Business Observer

+ Isabelle’s Restaurant closes after five months
The restaurant portion of Whitney Beach Deli & Wines, 6810 Gulf of Mexico Drive, has closed. The restaurant had been operating since January as Isabelle’s Restaurant, under the management of Linda Loscalzo. The restaurant portion of the business is currently closed off with yellow tape and had a sign that reads: “Isabelle’s Restaurant is closed! No info, no phone is available.”

Plaza owner Andrew Hlywa said that he is currently looking for a tenant to rent the space. The liquor store at the deli remains open with a new schedule of 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.

+ SCVB announces winners of Tourism Week awards
The Sarasota Convention and Visitors Bureau (SCVB) announced the recipients of the National Tourism Week Awards at the National Tourism Week Breakfast May 14, at Sarasota Orchestra’s David Cohen Hall. Winners in each category were nominated by their peers and voted on by a selection panel made up of hospitality-industry members. Key business people receiving honors were Jeff Merckle, of ResortQuest, who won the award for “Guest Service Excellence — Management,” and Eric Bell, of Euphemia Haye Restaurant and the Haye Loft, who was honored for “Guest Service Excellence — Front Line.”

+ Longboat Key resident buys Island Discount Tackle
Longboat Key resident Paul Keyes recently bought Island Discount Tackle, 5503 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. The fishing-tackle shop will be managed by Keyes’ son, James. Longtime owners Bill and Jennifer Lowman will continue to serve in an advisory capacity to help with operations throughout the end of the year.

“I’m a lucky guy,” said Paul Keyes in a prepared statement. “The purchase of Island Discount Tackle enables us to turn our love of fishing into a business venture that brings our family closer together and gives us all a tremendous amount of satisfaction. The Keyes family will try to return some of our good fortune to the Anna Maria Island community.”

Opened in 1988, Island Discount Tackle carries major brands of fishing tackle such as Penn, Shimano, G. Loomis, St. Croix rods, Calusa and more. The store is open daily at 7 a.m. Call 779-2838 or go to IslandDiscountTackle.com.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].