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Sarasota | Business

Bravo's Pizzeria & Italian Eatery at 1995 Main St. in Sarasota has closed.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • March 31, 2026
Pizzeria closes on Main Street in Sarasota

Bravo’s Pizza & Italian Eatery has shuttered next to the Hollywood 11 movie theater.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Judy Johnson has lived on Siesta Key since 2010 but grew up hanging out on the Key.
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • March 31, 2026
Siesta Key resident helps others embrace their inner beach babe

Judy Johnson has the perfect antidote to a busy day: Putting her feet in the water. "I see sharks and dolphins on a regular basis. And a million sunsets."

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Saks' parent company, Saks Global, filed for bankruptcy in January.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • March 25, 2026
Saks changes its mind: UTC store will remain open

The parent company, going through bankruptcy, says it has renegotiated its lease terms at The Mall at University Town Center in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Speaks Clam Bar, pictured after its 2018 opening, closed on St. Armands Key earlier this month.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • March 24, 2026
Speaks Clam Bar shutters St. Armands location

The original Lakewood Ranch location of the Italian and Seafood restaurant will remain open.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
The Wahlberg brothers -- Donnie, Paul and Mark.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • March 11, 2026
Wahlburgers opens in SRQ's B Concourse

The celebrity-connected airport eatery also includes a full bar.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Austin Venhaus and Aaron Rutsky
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • March 11, 2026
Walls go up as Sarasota's first climbing gym nears opening

Formerly known as Project 24 Climbing, Hexrock Climbing is set to open at the beginning of April.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Saks' parent company, Saks Global, filed for bankruptcy in January.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • March 7, 2026
Bankrupt Saks Fifth Avenue to close Sarasota-UTC store

A Saks has been in the Sarasota-Manatee market for at least three decades.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Insomnia Cookies is now open at 2264 Gulf Gate Drive.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • February 26, 2026
Late-night cookie chain opens its first store in Sarasota

Insomnia Cookies is now open at 2264 Gulf Gate Drive.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Marlon Brown served as city manager of Sarasota from 2021-2024.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 11, 2026
Nonprofit elects former city manager, investment advisor to board

Barancik Foundation taps Marlon Brown and Jeffrey McCurdy for three-year terms.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Chamber launches summertime internship program
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 4, 2026
Chamber launches summertime internship program

The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce is connecting students with businesses through InternConnect, a paid summer internship.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Sarah Firstenberger was named CEO of the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce in June.
    By
  • Emily Leinfuss
  • February 4, 2026
Siesta Key Chamber’s new leader takes the helm

Homegrown CEO Sarah Firstenberger brings fresh ideas and steady leadership to the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Cinthia Peña is the new managing director of CreArte Latino.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 2, 2026
CreArte Latino names new full-time managing director

The new role for Cinthia Peña is made possible by a Barancik Foundation grant.

  • Arts + Culture
Capriotti's Sandwich Shop is at 6320 S. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • January 23, 2026
New sandwich shop opens in south Sarasota

Capriotti’s, known for its submarine sandwiches, is located on South Tamiami Trail and Stickney Point Road.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
The Original Hob Nob Drive-In will open this spring at 1701 N. Washington Blvd. in Sarasota.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • January 23, 2026
Hob Nob to reopen in Sarasota with new owner

The Original Hob Nob Drive-In will be operated with support from The Breakfast Company founders.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Malia Price, co-owner of The Sarasota Style, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 14 with the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 21, 2026
Lifestyle, clothing brand officially opens on St. Armands Circle

The Sarasota Style, the latest addition to St. Armands Circle's business community, recently opened.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Sarasota's Alyssa Freniere, Beate “Mama G” Goldstein and Blair Sellers are the people behind the new Mama G's location at University Town Center.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • January 13, 2026
New German bakery, coffeehouse rises at University Town Center

Mama G's opened its doors of a new Sarasota-Bradenton location on Dec. 15 under the leadership of two 26-year-old managing partners.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Pura Vida Miami is at 4994 S. Tamiami Trail, Unit 100, in Sarasota.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • January 9, 2026
Healthy restaurant opens second Sarasota location

Pura Vida Miami recently opened a restaurant in The Landings.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Katie Weiss is board chair of The Sarasota Players board of trustees. Thayer Greenberg is managing artistic director of The Sarasota Players.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • January 7, 2026
The Sarasota Players adds new board, cuts CEO position and promotes two

The reorganization precedes the community theater's move to Payne Park later this year.

  • Arts + Culture
A steaming plate of pasta comes up to the pass while Simone Salustri, owner of the newly reopened Nōnnō Umberto restaurant, begins work on another dish.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 5, 2026
Longstanding St. Armands Italian restaurant reopens under new name

Nōnnō Umberto, formerly operating as Le Colone, held its soft opening the first week of January under a new generation's leadership.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
The building at the corner of N. Boulevard of the Presidents and Madison Drive may be the location of a revived Shore Restaurant on St. Armands Circle.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • December 12, 2025
Shore Restaurant could return to St. Armands

A three-story mixed-use proposal includes the popular destination, which closed its previous Circle location after 2024's floods.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Heather Kasten is President and CEO of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 25, 2025
Greater Sarasota Chamber announces promotions

The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce recognized four team members with promotions.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Co-owners Jason Klamson, Sam Ray and Jeffrey Karasawa
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 20, 2025
Sarasota's Tsunami Sushi prepares to reopen under new name

With its new spot in the Rosemary District, Hanami Sushi Cocktails & Grill will fuse Japanese culture with Sarasota history.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Jessica Muroff has been CEO of the United Way Suncoast since 2019.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • November 11, 2025
Community Foundation of Sarasota County names new CEO

The new leader, Jessica Muroff, has held leadership roles with United Way Suncoast and Girl Scouts of West Central Florida.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Tommy Bahama CEO Doug Wood said he is thrilled with how the rebuilding of the restaurant and retail space at 465 John Ringling Blvd. turned out, especially the indoor bar area.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • November 8, 2025
Tommy Bahama celebrates grand return to St. Armands Circle

The combined restaurant and retail store invited guests to join in recognizing the official return after rebuilding from last year's hurricanes.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The renovation has altered features including the walls, carpet and floors.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 5, 2025
Michael's On East renovations offer a new theme

The Sarasota restaurant's new design aims to evoke the golden age of supper clubs.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Christian Delunas, retail general manager, shows one of his favorite unique purses offered at the newly opened Italian Idea boutique on St. Armands Circle. The shop recently hosted a soft opening for its third attempt to open a location on the shopping hub.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • November 3, 2025
Boutique featuring Italian leather handbags opens on St. Armands

Italian Idea, which hosted its soft opening last week, brings its family fashion tradition to St. Armands Circle.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
The Lobster Dutchess features a whole Maine lobster stuffed with shrimp, scallops, crab and lobster meat, baked in buttery stuffing with Parmesan and a splash of sherry. Seafood Portugal combines lobster, clams, mussels, shrimp and sausage over pasta.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • October 30, 2025
Lobster Pot infuses New England tradition with Portuguese pizazz

The Medeiros family blends their Massachusetts past and Portuguese ancestry at the Siesta Key Village restaurant.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Heather Kasten stands with incoming board chair Jennifer Rominkiecki.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 26, 2025
Chamber welcomes Selby Gardens president as board chair

The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting welcomed board chair Jennifer Rominiecki, as well as keynote speaker Jim Knight, a Hard Rock International executive.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Caragiulos opened in Mira Mar in 1989.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • October 26, 2025
Caragiulos closes until new downtown Sarasota spot opens in 2026

The Italian restaurant will be moving locations downtown from Palm Avenue to Ringling Boulevard.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Pepper shrimp is just one of many cross-cultural dishes popular in Trinidad and Tobago and available on the menu at Flambo, the newest restaurant to open on St. Armands Circle.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • October 22, 2025
Trinidadian cuisine on the menu at new St. Armands spot

A new family-run Caribbean restaurant called Flambo quietly opened on St. Armands Circle and looks forward to bringing energy to its new home.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Shoppers and diners have returned to St. Armands Circle a year after the devastation wrought by hurricanes Helene and Milton.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 16, 2025
Storm-weary businesses anticipate return to normal season

Sarasota's tourism destinations are polished up, opened up and ready for snowbirds and visitors one year after hurricanes cost businesses the 2024-25 season.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Larry Greenspon (left) and Paul Lederman (right) pose for a photo before a lesson on Oct. 10 at SunCourt Sports. Greenspon had a vision for the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee to create a junior tennis program for underserved youth in the area.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • October 15, 2025
SunCourt Sports stands out in a region crowded with country clubs

The new sports community, directed by Paul Lederman, opened Oct. 15 at the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Sarasota resident Jordan Wenck created Beanie Bites.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 1, 2025
Sarasota resident creates bean-based dessert mixes

Jordan Wenck will be bringing her Beanie Bites products, which are gluten and dairy free, to the Sarasota Farmers Market on Oct. 4.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Achilles Kouskoutis
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 30, 2025
New Greek restaurant to open in Sarasota's Gulf Gate

Nikki's Greek Café, located just south of Stickney Point Road, is targeting an early October opening.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Outgoing Visit Sarasota County Board of Directors members Kara Morgan (left) and Mark Gordon with VSC President and CEO Erin Duggan.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 28, 2025
Visit Sarasota County names three board members

The official tourism bureau of Sarasota County appoints three new leaders as three others rotate off the board of directors.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Kilwins Sarasota is located at 312 John Ringling Blvd., St. Armands Key.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • September 25, 2025
Kilwins makes sweet return to St. Armands Circle

Following a nearly yearlong closure from hurricane damage, the fudge and ice cream shop is reopening this weekend.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
1 2 3 4 5 »
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Latest in Sarasota

1
Man falls for electronic payments scam of $6,000
  • April 1, 2026
Man falls for electronic payments scam of $6,000
2
Bravo's Pizzeria & Italian Eatery at 1995 Main St. in Sarasota has closed.
  • March 31, 2026
Pizzeria closes on Main Street in Sarasota
3
From left, Drew Ferguson, Jason Creasy, Noah Green, Benjamin Newman, Olivia Ledwith and Eric Coley are the newest sworn officers of the Sarasota Police Department.
  • March 31, 2026
Sarasota Police Department swears in six new officers
4
Jacobey Mobley's speed isn't just on the track. He was Booker football's leading rusher in 2025 en route to the FHSAA Class 3A state semifinals.
  • March 31, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Jacobey Mobley
5
Judy Johnson has lived on Siesta Key since 2010 but grew up hanging out on the Key.
  • March 31, 2026
Siesta Key resident helps others embrace their inner beach babe

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