Key loses 100 businesses in the last five years

Planning and Zoning Board member Walter Hackett surprised his board members Tuesday, Jan. 19 with a list of 102 businesses on the island that have closed in the last five years.

“It’s alarming,” said Hackett at the board’s regular meeting at Town Hall. “Keeping Longboat, Longboat is becoming quite a challenge.”

Hackett brought to the board’s attention that out of the 102 businesses lost, 15 restaurants and 12 medical services have closed in the last five years.

Wrote Hackett in a memo he distributed to the board and the Town Commission: “Longboat Key is rapidly changing. Service stations, restaurants and other businesses are closing and tourist units are converting to residential. If no action is taken in response to these changes, we will have a very dysfunctional island in which to live.”

Hackett said the town “can plan and support a course of prosperity.”

Below is the list of businesses, as presented by Hackett, that have closed in the last five years.

Avenue of the Flowers
Dr. Don Malnati — Chiropractor
Phillip’s Men’s Store
Susan Stribling’s
Patchington Ladies Store (now open November to May)
Brightwater Boutique
Zodiak Fine Jewelry
Longboat Creations Florist
Hallmark Card Shop
Branch Banking & Trust (BB&T)
Golf Manufacturer’s Outlet
Network Video Store
Iguana Have Fun
Dr. Ed Carlstrom — family practice
Orange Blossom Restaurant
Mattison’s Steakhouse
Mattison’s Culinary Outfitters
Arvida Realty Services
Shoreline Builders of SW Florida
Post Net
Safe Harbour Yacht Sales, Inc.
Weikert Real Estate
Coldwell Banker Real Estate
Shell Service Station

Harbour Square
Realty One Real Estate
Prime Source (reduced from 2,400 square feet to 1,200 square feet)
Richard Nelson (open October to January)
Island Pursuit Inc.
Brumar Marine
Rum International
Little Salon
Sugen Consulting
Bentley Wholesale Jewelry
Select Industries
Visa Services
Global National Highway
Bertram Burk Consultant
Sky Sotheby’s International Realty
Transport Systems, Inc.
Lisa Pyror Massage
ADA Executive Search
Elizabeth Cupo, LMHC — mental health counseling
Mason Construction Co.
Ingvar artist

Centre Shops
Dr. Douglas Black — Island Vision Care
The Little Salon
Bob Parrish Accounting
Maureen’s Palm Grille
Ships ’N’ Shore Travel Agency
A Beautiful Florist
DSI Lab
La Dee Da Gift Shop
Wallace Fine Art Gallery
Café on the Bay

Colony Beach & Tennis Resort
234 condo hotel units / non-performing
Tastebuds Gourmet Market & Wine Shop
Colony Beach Apparel Shop
LeTennique Apparel
Colony tennis operations / non-performing
Colony Spa

Whitney Beach Shopping Center
Jamrock’s Restaurant
The Market
PePe’s Mexican Restaurant
Isabelle’s Eatery
Moveable Feast
Latitude 27 Realty Group
You Dirty Dog Grooming
Longboat Key Flower Shop
LBK Frame Shop & Gallery
Cottage Accents Furnishings
Whitney Beach Condo Mgmt. Co.
Nations Bank
Post Office

Plaza @ 5610 (5610 GMD)
Dr. R. Tschida — dentist
Brightwater Construction
Cedars Maintenance Co.
Lou Brown’s Kitchen & Bath Showcase
Waldridge Attinger Construction Co.
Barry’s Salon & Boutique
Longboat Key Pest Control

Others
Dr. Michael E. Jasin — facial rejuvenation
Dr. John Mengelberg – dentist
Dr. Nan Rosenberry — veterinarian
Dr. Robert Gordon — dentist
Bay Isles Medical Center
Holiday Inn
The Buccaneer
Chevron Full Service Station
Stanford Financial Group
Anna Molinari Hair Salon
Harbourside Deli/Grill (Moorings)
Starfish Motel
Silver Beach Resort
Sun ’N’ Sea Resort
The Sea Stable
Juice & Java
Poseidon Restaurant
Lynches Landing Bar & Grill
Albritton Fruit Co.
Wicker Inn — to be converted to residential
Towne & Shore Real Estate Co.
Jerry’s Salon
Longboat Food Mart & Convenience

* Businesses that have closed and again re-opened are included in this list.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected]