule, and the lounge is sponsoring pre-teen Bradenton surfer girl Molly Taylor, whose wetsuit will sport the Ace’s logo.

A pool league and a dart league are forming now, he says.

Also on the drawing board are bus trips to Lightning games, fundraisers for diabetes research and a second bar in the upstairs pool room.

Ace’s is open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Aces Lounge
4343 Palma Sola Blvd.
Bradenton
(941) 795-3886
Open daily
11 a.m. to 2 a.m.