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Sarasota | Business

The handheld section of the Lefty's menu features a Maine lobster roll, grouper sandwich, seafood tacos, smash burger, fried chicken thigh sandwich and soft shell crab BLT.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • January 22, 2025
Seafood restaurant opens Monday in Sarasota's Rosemary District

Lefty's Oyster & Seafood Bar will welcome diners to its Lemon Avenue location on Monday, Jan. 27.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
The Winn-Dixie in the Southeast Plaza, at the corner of Bee Ridge Road and McIntosh Road, is being converted to an Aldi, the company said.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • January 21, 2025
Sarasota Winn-Dixie to close, reemerge as Aldi

The conversion could take several months, the company said.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Sarasota Chamber chair Joe Hembree, Observer Media Group president and CEO Matt Walsh and Sarasota Chamber president Heather Kasten.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 19, 2025
Sarasota Chamber honors Observer CEO, hosts Florida Chamber president

The New Year's Kickoff Brunch presented Observer Media Group CEO and founder Matt Walsh with the Spirit of Sarasota Award and featured Florida Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Mark Wilson.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Retired City Manager Marlon Brown has been named Director of Government Affairs of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 16, 2025
Marlon Brown named chamber director of government affairs

Retired Sarasota city manager will lead the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce's state and local legislative agenda.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Shannon Hunt
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 14, 2025
Wellness lounge, cacao cafe opens in Rosemary District

The space, established by nonprofits Conscious Cause and Streets of Paradise Inc., is intended to foster contributions from the community.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Eddy Ossa welcomes grand opening attendees into CreArte Latino.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 29, 2024
CreArte Latino enters the new year with a new space

The organization, which serves as a creative hub for the Hispanic/Latino community, held the grand opening for its space on Dec. 9.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
The Waffle Stop owner Dolly Hollinger, seen here in December 2020.
    By
  • Mark Gordon, Louis Llovio
  • December 20, 2024
The Waffle Stop, Sarasota 'Elvis Ate Here' restaurant, to close by end of 2024

A Sarasota institution, The Waffle Stop, is closing after 74 years.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Exclusive dinner club hires membership director
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 15, 2024
Exclusive dinner club hires membership director

Joining 1000 North Sarasota is hospitality veteran Alex Elshimy as the private club works toward late 2025 debut.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Prominent national restaurateur Cameron Mitchell is opening Ocean Prime at The Quay on Dec 21.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • December 11, 2024
Ocean Prime is ready to open at The Quay

The $10 million, two-story restaurant featuring waterfront views will debut on Dec. 21.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Cafe L'Europe renovated its private and semi-private dining areas ahead of the restaurant's 50th anniversary in 2023.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • December 11, 2024
Café L'Europe becomes The Café on St. Armands with new dining theme

The St. Armands Circle staple will reopen in January 2025 with a reimagined dining theme and new name following damages from Hurricane Helene.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 23, 2024
Shore to leave St. Armands Circle; Tommy Bahama to lease its space

Shore owners say flooding issues are prompting the brand to leave Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Tyler and Maya Kirby.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 21, 2024
Son returns to operate plant-based coffee house his father founded

Simon's Coffee House, founded in 1991, has become a staple of plant-based dining in the Sarasota community.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport President and CEO Rick Piccolo is overseeing the largest expansion in the airport's history.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • November 20, 2024
Piccolo to retire as SRQ CEO next year

After 30 years leading Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, a search firm has been contracted to recruit President and CEO Rick Piccolo's replacement.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Circus Arts Conservatory founders Pedro Reis and Dolly Jacobs are stepping down from their management roles.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • November 19, 2024
Circus Arts Conservatory co-founders step down

Pedro Reis and Dolly Jacobs are succeeded by 16-year veteran Jennifer Mitchell, who has been named president and CEO.

  • Arts + Culture
The Coldwell Banker Realty office on St. Armands Circle reopened on Nov. 13
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • November 19, 2024
Coldwell Banker Realty reopens its St. Armands Circle office

The real estate office renovated to build in resiliency for the potential of future flooding on St. Armands Circle.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
The new Mote Marine Lab and Aquarium building is part of the view from PopStroke's UTC mini-golf course.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 6, 2024
PopStroke at UTC in Sarasota just got a little cooler

Fans and misters were installed on the mini-golf courses, along with a few other upgrades.

  • East County
  • Business
1000 NORTH will be located in the BLVD Sarasota building at the corner of Boulevard of the Arts and North Tamiami Trail.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 29, 2024
Exclusive restaurant, club coming to Sarasota

1000 NORTH, with a long list of celebrity partners, will bring its second private dining club concept to the BLVD Sarasota building.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Kerkering Barberio Managing Shareholder Robert Lane, Observer Media Group President Emily Walsh and immediate past chair of Sarasota Chamber Teri Hansen
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 25, 2024
Sarasota Chamber celebrates awards and honors at annual meeting

The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual meeting on Oct. 25, celebrating the community's businesses and the theme of resilience.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
The Columbia Restaurant is seen boarded up, bracing for Hurricane Milton, just two weeks after Hurricane Helene flooded it with storm surge. The St. Armands landmark is set to reopen Oct. 26.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 25, 2024
Columbia Restaurant on St. Armands to reopen Oct. 26

Cha Cha Coconuts is also back after nearly a month of work to repair damage from hurricanes.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Christian Galicia serves Zac and Trey Yovanovich at Siesta Key Oyster Bar on Oct. 22.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 24, 2024
Siesta Key slowly comes back to life

Two weeks after Hurricane Milton hit Sarasota, business owners say there's still further to go before Siesta Key returns to normal, while patrons and the community continue to offer support.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Kinsey Robb at Art Center Sarasota
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 23, 2024
Art Center Sarasota executive director departs for national nonprofit

After helping revitalize Art Center Sarasota as executive director, Kinsey Robb now brings her experience to Art Dealers Association of America.

  • Arts + Culture
Bruno Wu serves hamburgers.
    By
  • Ian Swaby, Petra Rivera, Emily Walsh
  • October 17, 2024
Businesses step up to offer meals to those in need

Amid the power outages and aftermath of Hurricane Milton, free hamburgers and hot dogs were on offer.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
A worker helps repair the thatch roof of Captain Curt's Crab & Oyster Bar.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 16, 2024
Some Siesta Key restaurants reopen after Hurricane Milton

Amid the impacts of two successive hurricanes, a glimmer of business activity is emerging on Siesta Key.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Brick veneer and metal touches are characteristic of Whataburger restaurants.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • September 27, 2024
Popular Texas burger chain Whataburger seeks approval for Sarasota debut

Developers are proposing putting a Whataburger on the former Café Baci location on U.S. 41 in Sarasota.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Jordan Sebastiano of Servpro tosses a football.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 20, 2024
East and west are on the same team at tailgate business expo

The Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance returned to last year's tailgate theme as it hosted its annual expo.

  • East County
  • Business
Visit Sarasota County names three board members
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 19, 2024
Visit Sarasota County names three board members

Stacey Corley, Jason Samson and Heather Van Wie join the VSC board for two-year terms.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Tom Edwards is the first executive director of SRQ Strong.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 18, 2024
SRQ Strong names first executive director

Sarasota County School Board Member Tom Edwards will guide the nonprofit's transformation into a professional organization.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Customers can enjoy the poke bowls atop tables made from the colorful skimboards at Zap Skimboards in Venice.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 16, 2024
Siesta Pokè brings its specialty to Siesta Key

The restaurant, opened Aug. 30, differentiates itself with a range of house-made sauces.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Trey Hamer, 11, works with other youth soccer players at the new indoor facility, The Fitballer.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 10, 2024
New Sarasota facility brings soccer training indoors

The Fitballer offers professional training for kids and adults.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Sarasota Chamber to host third Fall for Sarasota event
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 7, 2024
Sarasota Chamber to host third Fall for Sarasota event

Business teams collaborate with local non-profits for three days of volunteer service.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
The store is focused on sourcing fresh produce.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 6, 2024
Sprouts Farmers Market now open in Sarasota

The supermarket chain offering natural, organic and gluten-free foods, is celebrating its grand opening Sept. 6-8.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
From left, Kelly Borgia, Emily Joslin and Carol Martin Brown.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 14, 2024
GCCF makes three leadership changes

Changes include the promotion of Kelly Borgia to director of brand engagement.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
The original Superman lunch boxes by Adco debuted in 1954.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 6, 2024
Sarasota Toy Museum debuts Aug. 8 with thousands of vintage exhibits

Owner Richard Pierson has assembled toys representing more than 200 years of playtime history.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Sash & Sill is based at 501 Interstate Court, east of Interstate 75 near Fruitville Road.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • July 27, 2024
Shuttered Sarasota window and door company faces complaints, investigations

"There was never intent to defraud or steal money," the owner of Sash & Sill says.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Guitars hang on display at Divergent Guitar.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 25, 2024
Guitar shop sells instruments with unique histories

Musician Aric Paul's retail space, Divergent Guitar, brings together rare guitars with legacies in Sarasota's Rosemary District.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
CITY Furniture will open in spring 2025 at University Town Center.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • July 13, 2024
Furniture showroom with wine bar coming to UTC

City Furniture will open a 120,000-square-foot showroom complete with a cafe and bar off University Parkway.

  • East County
  • Business
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