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Longboat Key | Business

The bar at Ventura's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar at its November 2022 opening.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • January 2, 2024
Restaurateur celebrates one-year anniversary of Ventura's on Longboat Key

Debra Murphy accomplishes her lifelong dream of opening a restaurant — Ventura’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar — that serves as an outlet for her interests.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Lorenzo Condensa, Justina Carter and Chris Carter.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 1, 2024
Coffee shop owners look to expand their Longboat Key business

Chris Carter, Justina Carter and Lorenzo Condensa spend most days at their coffee shop, Sips. A year of success has allowed them consider a new business venture.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
New owner brings caregiving experience to Longboat Massage
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • December 30, 2023
New owner brings caregiving experience to Longboat Massage

After two car accidents, Maritza Rocha learned about the healing power of touch.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Two-story Italian restaurant to open on St. Armands in early 2024
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 1, 2023
Two-story Italian restaurant to open on St. Armands in early 2024

15 South by Napulè, a Neapolitan-inspired concept, will feature pizzas made in an authentic, gold-tiled oven.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
The newly renovated Lazy Lobster
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • November 28, 2023
Lazy Lobster of Longboat Key gets a makeover

The restaurant recently finished renovations providing a coastal, modern atmosphere for customers to enjoy a nice dinner out.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Amy Whitt worked her way from administrative assistant to owner of this landmark restaurant on Longboat Key.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • November 2, 2023
Euphemia Haye owner has singular goal: Don’t mess with perfection

Amy Whitt, Euphemia Haye’s new owner, plans no big changes. She knows the restaurant is perfect just the way it is.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Heather Rippy curates the items in her shop from over 35 local artists.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • September 19, 2023
Driftwood Beach Home and Garden features products from over 35 local artists

Owner Heather Rippy brings her passion of supporting small businesses into her shop by curating goods made locally and around the world.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
The ribbon cutting of the Holistic Healing and Wellness Center of Longboat Key with Deanna Mesghali, Patti Bosco, Mayor Ken Schneier, Medge Jaspan, Michael Jaspan and Irina Bronstein.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • September 15, 2023
New wellness center offers Longboat mindfulness, holistic care

The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce hosted the ribbon-cutting of the new Tesla BioHealing Medbed Center in Mediterranean Plaza.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Cafe L'Europe is temporarily closed as they repair the damage caused by Hurricane Idalia.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • September 11, 2023
Cafe L'Europe closes temporarily for repairs after Hurricane Idalia damage

Phase 3 of the restaurant's renovation is postponed until next summer to focus on adding new menu items and maintaining their atmosphere.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Carol Hayes cleaning up the inside of Coastal HoBo
    By
  • Amanda Postma
  • September 2, 2023
Local businesses encouraged to take damage survey

The survey asks for both physical and economic damages caused by Hurricane Idalia.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Jose Pavet of Cha Cha Coconuts on Aug. 31.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • August 31, 2023
Businesses on St. Armands Circle clean up after Hurricane Idalia flooding

Shops on the Circle received little water damage from the storm and plan to reopen Aug. 31 to Sept. 1.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Cafe L'Europe staff in the Late '70s.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • August 30, 2023
Cafe L'Europe builds on tradition for 50th anniversary

The St. Armands Circle restaurant has served the area for 50 years and trained many local restaurateurs.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Alex Fabrizo taking in signs and other outdoor items from the Publix parking lot.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • August 29, 2023
Business owners on St. Armands Circle, Longboat prep for Hurricane Idalia

Few businesses stay open as they make last-minute preparations and residents evacuate for the coming Category 3 hurricane.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Alana Bjork and Chuck Wolfe
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • August 8, 2023
Chiles Hospitality awards student scholarships to nine employees

Employees at Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub qualified for scholarships funded by Manatee Community Foundation.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
The Thieles at Tyler's Gourmet Ice Cream in Longboat Key
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • July 26, 2023
Tyler's Gourmet Ice Cream brings sweetness of childhood to Longboat

The ice cream shop's partnership with Lazy Lobster has made it a family-friendly destination.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Sharon Haas sets up tables at Ventura's about an hour before the doors open for dinner.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • July 26, 2023
Local businesses find ways to retain staff amid seasonal traffic issues

The town of Longboat Key and private businesses often need to find ways to encourage people to work on the island while some are drawn to work on the island.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Chamber ambassador Brian Wiffin, assistant manager of stores Janeane Diaz, Mayor Kyle Battie, Cariloha owner Jeff Snell and chamber ambassador Patti Bosco.
    By
  • Sidra Wali
  • May 15, 2023
Bamboo clothing, bedding retailer cuts ribbon on St. Armands

Cariloha Sarasota celebrated its reopening with the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce on May 4.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Dr. James Reed, board certified family medicine physician
    By
  • Sidra Wali
  • May 8, 2023
Reed Medical Group on Longboat expands

The medical group has added a variety of services on the island since it opened.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Jack Dean, Tryla Larson, Mayor Ken Schneier, Estella Villegas, Antonia Munos, Deanna Mesghali, and Scott Kuykendall.
    By
  • Sidra Wali
  • May 2, 2023
Ribbon-cutting marks opening of La Villa Café on Longboat

The new restaurant is officially open and serving coffee, healthy breakfast items and empanadas.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
The Michael Saunders & Co. south Longboat Key office.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 27, 2023
Michael Saunders & Co. to combine two Longboat Key sales offices

Longboat agents will work under one roof at the spacious south Key location.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Rendering of indoor dining area at proposed Lo'Key Island Grille.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • April 26, 2023
'Quaint' restaurant concept plans approved on Longboat Key

After Tiki bar plans were rejected in 2022, the Lo'Key Island Grille proposal earned approval by the Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Board.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Michael Garey, Yesenia Retamozo, Kelly Breese, Mayor Ken Schneier and Kellie Spring celebrated the opening of Hearing Aids of Sarasota.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • March 14, 2023
Longboat businesses host ribbon-cuttings

Hearing Aids of Sarasota and LaVilla Mexican Grill officially celebrated their openings last week.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Rumble officially opened its new U.S. corporate headquarters Feb. 27.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • March 7, 2023
YouTube competitor opens new Longboat Key headquarters

In a rare interview, Rumble CEO talks about tech companies, freedom of speech principles and the YouTube competitor’s growth track.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Sips owners Justina Condensa and Chris Carter celebrated their grand opening March 1.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • March 1, 2023
Sips celebrates grand opening on Longboat Key

The coffee shop in Whitney Plaza is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is closed Monday.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Justina Condensa and Chris Carter own and operate Sips in Whitney Plaza.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • February 20, 2023
Longboat welcomes new businesses to north end

Sips coffee shop and a mental health private practice have opened their doors on the barrier island.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Serge Gauthier, host and director of the show Mariloup Wolfe and Sonia Gauthier
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • February 15, 2023
Canadians make 'The Big Move' to St. Armands

A French Canadian television show filmed at the Gauthier Salon & Wellness Spa on Sunday.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
The St. Armands Business Improvement District will expire later this year unless it is renewed by Aug. 7
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • February 14, 2023
St. Armands property owners to make second bid to renew business district

Falling just short of a 10-year renewal of the St. Armands Business Improvement District, its board will begin the process for a second ballot for property owners on the Circle.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Amanda and John Horne will honor Café L’Europe’s favorite menu items, including the French onion soup served in an onion, but have revamped the interior and refreshed the menu.
    By
  • Abby Weingarten
  • February 6, 2023
Restaurateur brings his brand of hospitality to the iconic Café L'Europe

John Horne, one of the area’s most experienced restaurateurs, takes the helm of an iconic restaurant on St. Armands Circle.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Foxy Lady’s founder and owner Lorry Eible has been a local trendsetter for 50 years.
  • By Amy Bentley
  • January 28, 2023
St. Armands' Foxy Lady is still fabulous at 50

Foxy Lady founder Lorry Eible credits family, friends and generations of loyal customers for 50 years of success.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Robert Jendelund is the new contract tennis pro at the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 17, 2023
New tennis pro joins Longboat tennis center

The Longboat Key Public Tennis Center hired a new contract pro to handle the overflow of requests for tennis lessons.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
From the property's beach groin, the scale of the project is evident.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 31, 2022
Enough concrete poured at Longboat's St. Regis to build a 234-mile sidewalk

Heading into second year of construction, the condo and hotel buildings are coming together.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The new DalMoros location in St. Armands Circle.
    By
  • Amanda Postma
  • November 29, 2022
Takeout pasta concept opens in St. Armands

Passersby will notice a mural created by local artists and watch the signature DalMoros pasta machine at work on St. Armands Circle.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Estella Villegas front and center with Mariachi Contemporaneo. The band plays every other Wednesday for now, weekly during peak season.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 29, 2022
Mexican restaurant opens on Longboat Key

It took owners 16 months to open La Villa Mexican Grill. Now it's open and serving up authentic Mexican dishes, margaritas and mariachi.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
The bar at Ventura's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar at its November 2022 opening.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 14, 2022
New Italian restaurant opens in Whitney Plaza

Ventura's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar has replaced the Bayou Tavern, but you can still order the veal cannelloni.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Deep Lagoon gives every diner an up-close view of Little Sarasota Bay. (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Su Byron
  • November 11, 2022
Must-try waterfront restaurants in Sarasota, Longboat Key, Osprey

Looking for a table by the water? For a close encounter with Florida’s natural splendor, enjoy one of these waterfront restaurants on a nearby key.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
When Judy Fryer is not working, she’s managing a 25-acre farm and participating in equestrian eventing. (Photo by Lori Sax)
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 10, 2022
Old Salty Dog owner dishes on origin story of its quirky menu, sustained success

This astute businesswoman and restaurateur shares her insights on hot dogs, horses, happy employees — and the secret sauce behind running one of the most popular restaurants on the keys.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
« 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 »
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Latest in Longboat Key

1
Danae Tran plays the violin for Longboat Island Chapel attendees of the July 19 morning service before she and fellow scholarship recipient Michelle McLeod move to greet guests at the award reception.
  • July 24, 2026
Scholars celebrated at Longboat Island Chapel award reception
2
A Flock camera takes pictures of vehicles that drive on Gulf of Mexico Drive on Longboat Key.
  • July 22, 2026
Flock cameras photograph every car that enters Longboat Key
3
The home at 344 W. Royal Flamingo Drive sold for $6.55 million. Built in 1998, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,344 square feet of living area.
  • July 22, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for July 6-10 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key
4
Mother-daughter duo Bridgette, left, and Giana Clark make a doubly positive difference in their community by monitoring sea turtle nests and clearing litter from the beach as volunteers with the Longboat Key Turtle Watch. The group recently celebrated seeing their new "Adopt A Shore" signage.
  • July 22, 2026
Clean beaches are a 'shore' thing under Turtle Watch's eye
5
Multiple species of starfish have found a home on the "Living Wall" at Longboat Key's Bayfront Park. The innovative project uses 3D-printed concrete slabs modeled after mangrove roots to provide better habitat for aquatic animals.
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Longboat's living seawall recognized for creativity

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