As the high tourism season begins, businesses from Englewood Beach on Manasota Key north to Casey Key are continuing to recover from the impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton and Debby.
Beach access, especially on Manasota Key, Caspersen Beach and the Venice Jetties is still problematic due to parking, but many of the restaurants and businesses have reopened or plan to reopen soon.
“The message I’m going to tell you is you have to come to the Key and go to the businesses that are open and buy something or they’re not going to make it,” said Toby Delbridge, owner of both Barefoot. Trader and Beach Co in Englewood Beach and Old Florida Gallery on Dearborn Street.
“Everything is open in Englewood, the mainland is back to normal, the barrier island is getting there,” added Doug Izzo, executive director of the Englewood Florida Chamber of Commerce.
Prime Englewood Beach dining destinations operated by Manasota Key Group — SandBar Tiki & Grille, Magnolia’s On The Bay and Lock ‘N Key Restaurant — are still working toward a reopening date.
An open letter from Sue and Rocket Atamanchuck, owners of Manasota Key Group, posted on the website manasotakeygroup.com says, “The challenges brought by Hurricanes Milton and Helene have tested us all, but it is the Englewood community that lifts us up. up.
“Our comeback is not just possible; is inevitable, he continues, and we look forward to sharing many more wonderful memories with you.
On a recent Saturday afternoon, The Waverly Restaurant & Bar, White Elephant Pub, Beachcomber Trading Post and Calico Jack’s were open and serving a steady stream of customers on Beach Road.
The parking lot for Englewood Beach remains closed as contractors sift through piles of sand to remove debris. But people staying at Manasota Key Resort and individual beach-access rental properties can still use it.
Snowbirds and tourists were also able to get more than a few steps in, walking along the beach road.
Delbridge said he was able to quickly reopen his Beach Co. surf shop; he decided to expand the Barefoot Trader cleanup into an interior remodel of that store, with an eye toward a February reopening.
How open is the Dearborn Street business district?
The Dearborn Street area was hit by the storm from Milton.
“There was worse flooding in my store in Dearborn than in Englewood Beach,” Delbridge said, referring to the Old Florida Gallery. But since sand wasn’t a factor, he could power wash the building and reopen more quickly.
“Dearborn was not spared, the recovery is just different,” he added.
Homeowners closer to Lemon Bay weren’t so lucky, Delbridge noted. A friend’s house was flooded by two feet of water during Hurricane Helene, and then Hurricane Milton brought nearly four feet of storm surge.
“It was a total loss for that whole neighborhood,” Delbridge added.
What is the attraction of Hermitage artists?
The Hermitage Artist Retreat at 6660 Manasota Key Road, south of Blind Pass Beach, continues to make progress cleaning up the historic campus.
In a public email update, Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg noted that “the epic mountains of sand are gone, the buildings have all been repaired, and we are fully back and operational at our Palm House facility.”
He added that the goal is to reopen the historic Hermitage House to artists later in January and bring the other individual living spaces back online in the coming weeks, pending government permit approvals.
Hermitage programs are being hosted in a variety of area locations, with more information available at https://hermitageartistretreat.org.
Meanwhile, there is no access to beach parking at Blind Pass Beach, also known as Middle Beach.
Sarasota County spokeswoman Genevive Judge said via email that about 2,400 feet of Manasota Key Road north of Blind Pass was damaged, as well as riprap in place to protect against erosion.
That leaves Manasota Beach Park, at 8570 Manasota Key Road, as the only public beach in the Englewood area technically open.
Access to Blind Pass Beach as well as Caspersen Beach south of Venice will depend on when Sarasota County has funding and a plan to rebuild those roads.
This may not be a quick fix. Last year, Sarasota County Public Works Director Spencer Anderson told the Herald-Tribune he would look at more resilient ways to rebuild both Manasota Key Road and Harbor Drive, which provides vehicular access to Caspersen Beach.
Which beaches and businesses are open in Venice?
Almost all businesses in Venice – the “shark tooth capital of the world” – are open.
“South Brohard Beach and the beaches north of it are easy to get to, so we’ve been sending our customers there,” said Linda Hervas, one of the owners of Shark Frenzy, a shop on Venice Island that sells a sifter. patented shark teeth.
The road to Caspersen Beach, a prime spot for sifting through shark teeth, remains closed, although Hervas said many customers will park at Venice Beach and then walk south.
Shops on Venice Island are all seeing steady seasonal business.
“There’s definitely a huge surge downtown in Venice during the holidays, and it’s only going to get busier in February,” said Kara Morgan, president and CEO of Venice MainStreet. “Everybody’s open and busy now — that’s when they do the most business.”
Meanwhile, Venice waterfront restaurants Crow’s Nest Restaurant & Marina on the Intracoastal Waterway and Sharky’s on the Pier and Fins at Sharky’s near the Venice Municipal Fishing Pier are also open. The castle remains partially open after suffering damage from hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Both the North Jetty camp/fish cart and Jetty Jack’s refreshment deck at Humphris Park – popular with boat-watchers in Venice Inlet as well as sunset-watchers – were sadly damaged beyond repair.
Access to both Venice gates will likely depend on how the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approaches its long-term plan to restore the two jetties, which were built in 1937 when the channel was dug between the Gulf of Roberts and the Gulf of Mexico.
What is the beach access in Nokomis?
Pop’s Sunset Grill and Pelican Alley – both located off Albee Road on the Intercoastal Waterway in Nokomis – have both reopened for business.
Beach access on Casey Key is still limited at Nokomis Beach, 100 S. Casey Key Road, the boat ramp is open as is the Shark Tooth Beach Concession at 208 S. Casey Key Road. Remnants of the storm may still be present.
Justin Bloomquist, who operates Shark Tooth Beach Concessions as well as North Jetty Grille, said more people are patronizing that stand — many asking about the status of North Jetty Beach’s reopening.
Judge said by email that there is no set timetable for reopening the concession parking at North Jetty Beach for several reasons.
For example, heavy equipment is still used to sift and move sand and separate debris. That debris must then be removed from the park.
After all this happens, Sarasota County must repair the parking lot – including spaces for Americans with Disabilities Act access – and restore the crosswalks.
Once North Jetty Beach is opened by Sarasota County, Bloomquist said they plan to bring live music to the North Jetty Grille and change the hours so people can enjoy the sunset there.
“They can still sit on the water, watch live music and grab a daiquiri or glass of wine,” Bloomquist said. “It’s still a great place to watch the sunset.”
