St. Armands Circle near Sarasota is a Shopping Experience for the Whole Family

St. Armands Circle is a picturesque shopping and dining area located on Lido Key, across the Sarasota Bay from the city of Sarasota and accessible by two bridges from the mainland.

The shopping area sits on a piece of property that was once owned by Frenchman Charles St. Amand in the late 1800s, who misspelled his name on land deeds, thus the difference in spelling. Circus great John Ringling, who kept his winter home in Sarasota, purchased the land in 1917 and devised a plan for residential properties and shopping areas on the Key. Ringling built a wooden causeway to the island and property sales were brisk. However, the Depression slowed the housing boom and the area was nearly vacant for almost twenty years, until investors began to revive St. Armands after World War II. By the 1950s, several stores were re-opened and the renaissance continued.

Today, more than 130 stores and restaurants are neatly organized around a central circle, a plan similar to the one that had been imagined by Ringling. The buildings are a mix of Continental and Florida Contemporary styles with lovely tree-lined streets, comfortable benches, unique statuary - some from Ringling's personal collection, and plenty of tropical flowering plants completing the picture. The shopping area attracts large crowds of people throughout the day and evening, and is a pleasant place to stroll, window shop, or enjoy a meal.

Many of the shops along St. Armands Circle are rather upscale, offering boutique style shopping in a pristine setting. Some names are recognizable, such as Chico's, Tommy Bahama, and White House/Black Market, while several of the stores are independently owned and operated and are one-of-a-kind. Specialty shops and galleries are commonplace and many peddle items, including jewelry and artwork, which are handmade by local artisans. The shopping area also has its share of souvenir shops (more upscale than the norm), book stores, and service-oriented businesses, such as beauty shops and travel agencies.

Many locals and vacationers visit St. Armands Circle specifically for the dining experiences found there. At least a dozen restaurants and cafes can be found at St. Armands at any given time, some open for lunch and dinner, others open at the dinner hour and beyond. Choices include the famous Columbia Restaurant - Florida's oldest Spanish restaurant with entertainment including Flamenco dancers; Cha-Cha Coconuts, a St Armands landmark tropical bar and grille; and the elegant Caf, l'Europe. For snacks and a quick bite, ice cream parlors and other take-out eateries are available as well.

St. Armands Circle is a popular destination year-round, often making parking in the area quite difficult. Visitors with dinner reservations should plan to arrive early and be prepared to pay for metered parking though there is some free parking available.