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Sarasota | Business

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
Selby Gardens adds three members to board of trustees
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 12, 2024
Selby Gardens adds three members to board of trustees

Ali Bahaj, retired chairman and CEO of Caterpillar Japan; Tervis CEO Hosana Fieber; and Richard Sandor, chairman and CEO of Environmental Financial Products, will each serve a three-year term on the board.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sprouts Farmers Market is opening a new store this fall in Sarasota.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 12, 2024
Sprouts Farmers Market set to open in downtown Sarasota on Sept. 6

The grocery store will host two in-person hiring events to fill more than 80 positions.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
The Hashtag Cafe opened 18 months ago and recently expanded to add a yarn business.
  • By Emily Leinfuss
  • July 9, 2024
Sarasota coffee shop doubles in size, adds yarn business

A family of German immigrants musters up a rare match by opening a yarn store inside their European-style cafe.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
A patron of iSmash stands atop a used car during a smash therapy session.
    By
  • Laura Lyon
  • July 9, 2024
'Smash therapy' company plans Sarasota location

Franchisees plan to bring four new iSmash locations to Southwest Florida.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
In July 2020, a three-piece Peace, Love and Happiness installation displayed in Tube Dude's parking lot on Main Street ahead of its debut in New York City.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 4, 2024
Tube Dude finds new home after five years on Main Street

Forced to move by redevelopment, the downtown institution finds room to grow in south Bradenton.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Sasha Payette and Joe Carter will lead philanthropic services at Gulf Coast Community Foundation.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 28, 2024
GCCF makes two C-suite moves to bolster philanthropic services

Joe Carter and Sasha Pyatte will execute the Gulf Coast Community Foundation's strategy to deepen donors' philanthropic impact.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Stacey Marks (left) and Kari Schroeter (middle) perform a dance workout.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • June 26, 2024
Chamber's small business awards highlight community of caring

More than 600 people gathered to celebrate 30 local businesses on June 21.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Wendi Chapman helped launch and grow the Sarasota Tiger 21 Chapter in early 2022.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • June 25, 2024
Peer group for multimillionaires grows in Sarasota

Tiger 21 connects the uber-wealthy with the uber-wealthy in a rapidly growing — and exclusive — niche.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Small businesses honored at Sarasota Chamber event
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 24, 2024
Small businesses honored at Sarasota Chamber event

Thirty businesses in 10 different categories were recognized with awards.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Court 13 at Payne Park Tennis Center offers a spot for players to relax before and after matches.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 17, 2024
Pro shop, lounge opens at Payne Park Tennis Center

Court Thirteen, part pro shop and part lounge, is one of several recent improvements.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Aircraft technician Robert Heing prepares to inspect the engine of a Piper Saratoga inside the Aviotec hangar at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport. The maintenance company has also been servicing commercial airline aircraft at SRQ for the past year.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • June 13, 2024
Meet the crew at SRQ that helps keep planes up in the air

Sarasota-based Aviotec is the airport's "eyes and hands" that maintains private aircraft and commercial jets.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Tim and Cynthia Holliday
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • June 12, 2024
School uniforms simplified: Children’s World celebrates 60 years in business

The local retailer partners with area schools to provide a physical location for families to shop for school uniforms.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Roxie Jerde, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, speaks at the Sarasota Orchestra’s second Masterworks series dinner Nov. 29, 2023.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • June 11, 2024
Sarasota Community Foundation CEO announces retirement

Roxie Jerde, the head of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, will retire in June 2025.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
The former Holiday Inn on Lido is undergoing renovations.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • June 10, 2024
Holiday Inn on Lido Key undergoes major face-lift

Cirque St. Armands Beachside is expected to open this fall.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Heather Kasten is President and CEO of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 1, 2024
Sarasota Chamber a finalist for Chamber of the Year

The winners in four categories grouped by organization size will be announced July 17.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Eleni Sokos, 35 is taking over the CEO role (Chief Executive Oyster) from Anna Maria Oyster Bar founder and co-owner John Horne, 63.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 29, 2024
Anna Maria Oyster Bar founder to slow down, names next CEO

Restaurateur John Horne found a succession plan in the office next door to his, with up-and-coming executive Eleni Sokos.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Sarasota Honey Co. owner Alma Johnson and employee Michelle Edwards.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • May 29, 2024
Sarasota Honey Co. finds new home at The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime

Hurricane Ian impacts, rising costs and other challenges led to the decision to relocate.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
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