What’s New in Gulf Gate?
By Jane Bartnett
Three National Retailers
Opening
This month, Gulf Gate will welcome the first of three new national brands to the Sarasota Pavilion Shopping Center. Located at the intersection of Stickney Point Road and South Tamiami Trail, and from Gulf Gate Drive, the shopping center covers a total of 343, 294 square feet.
On Friday, December 6, Sephora, the popular beauty and cosmetics retailer will celebrate its grand opening. Known for its large selection of leading cosmetics brands, Sephora is owned by LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton. More than 500 Sephora stores are found in the United States.
This winter, Old Navy will also
Mopen, alongside Sephora. Founded in California in 1994, Old Navy is a popular family clothing store offering fashions for women, men and children. Gap Inc. is Old Navy’s parent company.
This winter, shoppers are also anticipating the opening of World Market in Gulf Gate’s Sarasota Pavilion Shopping Center. World Market sells furniture, decor and home items, jewelry, gifts as well as housewares and foods from around the world. The specialty retailer operates 240 locations nationally. It is located next to Publix.
Sephora, Old Navy and World Market join a collection of other national brands currently found at the Gulf Gate shopping center that draws customers from Siesta Key, Gulf Gate and surrounding
areas. Michael’s, Marshall’s, Pet Smart, Ross for Less, Five Below and Panera Bread, a large Skechers shoe store and Bank of America are also located in the shopping center. Florida’s Beall’s and Publix represent the sunshine state.
2nd Friday Festival
Debuts
Gulf Gate merchants celebrated the start of the new season with their first Gulf Gate 2nd Friday Festival that debuted on Friday, November 8. The monthly festival will continue the second Friday of every month from 4-8 p.m., through the spring. The event was the brainchild of Diana Reason, who owns Only Eyes Optical Boutique on Superior Avenue and chef Fatima Soriano,
Fin & Tonic celebrates one year of seafood and fun
ark and Lori Mitchell, two of the three coowners behind Fin & Tonic on South Tamiami Trail, are no strangers to the restaurant game. The couple previously owned restaurants in Scottsdale, Arizona, and still operate several Jimmy John’s franchises (including the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport location) under Mitchell Management Brands. But Fin & Tonic is their biggest contribution to date to the south Sarasota scene: a chef-driven spot with a menu of favorite flavors, a balanced price range, regular live music, and a vibrant happy hour atmosphere. In other words: exactly the kind of place where they like to hang out.
This October, Fin & Tonic
passed the pivotal one-yearin-business milestone, and the owners and clientele alike still have a few more things to celebrate—including an updated menu from chef Nils Tarantik, as well as the promised completion of road construction work that had hindered access to the seafood spot since Day 1.
Fin & Tonic arose from the Mitchells’ own inclinations. “I’m in my late 50s. My wife and I like to go out,” said Mark, who’s originally from Omaha, Nebraska. “We live in Osprey. There are some great choices, but we thought there could be more.”
They partnered with Javi Alvarez, a longtime Sarasota restaurant operator whose previous projects have included everything from Olive Garden to
By Hannah Wallace
Siesta’s own Clayton’s.
The three then hired Tarantik, who previously worked at element, a downtown Sarasota steakhouse, and Fleming’s before that. Together, the team assembled a menu featuring locally sourced seafood as well as land options that met Mark’s Midwest-born standards.
The location they chose had previously been a Red Lobster, in part for the ample parking, and set about revamping the interior— including adding a second bar in back, a state-of-the-art AV system, and a specially designed private event space. Fin & Tonic opened in October 2023, in the face of ongoing roadwork that forced people to drive almost a mile south of the restaurant before
Fin & Tonic is located at 6747 S. Tamiami Trail.
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Sephora's grand opening in Gulf Gate's Sarasota Pavilion Shopping Center is set for December 6. Old Navy will open this winter. (Photo: Jane Bartnett)
… $19
SANDWICHES
Grouper Sandwich … $19
Salmon BLT … $18
Mahi Mahi Sandwich … $18
Chicken Sandwich … $12
Cheeseburger … $12
Vegan Burger … $12
Stuffed Shrimp … $21 Potato Crusted Haddock …
Filet Mignon & Stuffed Shrimp … $31
& BOWLS
Shrimp & Crab Scampi … $23 Salmon Pasta … $19 Chicken & Shrimp Curry … $19 Sweet ‘n Spicy Chicken & Shrimp $21 Pasta Primavera … $14 DESSERTS
Arts on the Horizon By
Santa’s always busy
Santa must have some very good elves in his workshop because it looks like he’s taking a pre-Christmas working vacation this year. He’s currently booked into Florida Studio Theatre’s Keating Theatre through the 24th of the month in Deck the Halls, FST’s Children’s Theatre show.
Jim Prosser has worked up some new musical arrangements of Christmas and Hanukkah songs so everyone can celebrate the holidays, Sarasota style. Sarah Durham, Caroline Saldivar and Meg Mechelke have written new songs and sketches to keep everyone in the spirit.
And right after the start of 2025 (January 4 - February 2), the Children’s Theatre will be presenting Aesop’s Fables. The timeless morals will still be there, but hijinks and humor bring these classic tales to life.
And speaking of fun, the musical Waitress is continuing its run at the Gompertz through the 5th of January. It tells the heartfelt story of a waitress who loves to bake pies (like her mother used to in years gone by). The pies are not just great tasting, they are also her meal ticket to a better life.
Rodger Skidmore
you would not know many locals, it would be great to meet someone from home while living in your new country.
A new play, The Heart Sellers, is opening at the Keating on December 11 and will run through February 16. The play is about two Asians who have immigrated to the US and stumble upon each other in a grocery store (probably looking for something to eat that looks vaguely familiar). The show reminds us that, even when you are surrounded by many people living in your city, you can still be lonely if you can’t speak with them about shared experiences. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says the show is “stunning and touching.”
Spoiler Alert: Kazakhstan will stop using the Cyrillic alphabet and will switch to Latin based letters next year. Who knew? Even more info at floridastudiotheatre.org.
The movable game from Guys and Dolls
There is no “crap game”, but entertainment venues have been moved around town because of Hurricane Milton. The Sarasota Orchestra’s November program was moved from the Van Wezel to the Opera House and the December 6-7 program will be at the Church of the Palms.
But the show doesn’t just tell her story. It also brings out the dreams and troubles of her husband, two other waitresses, their paramours, an older patron at the diner, and the new doctor in town. While everyone has their own personal dreams and troubles, they don’t all wind up fantastically happy – but happy enough. What would it be like to move, as an adult, to Kazakhstan or Botswana? Your life would have a different alphabet, different foods, and pretty much everything different from what you’d been used to here in Sarasota. Since
Given that Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony is being played on the 7th (twice), it will be a crapshooter’s dream as well for all those that attend. Since most everyone loves Beethoven, the program opens with Carlos Simon’s homage to Beethoven, Fate Now Conquers. This will be followed by an object of that homage, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1, with Yefim Bronfman as the soloist. The second half of the program will be Beethoven’s Seventh with all this glorious music being led by Peter Oundjian, a violin prize-winner (Tokyo String Quartet) turned conductor (Detroit Symphony).
While the Van Wezel had its water problems, Holley Hall is still in operation. Thus, the five days of Christmas (December 11-15) will be Merry and Bright with holiday tunes like Sleigh Ride, Klezmer Nutcracker, Skater’s Waltz and, of course, Joy to the World
And all ears will tune in to Holley Hall on the 22nd as members of the SO perform Ferenc Farkas’s Early Hungarian Dances from the 17th Century, Beethoven’s Piano Quartet in E-flat Major and several selections from A Canadian Brass Christmas. More info at sarasotaorchestra.org.
Something to wish for It might not be something that could happen today, but we certainly can wish for it. All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 is a re-creation of that moment of hope and goodwill that took place during “The Great War” when the shooting stopped and the
Sandy Claws Beach
Join the holiday fun at the 48th annual Sandy Claws Beach Run on Siesta Beach, happening Saturday, Dec. 14. Register by Nov. 22 to get the best price, plus runner swag and a longsleeve performance shirt. To register, go to https:// runsignup.com/48thannual sandyclawsbeachrun.
This festive event attracts hundreds of runners, walkers, and joggers, many in holiday costumes! Presented by Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources along with Friends of Sarasota County Parks,
Boucher Brothers, Dr. Heidi K. Anderson-DOCS, and Eager Beaver. The event includes a chiptimed 5K race and a onemile fun run.
The 5K Race is chiptimed with finisher medals for all; awards are given to the top six finishers in each age group. All participants are encouraged to dress up and enjoy music, food and raffle prizes post-race.
The 5K is part of the Manasota Track Club fall racing series, and proceeds benefit the “Summer in the Parks” Adopt-A-Camper scholarship program.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Beach Palms B-#74
Siesta Key Beach Resort & Spa Map-A #38A
ATM / BANKS
PNC ATM Map-C #61
Sun Trust Bank & ATM Map-E #4
BARS & NIGHTCLUBS
Blase Café Map-A #38
Daiquiri Deck Raw Bar Map-B #42-43
Gilligan’s Map-B #33
My Village Pub Map-C #53/54
Siesta Key Oyster Bar Map-B #45
The Beach Club Map-D #22
The Cottage Map-C #58
The Hub-Baja Grill Map-D #59
COFFEE SHOPS
Bean Coffeehouse Map-D #62
Mojo Risin’ Coffee Company Map-B #31
Project Coffee.....................................Map-D #9
FASHION & ACCESSORIES
Beach Bazaar’s & Swin Shack Map-C #28
Blvd. Beachwear Map-B #30
Casa Smeralda Fashion’Style D #12-11
Comfort Shoes-Birki & More Map-D #64
Foxy Lady Fashions Map-A #40
Gidget’s Coastal Provisions Map-B #44
Island Boutique Map-B #50
Island Style Map-C #53
Lilly Pulitzer Map-D #66
Sandbar Swimwear............................Map-B #50
Sea Shanty Map-C #24
Siesta T’s Map-B #30
Southern Tide.....................................Map-D #60
The Sandal Factory Map-B #46
GAS STATION
Circle K Store Map-E #6
GIFTS & SOUVENIRS
Beach Bazaar Map-C #28
Gilligan’s Gift Store Map-B #32
Island Trader Map-C #51
Sea Pleasures & Treasures Map-C #29
Siesta Key Outfitters Map-D
The big guy in red welcomes a young participant at the This year’s event is Dec. 14. (Photo
Beach Run Scheduled
Early Packet Pickup: Thursday, Dec. 12, 3-6 p.m. at New Balance Sarasota, 1872 Stickney Point Road.
Race Times Dec. 14:
One-mile fun run starts at 8 a.m., and the 5K begins at 8:20 a.m. Location: Siesta Beach, 948 Beach Road, Sarasota.
Award Ceremony: Costume contest winners and race awards will be announced around 9:15 a.m.
Registration will be open until 7:45 a.m. on race day. For more information or to register, visit https://runsignup.com/48th annualsandyclawsbeachrun or call 311 or 941-861-5000.
Scan QR code to register
MARKETS/FOOD STORES
Circle K Store
Morton’s Siesta Market Map-C #25
MASSAGE Hands of Light Massage Map-B #35
Spa at Calle Minorga Map-E #74
Sassy ... the Little Day Spa.............Map-D #62
MEDICAL - DENTAL
Siesta Village Dentistry Map-D #63
Siesta Dental Map-B #49
Siesta Key Physical Therapy Map-D #20
MISCELLANEOUS Chamber of Commerce Map-D #67 Prime Audio Video Map-E #1
Roberti Enterprises Map-A #39 Village Arcade Map-C #53
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Attorney Fleming Map-E #1
Edward Jones Investments Map-D #68
Smith Architects Map-E 74
REAL ESTATE / RENTAL SERVICES Amy Robinson RE Map-E #1
Palms B-74
Coldwell Banker Realty
#20 EXP Realty Map-E #4 Judith Guzzi & Assoc Map-E #74
Keller Williams Real Estate Map-D #11 Michael Saunders Realty Map-E #72
ReMax Alliance Group Map-C #29
RentSiestaKey.com Map-D #9
Robasota Rentals & Real Estate Map-A
the end of the Sandy Claws Beach Run on Siesta Key. (Photo courtesy of Sarasota County)
Capt. Rick Grassett’s Fishing Report
CB’s Saltwater Outfitters
This is a good month for catch and release snook action around lighted docks in the ICW unless it gets too cool. I won’t target snook following a strong cold front or if the water dips below 60 degrees since they may be stressed at that time. However, it can be very good in December under normal conditions. Larger baitfish will thin out and snook will gorge themselves on glass minnows and small shrimp in the ICW at night. I like docks that have a good tidal flow and deep water under them. CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms, DOA Tiny TerrorEyz and DOA Shrimp are my favorite lures for snook at night. Fly anglers should do well with sink tip fly lines and small white flies. Fish peak tidal flows for the fastest action.
Some lights will also have trout and reds making it possible to get a dock “slam”. There may also be good action in the coastal gulf with false albacore (little tunny), Spanish mackerel and tripletail, depending on conditions.
You might find reds in potholes or along the edges of flats and bars on negative low tides. They may also tail on shallow grass when the tide is low. Weedless rigged CAL shad tails and 4” jerk worms, DOA Shrimp and lightly weighted flies with weed guards will work well in that situation. As the tide rises, reds will spread out and feed on shallow flats. You may also find them around docks this month. I usually let the stage of the tide tell me where to look for reds.
You may also find big trout in skinny water this month in many of the same areas where you find reds. The same lures and techniques that I use for reds will also work for trout in the same areas. I feel that it’s important to protect large trout, which are usually female breeders. Full regulations and details can be viewed at https:// myfwc.com/.
You should also find trout on deep grass flats this month along with blues, flounder or pompano. Blues may sometimes
feed on the surface, so bird activity may give their presence away. Pompano may skip when you drift or run past them and when that happens, circle back upwind and drift through the area casting ahead of your drift. Flounder prefer a mix of sand and grass, particularly in potholes or on the edges of bars. I like to drift and cast ahead of my drift with CAL jigs and a variety of plastic tails or DOA Deadly Combos. Fly anglers should score with sink tip fly lines and weighted flies, like Clousers or my Grassett Deep Flats Bunny fly, which behaves like a jig with a shad tail. I like to fish shallow flats for reds and snook and deep grass flats that are close to passes, on points and along sand bars for trout, blues, flounder and pompano in December.
There should still be some action in the coastal gulf with Spanish mackerel, blues, false albacore and tripletail. Rough or cold water later in the month may slow the action and move fish south or offshore. Look for terns either diving or hovering low over the surface of the water to find albies, blues and mackerel feeding on the surface. Once you’ve found them, cast top water plugs or CAL jigs with shad tails to catch them. Fly anglers should score with glass minnow fly
patterns, poppers or Crease flies. Sometimes top water plugs or fly poppers will draw fish to the surface, especially over structure. You’ll need to add wire or heavy fluorocarbon to your leader when blues and mackerel are around. Look for tripletail around crab trap floats or channel markers. Once you’ve located a fish, work back into the wind or current with an electric trolling motor to get into casting
range and cast a DOA shrimp, a weedless-rigged CAL shad tail or lightly weighted fly with a weed guard to them. Try to make your first shot count since they are much tougher to catch once they know you’re there. There will be lots of options in December, although weather becomes more of a factor. When fishing flats, I usually let conditions and the stage of the tide determine when, where
and what I will target. I like to fish the coastal gulf for false albacore and tripletail whenever conditions are good. Our natural resources are under constant pressure from red tides fueled by agricultural, industrial and residential runoff, toxic spills and discharges, and freezes, increasing fishing pressure and habitat loss and degradation. Please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!
DECEMBER 2024 TIDE CHART
Dave King, from MT, with a snook caught and released on a fly while fishing with Capt. Rick Grassett in a previous December. (photo provided)
Keith McClintock, from IL and Steve McClintock, from PA, with a Terra Ceia Bay redfish. (photo provided)
Denny Clohisy, from WI, with a tripletail, both caught and released with DOA Lures. (photo provided)
Gulf Gate
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of the Taste of Spain Tapas and Fun Catering shop and kitchen, on Mall Drive. The two began planning the effort months ago. “We want more people to know about Gulf Gate,” said Reason. “We are a very quaint group of small businesses made up of shops and restaurants.” Speaking of the diverse shopping and dining district, Soriano said, “this is where you will find tremendous international cuisine, from many countries.” Reason added, “there are also so many interesting small shops with wonderful things too.”
The goal of the festival, the two entrepreneurs advised, is to encourage shoppers and diners to sip, shop and dine. “We want people to explore all that Gulf Gate has to offer,” said Reason.
The two women small business owners spoke to local merchants individually, encouraging them to take part. “We got great feedback,” said Reason. All participation was voluntary and the two were encouraged by the initial response. Posters were distributed throughout the area and merchants were asked to share news of the Gulf Gate 2nd Friday Festival with their customers and through social media.
Seascape Aquarium on Gulf Gate Drive got in on the act by distributing the poster to their email list and through their social media. Next door, at the Grooming Lounge Barber Spa, free hot dogs were available, and Bob & The Two Lukes Band entertained. Across the street on Superior Avenue at Munchies 420, patrons enjoyed two touring bands from Miami.
“We promoted the new 2nd Friday on our social media and told all of our customers,” said Munchies owner, John Kirk.
A short walk down the street, beautiful strains of a violin could be heard at Only Eyes Optical. Gulf Gate visitors on Superior Avenue were able to sample German pastries and enjoy the talents of a folk guitarist who played under a tent that was set up in front of the Stardust Cafe and Schnitzel Kitchen. Lively Spanish music filled the air at Taste of Spain as customers enjoyed complimentary sangria and mingled in front of the store during the late afternoon.
“We want to encourage everyone to consider spending a day or evening in Gulf Gate,” said Reason. “Our first second Friday Gulf Gate Festival was a real success,” said Soriano. “We will continue to promote this among our fellow business owners and make it even bigger and better as the season continues.”
Community events such as the new Gulf Gate Second Friday Festival have shown to be a great unifier for small businesses as well as the communities that they serve. According to the American Planning Association, “community events can connect all residents and encourage physical activity, all while celebrating a community’s special character.”
December’s 2nd Friday Gulf Gate Festival will take place on December 11, just in time for shoppers to complete their Christmas lists.
Fin & Tonic
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turning around to gain access.
Still, crowds don’t seem to have been deterred, though Mark was still happy to report that project completion seems to be imminent.
Also coming soon: menu updates that will maintain fan favorites like the feta salad, fish and chips, and New Bedford scallops, plus the addition of flatbread pizzas and other new offerings.
While Tarantik includes elevated, special occasion-worthy plates, Mark also wants to emphasize “everyday value,” he said, and that includes happy hour dishes that are suitable for any night out. “One thing I try to do is be really balanced.” Fin & Tonic is located at 6747 S. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota. You can call to make reservations at 941-0676-9116 or on their website at finandtonicfl.com.
Only Eyes Optical Boutique owner Diana Reason and chef Fatima Soriano, Taste of Spain owner, celebrate the debut of the Gulf Gate 2nd Friday Festival that they created. (Photo: Jane Bartnett)
A violinist plays at Only Eyes Optical Boutique during the Gulf Gate 2nd Friday Festival. (Photo: Jane Bartnett)
ArtsContinued from page 3V
caroling began. It’s hard to be able to come up with ways that any war is great, but if any could be tallied, this was one moment that lasted a day. Given how long the war lasted, it was not a good ratio, but good, nevertheless. The guns will, mostly, be silent for a while at the Historic Asolo from December 4-22.
At the Ringling Museum, there are two contemporaneously contemporary exhibitions. The first is Embodied, a set of pieces from the Ringling Collection of Modern and Contemporary Art. We are lucky that the Ringling has this large body of art from which to create shows of such immense power. vanessa german [sic] has one of her “power figures” on display, and powerful it is.
And Mernet Larsen takes a very mundane task, measuring a woman for a piece of clothing, and makes a stylized version of that act into
Welcome to Merci Café 6112 S Tamiami Trail
Your go-to spot for a French lunch-breakfast!
Open daily from 8 AM to 2:30 PM.
Join us for Sunday (from 8 AM to 2:30 PM) brunch and enjoy our special offer: buy one mimosa, get the second at 50% off Experience the taste of France in every dish.
something that holds one’s attention.
The second exhibition is one fifth of the annual Skyway presentation, in that this show is part of a partnership presentation between the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art; the Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design; The Tampa Museum of Art; The Museum of Fine Art, St. Petersburg; and the USF Contemporary Art Museum. You can see all five parts of the show in the next two months on way less than a tank of gas.
Word-wise, that’s a lot of museums, and eye-wise, even more so. And worth every drop of gas as you go from one glorious part of the show to the next.
The unifying factor of this show, which runs through January 26, is that all artists are from the Tampa area, and all are world class. More info is available at ringling.org.
Does the world end on the 5th of January?
The world won’t end but two shows currently
running in Sarasota will. And, when they close, that will be the end of this season’s holiday magic for another year. The first show is beautiful in many ways. Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is up and running at Asolo Rep at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts, next to the Ringling Museum. Nothing could be finer that listening to the music of Carole King–You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman, I Feel the Earth Move, Will You Love Me Tomorrow, and additional Carole King songs. The link that holds the words and music together is Carole King’s life. As a teenager she didn’t want to sing songs, she just wanted to write them. But that didn’t happen, as you’ll learn. More info at asolorep. org.
The second show is a new edition of Wonderland, presented by Nik Wallenda & the Circus Arts Conservatory in the circus tents just south of the UTC Mall. The holidays wouldn’t be the holidays without camels (circuses don’t do elephants anymore) and pink Chinese dragons. Yes, high wire and low comedy. More info at wonderlandcircus.com.
DISCOVER GULF GATE’S SHOPPING VILLAGE
With our map on the next page you’ll be able to navigate your way to our featured shops with ease.
The Shop SRQ (G-2) offers flat-tops, fades, tapers, blowouts, razor cuts, and straight razor shaves. Owners, Erick and Dawn use a back to basics approach to grooming with a precise attention to personal detail.
Their commitment to excellence has provided them with many loyal customers. They welcome the opportunity to earn your trust. Hours: Tues. thru Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat., 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Gulf Gate Barber Shop (G-7) has been an institution in the community for years, owned by Kyle Flannery. The super-clean barbershop’s clientele is comprised of primarily men, but the shop services children as well. Scott Reich, formerly of the Siesta Key Village Barber Shop has relocated to this location.
Tony’s Chicago Beef Company (S-16) is owned and operated by true Chicagoans. Dedicated to deliver Chicago’s best food, Chicago style Hot Dogs wit’ the works ... dragged through the garden on poppy seed buns with fresh cut fries, Italian Beef Sandwiches anyway you like, dipped or dry, sweet or hot.
Solórzano’s Late Night Pizzeria (S-34): At every Solórzano’s, they offer an experience familiar to those who understand the importance of family and dedication. Their
recipes and techniques have been perfected through three long generations based on the traditional simplicity of the methods used by their Italian ancestors. Dine inside, outside, pick up, or DELIVERY anywhere on Siesta Key, or in Sarasota until 3:30 a.m. 6574 Superior Ave., 941-924-5800.
Gulf Gate Food + Beer (S-51): Sarasota’s late-night hot spot for the service industry, night owls, and midnight snackers. It’s not your typical sports bar, offering unique menu selections for carnivores and vegetarians.
Be sure to check out their menu online at: eatfooddrinkbeer.com. Hours: 11 a.m. – 1 a.m. (Sun. - Thurs.) open until 2 a.m. (Fri & Sat.).
Roberts Realty, Inc. (M-5) John Garner, Broker Assoc. & Diane Shane, Broker Assoc. have a combined 40 years’ experience in Sarasota of making dreams come true for our clients. For buyers, we have had great success in finding the right property for our clients because we listen closely to their wants and needs and matching that as close as possible. For sellers, over the years we have successfully listed and sold many, many properties throughout Sarasota County. Our philosophy is to have fun, enjoy the experience, achieve great results, make friends and receive referrals. We’re with you every step of the way! Call 941-924-2330 or drop by our office.
Only Eyes Optical (S-24) brings a new, exotic, eclectic, eccentric, unique collection of vintage, hipster, contemporary eyeglasses
and sunglasses to the community. Licensed and experienced optician available to fill your prescriptions. Only Eyes Optical has a large assortment of free frames with the purchase of new lenses. Call 941-444-7984 to set up an appointment with their licensed optician.
Seascape Aquarium & Pet Center (GG39) Serving the area since 1975, this lively critter emporium features 10,000 feet of showroom, 25,000 gallons of freshwater, saltwater and coral, and adventures galore. Hours are Monday-thru Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 am. 5 p.m., Sunday noon to 4 p.m.
Scandinavian Gifts Baked Goods and Grocery (GG-37) A fixture in Sarasota for 32 years, Scandinavian Gifts offers an assortment of linens, glassware, cookbooks, jewelry, candles, food items, and Christmas collectibles. Located at 2166 Gulf Gate Drive, the store is open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Apothecary Shoppe (GG-28) Eric and Laurie’s knowledge of pharmaceuticals and natural/holistic remedies enables the safe integration of traditional and natural therapies. Their organic skincare line is compounded on site by Laurie who started her career as a make-up artist for the Today Show, Saturday Night Live, and so many more. Eric is a pharmacist and also certified in naturopathy, wanting the best natural options for his clients. Open M-F
