WHAT'S HAPPENING: Week of 06.16.16

Changes in store for Siesta Key Village properties

Two noteworthy Siesta Key Village properties are lining up new tenants that will move in later this year.

Siesta Key Hardware owners Jim and Patricia Hiller shared their plans to retire at the end of July, which means the store will close after more than four decades in operation. Morton’s Siesta Market is slated to expand into that storefront following interior and exterior renovations, according to property owner Chris Brown.

The now-vacant 7-Eleven property on Ocean Boulevard doesn’t have a new tenant locked in, but property owners Jay Lancer and Jim Syprett said the Key West Sandal Factory is the leading candidate right now.

“It’s the right thing, I think, for the village, because I think the village needs a good mix of retail and restaurants.” Syprett said.

The owners hope to have a tenant ready to begin interior renovations by Aug. 1. Syprett said the plan for the property is to have all improvements finalized and a new business settled by the beginning of 2017.

What’s the Buzz?

Now that the owners of the Ringling Shopping Center have settled on a path toward redevelopment, a question arises: What’s going to move in there?

When we shared the latest news on the future of the property on Facebook, you told us what you wanted to see — and didn’t want to see — move into the commercial shopping center.

“I was hoping for a Detwiler’s Farm Market!! Need one more accessible to downtown and the keys.” — Nancy Bibo Cole

“Something to ‘grow the city,’ aka make it too expensive for normal people to live here. Grew up in that neighborhood and now people are building $500k houses I’ll never be able to afford.” — David French

“Would love to see something of value placed in this center! It is literally in my back yard!” — Ross Erickson

“I miss Kubans.” — Jan Guffey

“A fresh produce market would be nice.” — Vegan Sarasota

“Anything but a Starbucks.” — David Barr

By the Numbers

1,500 — Estimated number of people who attended a candlelight vigil Monday night in Selby Five Point Parks to remember the lives lost in the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting 

24-18 — The final score in a sandwich-making contest that pitted Sarasota police and firefighters against each other to celebrate the opening of the first Sarasota Wawa location. The police won the contest.

Five minutes — Length of each date during a Stir It Up 60+Speed Dating event 

 Quote of the Week

“The only bad that can come from all of this growth is to not plan for it.” — Steve Bradley, president of the Risdon Group, on the future of the Rosemary District.

Meetings

Regular City Commission meeting — 2:30 and 6 p.m. Monday, June 20, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St.

Regular County Commission meeting — 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 21, Commission Chambers, County Administration Building, 1660 Ringling Blvd.