SRQ Magazine | Local Strong: Celebrating Our Local Hometown Spirit

ALOFT HOTEL ARTISANS’ WORLD MARKETPLACE BLU HOME CROW’S NEST RESTAURANT & MARINA FREEDOM BOAT CLUB KEY SAILING MOLLY’S! A CHIC AND UNIQUE BOUTIQUE PALM AIRE COUNTRY CLUB SALT OF THE EARTH SPEAKS CLAM BAR YOUR FLOORING WAREHOUSE

LocalStrong CELEBRATING OUR LOCAL HOMETOWN SPIRIT

Local Strong

THE HISTORY OF A GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE GOODS PURVEYOR ARTISANS’ WORLD MARKETPLACE

In February of 1995 six people sat around the dining table of Sandy and Doug Ramsey’s home in Sarasota, Florida, united in the passion of making a difference in the world. Most had been involved in a fair trade store and saw the difference it could make in the lives of low-income artisans around the globe. Out of that meeting Artisans’ World Marketplace was established to provide a fair trade presence in Sarasota for the entire Gulf Coast region. Throughout the years Artisans’ World Marketplace has not only helped artisans gain self-sufficiency through the purchase of products, every $1,200 in retail sales provides an artisan with work for one year and feeds her family of four, but has channeled financial resources in the form of grants for service projects as needs have been identified to us.

ARTISANS’ WORLD MARKETPLACE 128 S Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota, Florida | 941-365-5994 | artisansworldmarketplace.com

Local Strong CURATORIAL DESIGN Visit Blu Home to revitalize your living space this season.

Blu Home brings a fresh approach to design, specializing in custom upholstery, lighting, art, rugs and home decor. Blu Home provides a diverse mix of collected pieces from various lines carefully selected by their design team. Their passion is to provide excellent service to customers and designers while offering an array of products and lines that are refined, yet livable. The ever changing collection remains sophisticated without sacrificing comfort or livability.

BLU HOME, 1830 S. Osprey Ave. Ste 101, Sarasota | 941-364-2900

SHOPBLUHOME.COM | @bluhomesarasota

HISTORIC CUISINE Since 1976 the Crow’s Nest Restaurant and Marina has been a part of the Venice community. This waterfront restaurant has taken great pride in providing the highest quality food and service to our community. The freshest seafood and most delicious cuisine all available while admiring the beautiful view of the inlet. By road or by water, stop on by and enjoy either the marina, with kayak, SUP or bike rentals, the cozy tavern or the beautiful upstairs dining room. Reservations can be made by calling 941-484-9551. Restaurant | Tavern | Marina CROW’S NEST RESTAURANT & MARINA 1968 Tarpon Center Drive, Venice, FL 34285 | 941-484-9551

CROWSNEST-VENICE.COM

Local Strong MEMBER OWNED & GOVERNED

SALT THERAPY

Keep your family entertained at Palm Aire Country Club. Join us for 36 holes of golf and our full practice facility with the assistance of our professional staff. There’s more than just golf! Grab your tennis or pickleball racquet and hit on one of our 8, Har-Tru tennis courts and 8 regulation pickleball courts with fun groups to help sharpen your game. Take a dip in our pool or join us at our popular Water Aerobics classes before heading to the Clubhouse to enjoy delicious food and drinks made by our excellent Culinary Team. Join Palm Aire, where Our Members Make the Difference.

Sarasota’s Premier Salt Therapy & Wellness Center. You take care of your body by working out, but what about your lungs?

We offer non- invasive, drug free, and effective treatments that reduce symptoms of Allergies, Asthma, Sinus, Bronchitis, Coughs, and other respiratory issues. Studies show an increase in lung capacity and reduction in need for medicines for those using salt therapy on a regular basis. Breathe better today in as little as 20 min.

PALM AIRE COUNTRY CLUB 5601 Country Club Way, Sarasota | 941-355-9733

SALT OF THE EARTH SARASOTA 4037 Clark Rd. Sarasota | 941-702-8300

PALMAIRE.NET

SOTESARASOTA.COM

LIFE ON THE WATER Freedom Boat Club, a division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), is the world’s oldest and largest members-only boat club. Founded in 1989 in Sarasota, Florida, Freedom Boat Club boast 18 locations in Southwest Florida (including two locally in Sarasota) and over 70 locations across the state of Florida. Like to travel? Freedom Boat Club offers reciprocal access to over 230 locations in 31 states, Canada and France.

The Club model is simple: we buy and maintain a fleet of boats; you join the Club with a 1x entry free and monthly dues; you receive free, unlimited training; and you reserve a boat and enjoy. We handle the cleaning, maintenance, insurance and other tasks of boat ownership; leaving the best part – fun on the water - for our members to enjoy! So, join us and come find out why Summer is better in the Club.

FREEDOMBOATCLUB.COM | 888-781-7363

LOCAL BOUTIQUE UNCOVERS ECLECTIC, CHIC OBJECTS

Local Strong

MOLLY’S! A CHIC AND UNIQUE BOUTIQUE

Over the last 10 years Molly’s! A Chic and Unique Boutique has offered our community a special place to shop offering a large selection of quality items. Their wide variety of women’s shoes, handbags, jewelry, gifts and locally made items helps make your shopping experience one of a kind. Explore their selection of quality lines and get the perfect shoe selected for you by a professional shoe specialist. Molly’s stocks a wide variety of national and local brands including Naot, Aetrex, Vionic, Spartina, Vera Bradley, Oofos, 4Oceans and Simply Southern. “We are very proud to be awarded Best Gift Store in Sarasota for several years and continue to strive to earn that designation so we are continually bringing in new and unique offerings,” says owner Molly Gaffney Jackson. Over the years, Molly’s has done business with over 300 vendors and continue to use cross marketing strategies to grow their impressive stable of retail stores in our community. Last year, Molly and her husband David were named Retailer of the Year by the National Shoe Retailers Association, an organization comprised of 3,000 independent shoe store owners across the United States.

MOLLY’S HAS THREE LOCATIONS

Shop the store just off the bridge to Siesta Key at 1874 Stickney Point Road, Sarasota or their store near downtown at 711 S. Osprey Avenue, Sarasota and well as their on-line store at mollyssarasota.com.

Private shopping opportunities are also available by appointment | 941-921-1221

Local Strong RECIPES OF ITALY Whether you’re coming in to cozy up with a bowl of Zuppa Del Giorno soup, or need a good meal on the go, like our half Panini plus soup or salad lunch special, Speaks has what you need to keep you going with a smile on your face. It’s no wonder why our house made pasta, homemade sauces and fresh seafood, paired with Prohibition era decor and a family feel have made Speaks THE go-to place for a swell time. Enjoy either of our award winning locations, in Lakewood Ranch or St. Armands Circle, with a heart of New York and recipes of Italy.

SPEAKS CLAM BAR Lakewood Ranch, 8764 E. SR 70 St. Armands, 29 N. Blvd of the Presidents

SPEAKSCLAMBAR.COM