- January 22, 2026
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The business owners of a new suite of shops in Brista Commons share the vision of a "one-stop shop" for homeowners on Longboat Key, from finding the perfect house to furnishing it with the flooring, windows and furniture to suit their individual tastes.
Now, they are all officially open for business.
Couch LBK, Brista Realty, Brista Homes and Brista Realty, and Your Flooring Warehouse all celebrated their official opening Jan. 20 with ribbon-cutting ceremonies hosted by the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce.
ClearView Windows and Doors, Inc., located in the same plaza, also hosted its own grand opening that day.
Community members strolled among the new businesses that afternoon, exploring the offerings from the newly opened shops.
Coupled with the recent opening of the neighboring Goodwill Manasota bookstore and donation drop-off site, the neighborhood has been infused with new energy, visitors commented as they checked out the showrooms of the new commercial complex.
Attendees began with the ribbon-cutting celebration at Couch LBK, and after milling about the living room and bedroom sets, walked next door to Brista Homes and Brista Realty. Husband-and-wife duo Mark and Gina Ursini share the office space at 3120 Gulf of Mexico Drive. As the complex owners, they played a pivotal role in realizing that "one-stop shop" vision.
The group of celebrants then moved to the other end of the complex to cheer on the team at Your Flooring Warehouse as owner Peter Beale took his turn with the oversized scissors.
"One thing the Longboat Key customer doesn't want to do is leave the island," Beale said. "Now, we can cater to them."
Though it wasn't part of the chamber-hosted triple-header ribbon cuttings, ClearView Windows & Doors also celebrated its grand opening that afternoon next to the flooring warehouse. Anyone walking through the doors of any of the Brista Commons stores will have seen examples of ClearView's work.
"We invite everyone to come out and see us," President John Harding III said. "We're proud to be locally owned and operated."
The businesses all offer different services, but they share an excitement for working to meet the needs of residents.
The new high-end furniture store brings its bright, seaside-inspired aesthetic to the key. Ken Rushing is the founder and designer, and Noel Ladd is the founder and administrator.
The store may be called Couch LBK, but the inventory expands well beyond couches. The floor features selections of wall decorations, bedroom sets, fabric swatches and more. With plenty of cream, sandy and blue tones, the decor fits with many of the design trends Ladd and Rushing said they've observed on Longboat Key.
The shop also offers free design consultations and consignment services.
The two-pronged business provides services for Longboaters seeking custom homes, luxury remodels and real estate services. Broker Gina Ursini owns Brista Realty, and owner Mark Ursini runs Brista Homes. Together, they are hoping to meet the needs of any homeowner, or soon-to-be owner, in the area.
Mark brings 25 years of experience serving markets in Sarasota, Longboat Key and neighboring barrier islands. Gina describes her arm of the business as a "boutique brokerage," focusing on luxury waterfront properties on the island. She launched Brista Realty in 2021.
Inspired by home renovators and HGTV stars Chip and Joanna Gaines, the couple plans to collaborate with its neighboring businesses to be that "one-stop shop" for homeowners. Rather than spending days or weeks driving around to various downtown Sarasota stores, residents should be able to find exactly what they need right on the Key, Gina said.
"Before, you had to go off the island for everything," she said. "It's nice to have everything right here."
Your Flooring Warehouse owner Peter Beale said he is thrilled with how the Brista Commons space turned out. Offering a selection of tile, hardwood, laminate and other flooring options, the shop caters to homeowners who live on the Key full-time or travel throughout the year.
Beale said, as a locally focused family business, the shop can offer plenty of practical advice for people designing or renovating their homes.
He noted that staff members do not work on commission, so patrons should be able to enjoy a no-pressure experience as they explore their options.
"We have a good understanding of the Longboat Key market, and we know that, especially for people who have their second or third home here, they want something practical and high-performing," he said. "Or, customers often think of it as their final home, and they want to swing for the fences, and we cater to that as well."
J.D. Manning started the original business in 1988, and now Beale runs it with Brian Manning and fellow family members. Their experience helps them guide residents to finding their perfect flooring, whether they want something that has a bold design, is easy to clean off beach sand, or needs to hold up to rambunctious grandchildren.
Beale said the space will be a boon the contractor community in another way as well. Partner businesses will have after-hours access to the shop to host clients and cocktail events.
ClearView Windows & Doors President John Harding III said it took about nine months from having the idea to open a Longboat Key showroom to celebrating the opening day.
"It feels real, finally," he said as he looked around the display floor on opening day. "A lot of hard work went into this."
The business is a showroom for the original Bradenton-based store, and it showcases a selection of its offerings, from aluminum-framed, hurricane-resistant windows to 10-foot-tall sliding glass doors and more.
Harding said installing good-quality windows is an investment that pays off, saving homeowners on air conditioning costs in the summer and UV damage to furniture over time.
"The main thing is that it gives you peace of mind," he added.
