New businesses flavor St. Armands

Here’s a look at the latest business comings and goings on St. Armands Circle:

Pepper Palace will add even more spice to the Circle.

The company opened its 14th location Friday, Sept. 7, at 23 Blvd. of the Presidents, offering more than 2,000 varieties of hot sauces, salsas, sauces, marinades, seasoning, rubs, dips and more, plus 200 free samples every day.

Business hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

“We’re definitely the hottest shop in town,” said owner Shaun Douglas.

Also adding new flavor to the Circle is the Shore Diner, which opened in June at 465 St. Armands Circle. The restaurant stems from a partnership between Tom Leonard, who owns the luxury surf-retail store Shore below the restaurant, and restaurateur Mark Caragiulo.

The restaurant serves dishes featuring Sarasota-grown produce and other local food items and was retrofitted using Sarasota School of Architecture design components.

Nola Tropical Winery has also opened in the former St. Armands Gifts & Winery location. The store is owned by Todd and Andrew Judice and managed by Gabriel Jean-Batiste and Dean Nelson. The store continues to sell Florida fruit wine, mixes and other gift items.

For the Foxy Lady Boutique, good things come in fours:

The company will open its fourth location around Oct. 1, at 14 S. Blvd. of the Presidents, and celebrate four decades in business this year.

The new store will be called Foxy Lady on South Boulevard and will be the second Circle location.

“Anyone who shops in our store can tell you that we have a very large after-5 department,” said Lori Ann Steiner, who co-owns Foxy Lady with Lorry Eible. “This one will be a little cleaner and a little more contemporary.”

The new store will feature a large jewelry selection and at least three or four new fashion lines.

Hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. A grand opening and 40th anniversary celebration will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25.

The Circle is also saying goodbye to two of its longtime businesses.

Reason’s Shoes, which has been on the Circle since 1960, will close Friday, Oct. 12, and re-open Monday, Oct. 15, at 20 N. Lemon Ave., in downtown Sarasota.

Michael Morris, whose family bought the shoe store in 1986, said that the surrounding businesses at the new location, which include Brooks Brothers, Eileen Fisher and Sur La Table, would be a better fit for the company’s demographic. Additionally, Morris said the store will get exposure from being at the site of the Sarasota Farmers Market, which is held each Saturday.

Square on the Circle has closed after more than 50 years on the Circle.

Owner Bill Horigan, who bought the business in 2002, could not be reached for comment. The store offered fine linens, personal-care items and gifts.