Fall festival centers on Centre Shops

Avenue of the Flowers is in the midst of construction.

Whitney Beach Plaza remains largely vacant.

That leaves one major shopping center on Longboat Key, for now: the Centre Shops.

Steff’s Stuff owner Stephanie Claussen, who organized the Whitney Beach Antique and Art Fairs in her store’s previous location at Whitney Beach Plaza, and Terry’s Framing Gallery owner Terry Petesch developed the idea over the past few months. In August, they got fellow merchants together to discuss the possibility of a fall festival, according to Petesch.

Now, merchants are joining forces to draw more traffic to the shopping center with events four times a year, beginning with a Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28, that will take place immediately after the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce’s triathlon.

The group decided to move forward with the event and donate proceeds to the Longboat Key Historical Society. It contacted the chamber about the possibility of the inaugural date coinciding with the triathlon.

“We think it’s a very positive synergy for those who visit the Key for the triathlon and those who visit the Key anyway, to be part of the event there at the Centre Shops,” said Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce President Tom Aposporos.

Claussen has recruited fruit-and-vegetable and antique vendors to participate in the event, while Petesch has arranged for a car show that will feature about 30 antique vehicles.

Petesch said that the merchants are trying to keep the event high-end and geared toward adults. That means it won’t have face-painting — but it will have a Bavarian booth set up with beer and hats, along with 12 cases of wine and a hot-dog cart, courtesy of Lazy Lobster owner Michael Garey’s Sarasota hot dog restaurant, Doggin’ It.

Blue Dolphin Café owner Rob Ball, who plans to serve samples at the event, said that the shopping center has held storefront events in the past but has never had a full-blown event like the fall festival in the plaza’s parking lot.

Ball believes the event could draw more traffic to the Centre Shops.

“It’s not a top-of-the-mind location,” he said. “Because of the location, many people don’t even know we’re here.”

IF YOU GO
Centre Shops Fall Festival
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28
Where: Centre Shops of Longboat Key, 5370 Gulf of Mexico Drive