Man on the street: All business

Question: “What new businesses would you like to see on Longboat Key?”

Bob Hurst
“Another gas station since there’s only one.”

Jane Buckman, executive director of the Longboat Key Center for the Arts
“I would like to see the businesses that have closed, re-open in Whitney Beach Plaza. It would be nice to see it as a bustling enterprise again. I would also like to see businesses that enhance the experience of what we do here.”  

Dave Vaught, co-owner of Tiny's of Longboat Key
“I think we need to start with first keeping the businesses that we have. We need to keep what’s here and expand from that. We could also really use a hotel.”

Jim McGuire
“Another hotel. Once we get a hotel, we can get other businesses, because the hotel will support them.”

Rick Obeid, owner of Key T-Shirts
“A Thai restaurant. It would be a good draw out here.”

Andrew Hlywa, owner of Whitney Beach Plaza, pictured with Holly Salvato
Hlywa: “I would eventually like to see a resort hotel on the 10 acres here. For the short term, I would like to see a Mexican restaurant, a Chinese restaurant and a Thai restaurant. I personally think we need a better variety of food, and it would help to bring people here.”

Jim Eatrides, owner of Alpha-Omega Communications
“A condo hotel on the north end so that tourists can support local restaurants, convenience stores, gas stations, delis.”