Shore, a prominent restaurant and retail location at St. Armands Circle, is set to close its doors on December 1 due to recent severe weather conditions and infrastructure concerns. The business, owned by the Leonard family, has decided to relocate after extensive storm damage in the area.
Shore’s decision to close the St. Armands location follows devastating impacts from back-to-back hurricanes, which resulted in significant flooding. The Leonards, who acquired the location for $2.2 million in 2005, emphasized their commitment to potentially returning to Sarasota once conditions improve. Susan Leonard noted, ‘If the right opportunity presents itself, we would absolutely consider bringing Shore back to this community that has supported us so well.’
Despite the closure, the Shore brand continues to operate successfully at its other locations, including those on Longboat Key and Disney Springs. The brand, known for advocating coastal living, faced a substantial setback after Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton inundated the area, highlighting persistent infrastructure shortcomings.
Tom Leonard expressed concerns over the city’s slow response to modernizing St. Armands Circle’s drainage systems. He stated, ‘The infrastructure on St. Armands Circle has remained largely unchanged for years, and while we love this community, it’s clear that the city has a long way to go.’
The City of Sarasota acknowledged the extraordinary weather events, with a spokesperson noting unprecedented rainfall and storm surge overwhelming the region’s stormwater systems. Efforts were made to mitigate flooding, but the infrastructure struggled against such severe conditions.
As Shore exits the St. Armands location, the space will transition to Tommy Bahama in 2025. This move allows Tommy Bahama to consolidate its operations after being displaced from a nearby site due to similar storm-related issues. The Leonards, meanwhile, remain optimistic about future ventures, with Tom Leonard stating, ‘Our goal is to bring the Shore experience to more communities.’
The closure of Shore at St. Armands Circle underscores the challenges businesses face amidst increasingly unpredictable weather patterns and aging infrastructure. However, with plans for future expansion, the brand remains committed to its vision of coastal living, anticipating new opportunities along Florida’s west coast and beyond.
Source: BusinessObserverFL
