It’s been a long, tough summer for the Sarasota restaurant scene — especially on the iconic island destination St. Armands Circle, where dining spots like Le Colonne and Meaney’s Mini Donuts remain closed nearly a year after flooding from hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Walking with my wife, Kristin, on a recent Wednesday evening past the golden plaques of the Circus Ring of Fame honoring the courageous entertainers of years past, we couldn’t help but notice the missing restaurants along with numerous shuttered retail shops — including a personal favorite, The Black Dog General Store, which never reopened after the historic storm surge.
There were bright spots, though.
The legendary Cuban restaurant Columbia, a St. Armands Circle landmark since 1959, has been thriving again for months, and this week was no exception. After a superb meal of salad, steak and snapper, we resumed our stroll and stopped in front of one of my favorite newer buildings in Sarasota — a striking structure that will soon come back to life to house another Circle staple with nearly 30 years of history here.
What is the future of Tommy Bahama restaurant, bar and clothing store on St. Armands Circle?
The modern two-story building at 465 John Ringling Blvd. features a ground-floor retail space accented by bright blue awnings, while the second floor opens to an expansive, partially covered dining room and bar with a patio overlooking the Circle. Once home to Shore, the structure will soon welcome Florida-founded Tommy Bahama, bringing its signature mix of restaurant, bar and store back under one roof.
Late last year, the Leonard family — founders of the Shore brand — announced that after the damage from the hurricanes they had decided to lease the building, marking a change in Shore’s Sarasota-Manatee presence, which now remains only on Longboat Key.
Fortunately, Tommy Bahama quickly claimed the spot.
The first Tommy Bahama restaurant debuted in Naples in 1995, and the following year the brand joined the St. Armands Circle community, opening its second restaurant and retail location at 300 John Ringling Blvd. The popularity of that location soon caused the company to outgrow the space, transforming the entire building into a restaurant and moving the retail store several blocks away to 371 St. Armands Circle.
When is Tommy Bahama restaurant, bar and clothing store opening on St. Armands Circle?
Following the hurricanes, the retail store made repairs and reopened. However, the Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar at 300 John Ringling Blvd. suffered considerably more damage and was unable to return. Now, though, the new Tommy Bahama St. Armands location — with the 5,000-square-foot restaurant and bar upstairs and an equally large retail store downstairs offering the full Tommy Bahama collection — is set to open by the end of the month, the company informed me this week. The existing Tommy Bahama store a block away at 371 St. Armands Circle will stay open and focus on home décor such as linen and bedding, as well as beach apparel and gear.
“We lost some vital energy when we separated our retail and restaurant about 15 years ago, then we recently lost the restaurant to hurricanes and faced a decision,” said Tommy Bahama CEO Doug Wood in a statement.
“We’ve been looking for an opportunity to combine the two again and jumped when this space became available. We’re so passionate about our history at St. Armands and recognize what a special place this is in the Sarasota community.”
While I will miss the rustic bungalow-style restaurant Tommy Bahama opened nearly 30 years ago, I’m thrilled to see the Shore space reenergized. Picture crowds sipping vibrant craft cocktails and sharing the restaurant’s famed coconut shrimp — or maybe the dish I’m already eyeing, the wagyu French dip. There will be steaks, seafood entrées, and a grilled pork chop that looks very enticing, as does the piña colada cake. I’ve also been known to devour a burger or two at Tommy Bahama over the years.
Be it eating, shopping, or both — perhaps before or after an event like the Exotic Car Show on Saturday, Sept. 6 — St. Armands Circle, or simply the Circle as locals call it, is a beloved Sarasota tradition dating back nearly a century to 1926, when it was personally overseen by one of the city’s greatest real estate developers, circus magnate John Ringling.
I would hate to see the Circle fade. Tommy Bahama’s recommitment to St. Armands Circle and Sarasota is an important step forward.
If you go
Tommy Bahama Restaurant, Bar & Store — at 465 John Ringling Blvd. on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota — is expected to open later this month. Tommy Bahama operates several other locations in Sarasota, including a Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar in Lakewood Ranch and Tommy Bahama retail stores in The Mall at University Town Center and on Siesta Key. For more information, visit tommybahama.com.
Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X. He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Popular Sarasota restaurant opening this month at new location after hurricane closure
Reporting by Wade Tatangelo, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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