Shopping in Sarasota, Florida

Sarasota, Florida is known for its unique shopping experience for both residents and visitors with a wide variety of boutiques, specialty shops, antique shops, and art galleries throughout the downtown. There is something here for everyone.

One of the most popular shopping events in the downtown area is First Friday. On the first Friday of every month, the local businesses on Main Street and Palm Avenue extend their hours, allowing shoppers to enjoy evening shopping while sipping on wine. Be sure to come back on Saturday morning to visit the Sarasota Farmer's Market at the corner of Lemon and Main. It takes place every Saturday, rain or shine, from 7AM to 1PM. The market features fresh produce and flowers as well as arts and crafts.

Sarasota's main street has a hometown feeling. Parking for cars is on the diagonal. Visitors and residents can stroll through the tree-lined street while they head in and out of boutiques, shops, galleries, restaurants, and cafes. Main street hosts a number of parades, street fairs, and art festivals throughout each year.

You don't want to miss the Boatyard Village. This quaint collection of shops is on the Sarasota mainland just east of Stickney Point Bridge. The shops are right on a boardwalk that overlooks a little marina The village's anchor is the Boatyard Restaurant right on the water. In addition to shopping, the village also features surfing, parasailing, and fractional boat club businesses. Additional features of Boatyard Village include a cafe, upscale hair salon, a real estate office, and kids' equipment rentals with new businesses are opening up every month. The art gallery Michael Broy's Broy Art features an art walk on Tuesday afternoons from 12-5PM. Enjoy local fine art with the opportunity to chat with artisans and shop owners.

Another shopping area just off of the Main Street area is Burns Square. Right off of Ringling Boulevard, it features a great dining district and stylish, quaint shopping options. As this area cannot be seen from Tamiami Trail and the main downtown area, you just have to know just where to go to find it. Nonetheless, the search is well worth it, and a number of stores do very well there, despite the recession.

In addition to all of the one of a kind shops in Sarasota, there is also a large outlet mall just over 15 miles down the road in Ellenton with 130 stores. The stores range from standard department brands such as DKNY, BCBG, and Nautica to high end designers such as Michael Kors, Giorgio Armani, and Kate Spade.

Sarasota's malls include Westfield Sarasota Square Mall on the south side, which is very convenient for Englewood and Venice residents, Westfield Southgate Mall by the northern bridge of Siesta, and Gulf Gate Mall right by the south bridge that leads to Siesta Key.