Dale Sorensen Real Estate opened its third office on the barrier island this week in the former PNC bank building at the northeast corner of the A1A and 17th Street intersection.
The beautifully remodeled 3,880-square-foot building – shaded by four of Riomar’s signature oak trees – will be the company’s largest island office, and co-owner Matilde Sorensen says she wants people in the Riomar neighborhood to think of it as their own.
“I really want to emphasize that,” Sorensen tells Vero Beach 32963. “The office is here for neighbors who want to use it, who may not have an office of their own.
“We want people to stop by if they have a fax to send or need a place to have a box delivered or have some desk work to do. Our office is here for those who want to use it!”
With space tight at the company’s other island offices, there was a bit of land rush to get a spot at the new location.
“The agents are very excited,” says Sorensen. “Everyone wants to move in here!”
So far, Michelle Clark and Elizabeth Sorensen have scored spacious new offices, along with the Rita Curry Team and Cathy Curley and her team, moving into space custom designed for them – with, in Curley’s case, palace-grade pink wallpaper and a pink-stripped couch.
The company spent lavishly to create a cool, contemporary interior – mostly white and soft gray with pretty pops of color – putting in new flooring, lighting and bathrooms and reconfiguring the interior space.
Whimsical touches include a flamingo-themed women’s bathroom and a safe door painted on the door of the room where the bank had its vault.
There is a conference room and plenty of comfortable seating in the open central area, as well as shaded, patio-like seating area outside, with cushioned chairs and a table.
The Sorensen family bought the building at 1700 Highway A1A in October 2023, paying $1,350,000, according to county records.
The family sees the location as highly strategic, standing at the edge of Riomar, one of the island’s most prized real estate markets, and at the gateway to dozens of South Beach communities, from Castaway Cove to The Moorings and The Estate Section.
“I see the location as a hub,” says company managing partner Dale Sorensen Jr. “A lot of traffic goes through that intersection and people spend a lot of time waiting at the lights. Visibility wise, you couldn’t find a better spot. I am passionate about the location.”
Indeed, according to figures provided by the Florida Department of Transportation, more than 20,000 cars and trucks used that stretch of 17th street daily prior to lane restrictions caused by bridge repairs.
Those numbers are expected to rebound and likely increase once repairs are complete. At the same time, an average of more than 14,000 vehicles will pass the new office daily on Highway A1A, about equally split between northbound and southbound traffic.
The planning and remodeling process, which left the former bank building’s footprint intact, took approximately 20 months and cost considerably more than the initial estimate of $300,000 to $500,000, according to Matilde Sorensen.
“We wanted to make it very special – a wonderful spot for our agents and the community,” she said.
Matilde and Elizabeth Sorensen previewed the new office last week, hosting a soup bowl event there on Thursday to raise money for the Samaritan Center, a Catholic charity that provides shelter and services to homeless families.
The Sorensens hosted a soup bowl fundraiser for the past 15 years at their Cardinal Drive office before moving it to the new office this year. Approximately 100 people showed up to enjoy homemade soup and support the cause, donating a total of about $2,000, which the company will match.
“It is a very nice community philanthropy that helps people who really need it,” Matilde Sorensen said. “The soups are delicious, and I like it that they are homemade,” which helps create a close-knit, small-town vibe.
The official grand opening of the new office takes place today, Thursday, Nov. 13, with what will certainly be a well-attended early evening party, with food, drink, music, prizes and valet parking.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
