Anna Maria Island Sun April 16, 2025 Readers Choice

BUSINESS

Auto Service

Holmes Beach Auto Service

5333 Gulf Drive

Holmes Beach, 779-0487

Bait & Tackle Shop

Keyes Marina

5501 Marina Drive Holmes Beach, 778-1977

Bank

Hancock Whitney Bank

5324 Gulf Drive

Holmes Beach, 778-4900

Bike Rental

Beach Bums Rentals

427 Pine Ave. Anna Maria, 778-3316

Boating Store

Keyes Marina

5501 Marina Drive

Holmes Beach, 778-1977

Car Wash

Sun & Suds Car Wash

6412 Manatee Ave W. Bradenton, 564-3072

Carpet Cleaner

Fat Cat Carpet Cleaning

3801 9th Ave W. Bradenton, 778-2882

CBD Store

Edibles N More 5368 Gulf Drive

Holmes Beach, 855-334-2530

Clothing Store

Two Sides of Nature

101 S. Bay Boulevard

Anna Maria, 779-2432

Convenience Store

Anna Maria General Store

503 Pine Ave

Anna Maria 779-9200

Dry Cleaner

Courtesy Cleaners 7421 Manatee Ave. W. Bradenton, 794-5145

Electrician

Anthony’s Heating & Cooling 778-0100

Fine Dining

The Waterfront

111 S Bay Blvd.

Anna Maria, 778-1515

Fitness

Prosper Bradenton 7449 Manatee Ave W Bradenton, 313-207-8506

Floor Coverings

Tradewinds Tile & Stone

5917 Manatee Ave. W. Bradenton, 941-896-9640

Florist

Blooms by The Beach

2501 Gulf Drive

Bradenton Beach, 778-2555

Gift Shop

Beach Bums

427 Pine Ave

Anna Maria 778-3316

Golf Cart Rental

Beach Bums

427 Pine Ave

Anna Maria, 778-3316

Grocery Store

Publix Supermarket 3900 East Bay Drive

Holmes Beach, 778-5422

Hair Salon

Acqua Aveda Salon, Spa and Store 5311 Gulf Drive

Holmes Beach, 778-5400

Hardware Store

Ace Hardware 3352 E Bay Drive Holmes Beach, 778-0999

Heat & Air

Anthony’s Heating & Cooling 778-0100

Home Builder

Gagne Construction

214 Pine Ave Anna Maria, 778-3215

Hotel/Motel

Silver Surf Resort

1301 Gulf Dr N Bradenton Beach, 778-6626

House Cleaner

Higor Cleaning Services

501 Pine Avenue Anna Maria, 941-212-6941

Jewelry Store

Bridge Street Jewelers 129 Bridge Street Bradenton Beach, 896-7800

Liquor Store

Time Saver Liquor Store 5353 Gulf Drive Holmes Beach, 778-1524

Marina

Keyes Marina 5501 Marina Dr Holmes Beach, 778-1977

Men’s Apparel

Beach Bums

427 Pine Ave Anna Maria, 778-3316

Non Profit

The Center of Anna Maria

407 Magnolia Ave. Anna Maria, 778-1908

Outdoor Sports Store

Dicks Sporting Goods

4108 14th St. W. Bradenton, 751-6900

Painter

Cabinet Renew 1629 W University Pkwy Sarasota, 941-837-8676

Pest Control

Anna Maria Pest Control 11610 3rd Ave. E. Bradenton, 778-1630

Pet Grooming

The Paw Spa 5343 Gulf Drive Holmes Beach, 778-0885

Pet Store

AMI Beach & Dog Supply CO.

313 Pine Ave Anna Maria, 713-8970

Pharmacist (tie)

Todd CVS 611 Manatee Ave Holmes Beach,778-1411

Teresa at Walgreens 3200 East Bay Drive Holmes Beach, 778-0451

Pharmacy

CVS

611 Manatee Ave Holmes Beach,778-1411

Plumber

Air & Energy

555 6th Ave. W. Bradenton, 778-0773

Pool Cleaner

Stand Up Pools

Pool Contractor

Agnelli Pools & Construction

7411 Manatee Ave. W. #200 Bradenton, 778-4333

Real Estate Associate

Cindy Quinn

Sato Real Estate Inc.

519 Pine Ave. Anna Maria, 778-7200

Real Estate Company

Sato Real Estate Inc.

519 Pine Ave. Anna Maria, 778-7200

Rental Company

Sato Real Estate Inc.

519 Pine Ave. Anna Maria, 778-7200

Resort

Anna Maria Resorts

Tradewinds Beach Resort 1603 Gulf Drive North Bradenton Beach, 779-0100

Roofer

Trust Mike Roofing 5300 Gulf Dr Holmes Beach 807-6507

Retirement Community National Church Residences

Service Station

Shell Station 5424 Marina Dr Holmes Beach 778-6903

Shopping Center

Pineapple Marketplace 425 Pine Ave Anna Maria, 216-4226

Souvenir Shop

Beach Bums 427 Pine Ave Anna Maria, 778-3316

Spa

Aluna Day Spa 2219 Gulf Dr N Bradenton Beach 778-8400

Women’s Apparel

Beach Bums

427 Pine Ave Anna Maria, 778-3316

PEOPLE & PLACES

Architectural Design

Beacon Home Design 2423 Manatee Ave. W. Bradenton. 941-962-7571

Architect

Beacon Home Design 2423 Manatee Ave. W. Bradenton. 941-962-7571

Art Gallery

Artist Guild Gallery 5414 Marina Dr Holmes Beach 778-6694

Artist

Kristi Marie Photography

Attorney Nick Sato 2071 Ringling Blvd. #400 Sarasota, 861-4400

Band The Dr. Dave Band drdaveband.com

Bar & Grill

Harry’s Grill

9903 Gulf Drive Anna Maria, 567-5999

Bartender

Kayla

gRub Tropical BBQ 415 Pine Ave Anna Maria, 900-2874

Beach Coquina Beach

Boat Captain Lance Plowman Florida Fishing Fleet 941-720-6147

Business Person

Mike Zeppi

Anthony’s Heating & Cooling 778-0100

Caterer

Ben Sato

gRub Topical BBQ 415 Pine Ave Anna Maria, 900-2874

Chef

Ben Sato

gRub Topical BBQ 415 Pine Ave Anna Maria, 900-2874

Chiropractor

Natural Healing Arts

David Zamikoff 6220 Manatee Ave W 761-1100

Dentist

Island Dental Spa 3909 E Bay Dr Ste #205 Holmes Beach, 778-2204

Doctor

Stephen Pelham, M.D. 3909 East Bay Drive #100 Holmes Beach, 778-1007

Eye Care

LensCrafters

6725 Mantee Ave W Bradenton 746-4300

Financial Planner

Edward Jones

John Campora 6400 Manatee Ave W Suite B 779-2499

Fishing Charter

Captain Will Osborne Fishing Charters 941-580-7293

Individual Entertainer KoKo Ray 538-8724

Interior Design

Margaret Navy James & Co. Interior Design 941-962-4421

Massage Therapy

Aluna Wellness 2219 Gulf Dr N Bradenton beach, 778-8400

Personal Trainer

Breanna Newton Home Fitness by Bre dnewton@airguaranteed.com

School

Anna Maria Elementary 4700 Gulf Drive Holmes Beach, 708-5525

School Teacher

Ms. Veen

Palmetto Elementary 1540 10th St. W. Palmetto, 941-723-4822

Veterinarian

Dr Bystrom

Island Animal Clinic5343 Gulf Dr Unit 900 Holmes Beach 778-2445

Veterinarian Clinic

Island Animal Clinic5343 Gulf Dr Unit 900 Holmes Beach 778-2445

View Bean Point

Waiter/Waitress

Linda Kissell

Harry’s Grill 9903 Gulf Drive Anna Maria, 567-5999

Yoga Studio

Aluna Wellness 2219 Gulf Dr N Bradenton beach, 778-8400

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

Asian Restaurant

Island Ocean Star 902 S Bay Blvd Anna Maria, 251-6940

Bagel Shop

Ginny’s & Jane E’s 9807 Gulf Drive Anna Maria, 778-3170

Bakery

Hometown Desserts 507 Pine Ave. Anna Maria, 896-3167

Barbeque

gRub Tropical BBQ

415 Pine Ave

Anna Maria, 900-2874

Boat Tour

Ben Webb - AMI Dolphin Tours

5325 Marina Drive

Holmes Beach, 281-3461

Breakfast

Ginny’s & Jane E’s

9807 Gulf Drive

Anna Maria, 778-3170

Burger

Harry’s Bar & Grill 9903 Gulf Drive

Anna Maria, 567-5999

Café 5350 Pour House 5350 Holmes Beach, 251-3681

Candy Store

Dips Ice Cream 503 Pine Ave Anna Maria, 778-1706

Deli

Scott’s Deli

5337 Gulf Drive Ste. 300 Holmes Beach, 778-3000

Festival

Cortez Fishing Festival

German Restaurant

Lucky Frog Restaurant 4625 Cortez Rd. W. Bradenton, 795-2132

Golf Course

Pinebrook Ironwood Golf 4260 Ironwood Cir Bradenton, 792-3288

Grouper Sandwich

Cortez Kitchen 4528 119th St. W. Cortez, 941-900-1506

Ice Cream Shop

Two Scoops Ice Cream 101 S. Bay Blvd. Anna Maria, 779-2422

Italian Restaurant

Solo’s Pizza

3244 E Bay Dr. Holmes Beach, 778-8118

Key Lime Pie

Hometown Desserts

507 Pine Ave. Anna Maria, 896-3167

Live Theater Island Players

10009 Gulf Drive

Anna Maria, 778-5755

Margarita

Wicked Cantina

101 7th St. N. Bradenton Beach, 281-2990

Mexican Restaurant

Wicked Cantina

101 7th St. N. Bradenton Beach, 281-2990

Most Romantic Restaurant

The Waterfront 111 S Bay Drive Anna Maria, 778-1515

New Restaurant

Salt Bar and Table 2519 Gulf Drive N Bradenton Beach 896-9897

Night Spot

Harry’s Bar & Grill

9903 Gulf Drive Anna Maria, 567-5999

Pier

Rod and Reel Pier

875 North Shore Drive

Anna Maria, 778-1885

Higor named Island’s Favorite House Cleaner

Higor cleaning service is the 2025 Readers’ Choice award winner in the “Favorite House Cleaner” category. Owned by Cristian Cortes, located at 501 Pine Ave. in Anna Maria, staffed with 12 full-time employees and operating with the “One extra hand” motto, Higor provides clean ing, maintenance and pre-guest arrival inspections to vacation rental management companies and vacation rental owners, with Sato Real Estate as a primary client. Higor also provides cleaning and maintenance services to homeowners and businesses owners.

“We’re happy we won and we want to thank Sato Real Estate for being a big part of it,” Cortes said of his company’s first Readers’ Choice award.

Regarding the impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Cortes said, “This season’s been a little slower but it’s coming back. We normally do a 160 vacation rentals on a Saturday and another 100 during the week. Right now, we’re doing around 60 on the weekend and another 60 during the week.”

After two hurricanes struck last fall, many vacation rental homes required cleaning and repairs before they could reopen. Higor responded by also offering light construction and demolition services,

pressure washing, touch-up painting and more; and those services remain part of Higor’s expanding business model.

“We do everything. It’s not just cleaning,” Cortes said, noting that his employees are paid well and treated like family members.

Having recently relocated from one leased space to another within the same building, the Higor office space will soon include a small retail area that sells eucalyptus-based cleaning products, essential oils and more. Cortes also hopes to partner with a local café to provide coffee, acai drinks and other café offerings.

“We’re trying to expand and do something different and not just stay with the cleaning side of it,” he said.

Learn more at www.Higor.online or call 941-212-6941.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Business owner Cristian Cortes outside the Higor office space at 501 Pine Ave.

Tradewinds Tile & Stone best in floor coverings

Tradewinds Tile & Stone is The Sun’s 2025 Readers’ Choice award winner in the best floor covering category. Located at 5917 Manatee Ave. W. in Bradenton, the Tradewinds Tile & Stone management team includes Holmes Beach residents Dax and Gina Harding, Holmes Beach resident Lori Waggoner and store manager Debra Margerison.

“Our main focus is customer service,” Dax Harding said. “Tradewinds has been serving Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key, Bradenton and the surrounding areas for 15 years and we’re absolutely delighted to have won this award. We’re a design studio and we will help you with the whole process. That’s our niche. Debra is our store manager. She does the design and she’s an expert at helping people design what they want, whether it’s the whole house, a bathroom, a shower, a countertop or anything else.”

“Our shop has always had the philosophy that these are our friends and neighbors that come in to see us,” Margerison said. Tradewinds supplies and installs tile, stone, vinyl and hardwood products and continues to assist Anna Maria Island residents who suffered flooding and other damage during Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Tradewinds Tile & Stone offers a wide variety of tile, stone and other high-quality products.

“I believe this award probably happened because of our efforts after the storm,” Waggoner said. “Debra and I closed the store, came to the Island and helped any way we could. We helped people get organized and get what they needed. These are our friends and neighbors and 95% of what we sell comes to the Island. Using Tradewinds, we’re still doing everything we can to get our friends and neighbors back in their homes.”

“We’ve been working at a lot of properties that were decimated by the storms and the floods,” Harding said.

Learn more about Tradewinds Tile & Stone at www.tradewindstile.com.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Cortez Kitchen wins Best Grouper Sandwich

While there’s no shortage of grouper on local restaurant menus, Cortez Kitchen stands out as the 2025 Anna Maria Island Sun Readers’ Choice winner for the Best Grouper Sandwich.

“We are incredibly humbled and honored,” Cortez Kitchen chef James Rodgers said.

Rodgers attributes the popularity of the sandwich, the most ordered item in the restaurant, to the use of locally sourced fresh grouper prepared with love.

“We get grouper from all over Florida, I think that it starts with the fishermen having the best fish for us,” Rodgers said. “I think that’s what sets us apart from the competition. Sometimes we get it from our own fish house here when they can provide us with enough. When they can’t meet the quota, we’ll branch out, but we always source the freshest possible fish.”

The Cortez Kitchen grouper sandwich comes either grilled, blackened or fried and features a generous amount of fish on a toasted brioche roll with lettuce, tomato and a subtly spicy and tangy house-made remoulade sauce, made fresh every day.

“You can go get a fish sandwich anywhere around us, but to get one that’s really crafted with love, and we

take our time and do each and every little step the best that we can, I think that’s something magical,” Rodgers said.

A long-time Cortez staple, the open-air waterfront Cortez Kitchen was remodeled and then reopened in January 2024.

“You’ve got the waterfront view, and you get to be here in the heart of Cortez, the oldest operating fishing village in Florida. It’s awe-inspiring to be here and watch what really goes into commercial fishing,” Rodgers said.

LESLIE LAKE | SUN

Chef James Rodgers of Cortez Kitchen, the 2025 Readers’ Choice Best Grouper Sandwich winner.

Pizza Pizza Social 308 Pine Ave. Anna Maria, 251-4070

Restaurant (Overall)

The Waterfront 111 S Bay Drive Anna Maria, 778-1515

Seafood Restaurant

Anna Maria Oyster Bar Oysterbar.net

Specialty Cocktail

Dr. Office

5312 Holmes Blvd. Holmes Beach, 213-9926

Specialty Gourmet

gRub Tropical BBQ 415 Pine Ave. Anna Maria, 900-2874

Sub/Sandwich Scott’s Deli

5337 Gulf Drive Suite 300 Holmes Beach, 778-3000

Takeout

Minnie’s 5360 Gulf Drive Holmes Beach, 778-4140

Gear up for Reel for Rotary fishing tournament

Tournament proceeds will benefit relief efforts in Cortez, Rotary “learn to swim” program and Anna Maria Elementary School.

BY LESLIE LAKE

SUN CORRESPONDENT

| llake@amisun.com

The Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island is hosting its first annual “Reel for Rotary” fishing tournament on Saturday, April 26.

Proceeds from the tournament will benefit disaster relief efforts in the Cortez community, as well as support the Rotary "Learn to Swim" program, programs at Anna Maria Elementary School and other projects that directly benefit the AMI community.

The tournament is open to anglers of all ages with both inshore and offshore prize categories.

On Friday, April 25 at 5:30 p.m., a captains’ meeting/check-in is scheduled at Slicker’s Eatery, 12012 Cortez Road W. in Cortez. Lines in begins on Saturday, April 26 at 7 a.m., with lines out at 2:30 p.m., followed by dinner, drinks, a silent auction at 4 p.m. and an awards

ceremony at 5:30 p.m. at Swordfish Grill, 4628 119th St. W., Cortez.

The registration fee is $150 for a single angler and $550 for a boat of four and includes tournament entry, 2025 “Reel for Rotary” fishing shirt, cocktails and dinner and prizes. Youth registration (13 and under) is $20 and includes tournament entry, 2025 “Reel for Rotary” fishing shirt, dinner and prizes.

The inshore grand prize (Inshore Slam) is $1,000. The offshore grand prize (Grouper/Snapper Combo) is $1,000, with additional prizes to be announced. The grand prize for the youth division will be a half day inshore charter with Anna Maria Charters for up to four people (value $700).

The Rotary is seeking sponsors of all levels, donations and marketing items for Captain’s Bags. Tickets are available for both social events. Tournament shirts are also available for purchase.

For more information and to register, visit https://ami-reelforrotary.square.site/

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