- August 11, 2026
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One of the more whimsical spots on Longboat Key is tucked into the shops on Whitney Plaza. Customers seeking gourmet donuts or cheesecake find themselves in old Hollywood, the walls decorated with film scripts and a towering Oscar statute greeting them.
The man behind the silver screen magic at Elegant Lady Cheesecake Parlor, Gary Hagen, 74, died the afternoon of Aug. 3. His sister, Kim Smith, has closed the shop in the wake of his passing.
Smith said her older brother, who lived with her in Bradenton, experienced a heart attack early in July. He recovered fairly well and returned home to treat a blood infection before a planned valve replacement.
"He was doing, actually, pretty well," she said. "But around the 28th, he wasn't feeling well and left the restaurant early."
Medical staff then found he had double pneumonia. The combination proved too much for him to overcome.
"I told him, 'Go find Mom. Go find Dad. Everybody else who loved you will be there waiting for you. I'll be fine, and I'll fix everything here on Earth.' Within 10 or 15 seconds, he let go. It was really kind of beautiful," she said. "It's like he just waited until I gave him permission to go."
Hagen, Smith and their mother first moved to the area after the infamous 6.9 magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake damaged their homes and restaurant in 1989.
Smith said her brother adored running the Longboat boutique, which was the perfect endcap to a fascinating career whipping up his signature cheesecakes.
"He loved the charm, the people," she said, noting he didn't mind swapping West Coast waters for the East Coast's. "Everybody knew him. Everybody that he met, he just treasured hearing their stories, and they treasured hearing his."
Hagen's love of cheesecake, and show biz, started at home. He grew up on the West Coast while his father worked as a producer for Johnny Carson and "The Tonight Show."
Hagen tinkered in his family's kitchen searching for the perfect cheesecake recipe. With the help of his sister and mother, he started making the desserts from home.
“I just love making food and eating food,” Hagen told the Observer. “So one day I decided I wanted to learn to make cheesecakes. I bought a recipe book and analyzed it. Then I broke it down, and I made my own. I started making so many. My poor mother had to go through all the taste tests.”
After working in a variety of jobs related to film and music, he opened the first Elegant Lady Cheesecake in the 1980s in Monterey, California.
The enterprise grew from one business to a demand that required a factory to fill, expanding to Bradenton, Boston, and Longboat Key.
Whether they were in the same city or hundreds of miles apart, Smith said her brother was always there for her.
"We've been through thick and thin together, like most relatives," she said with a slight pause. "He was just a wonderful big brother."
Eventually, he wound down his multiple enterprises to focus on the Longboat Key location during retirement.
He first opened the store in 2024, not long before that year's devastating hurricanes hit the island. His shop was severely damaged by flooding from the storms. However, he joined his Whitney Plaza neighbors in their efforts to rebuild.
Smith said she was content to sit and enjoy a good book once she retired. But anyone who met the creative local businessman knows he always had plans for several new undertakings in the works, be it a new donut flavor, perhaps his crème brûlée donuts with their crunchy, sugary coating; redecorating the shop to celebrate 100 years of Art Deco, or writing.
Earlier this year, he published his first book, "Romancing Hollywood." Customers could get a signed copy and complimentary donuts when they walked in.
Smith said Hagen absolutely loved working in the community, especially among his neighbors at Whitney Plaza. He quickly lent a hand after the 2024 hurricane season, joining the plaza's businesses in their efforts to rebuild.
Irina LaRose, owner of the neighboring Design 2000 Salon, said she will miss him. They made a habit of swapping for what the other needed, perhaps a cappuccino for a few stamps and envelopes.
"He was such a character, and it was always fun interacting with him," LaRose said.
Hagen said his aim with writing the book and running the shop was always simply to help people laugh more, even through their worst times.
He brought his famous cheesecakes and other treats all around the island, including at events like Taste and Tunes of the Keys and its successor.
When Hagen first opened the shop and was asked what he likes about the Longboat Key community, Hagen said, "I just love the peace, the love and joy of Longboat. People are just so content and know themselves well. I love to chat with them and hear their stories."
For LaRose, putting up the sign, "Elegant Lady has closed," in the window of the shop she often frequented was a sad moment. His shop was known for its elaborate decorations, and Smith gifted LaRose a bird statue by which to remember her friend.
Kim Verreault, president and CEO of the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce, wrote in response to the Observer that Hagen was a memorable part of the business community. She remembers his enthusiasm when she met him in 2023 as he prepared to open the store.
"He spoke with such excitement about his vision, his fascinating Hollywood connections, and the unique memorabilia that would fill his shop," she wrote. "It quickly became clear that Gary wasn't just opening a business — he was creating an experience."
She continued to say that ,while his cheesecakes and donuts were exceptional, it was his personality that set Elegant Lady apart.
"He was always there, ready to share a story from his remarkable past or enjoy an interesting conversation with anyone who stopped by," she wrote. "His passion, unmistakable personality, and the one-of-a-kind experience he created left a lasting impression on so many people. He will be deeply missed by our community."
Smith said the family has yet to determine the details of funeral services, though she anticipates waiting until autumn so Hagen's friends and regular patrons who are gone for the season can attend.
People sharing their condolences have offered a tidal wave of support in the week since his passing, she said. Smith also thanked the HCA Florida Blake Hospital staff members for their attentive care.
