Liquor store opens, spurs hope for plaza

LBK Liquors opened its doors June 30 with shelves stocked full of wine, whiskey, beer and more.

Located at 6854 Gulf of Mexico Drive in Whitney Beach Plaza, the store will be open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.

The store operates where Longboat Key Liquors originally operated next to Tiny’s of Longboat. The north end has been without a liquor store since 2010, when Longboat Key Liquors closed. The shopping center’s liquor license has been in escrow since then.

In addition to liquor, the store will have a beer cave, large wine selection, cigarettes, lottery tickets and mixers such as Coca-Cola and cranberry juice.

With such a wide variety of spirits, manager Glen Schloneger anticipates quite the crowd over Fourth of July weekend.

“We’ve had a couple of fine customers in this morning, but we’re still organizing some things, receiving more products and getting those on the shelves,” said Schloneger. “But we’re looking forward to a really great weekend, I’m sure. We’re just getting started.”

Bradenton attorney Ryan Snyder, who co-owns the plaza, confirmed in February plans to open LBK Liquors.

Snyder is optimistic that LBK Liquors and the Longbeach Café will draw more traffic to the plaza and make other tenants more willing to commit to the location.

If the new businesses generate sufficient traffic to the plaza, Snyder hopes to open a bar or restaurant in the former Tiny’s space within three to six months.

In the past year, Whitney Beach Plaza has gone through approximately $2 million worth of renovations.
Since last fall, Engel & Völkers Florida, Linen Locker and attorney Christopher Caswell moved into the plaza. Longtime Whitney Beach tenants Design 2000 and Bayou Tavern remain open for business.

LBK Liquors is the second liquor store on the island. Publix Liquors opened in the new Shoppes of Bay Isles in early 2013.

Contact Kelsey Grau at [email protected]