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SHOPPING F lorida's "Cultural Coast" offers some of the most exciting and unique shopping in the world, a collection of retail stores driven by dynamic and independently minded business owners passionate about what they do and what they can offer to both year-round residents and visitors. Along the charming tree-lined streets of downtown Sarasota you'll find a wide array of one-of-a-kind, locally-owned treasures, boutiques such as Coquillage, known for its European inspired, coastalchic furniture and home accessories, and Bohemian Bliss, connoisseurs of chic casual women's apparel. Stores like these are recognized for the kind of personal service that comes with pride of ownership, and the determination these shop owners have to make sure your experience in their stores is a happy and memorable one. St. Armands Circle is a retail and dining destination like no other for both tourists and local residents. An upscale high-end mecca for fabulous shops and gourmet restaurants for more than 50 years, St. Armands Circle, with well over 125 shops and restaurants of all sizes, offers you the unique opportunity to shop and dine while enjoying the tropical breezes off the Gulf of Mexico. A wide variety of shops cater to an even wider variety of clientele from all over the world. From the beach retail giant Alvin's, to that connoisseur of fashion, The Met, "the Circle" - as it is fondly known among locals - promises an unforgettable shopping experience. Back on the mainland, be sure to make time for the fantastic consignment 18 | Michael Saunders & Company shopping opportunities available. Gently used couture and one-of-akind vintage pieces can be found at high-end consignment shops like Fifi's Consignment in Southside Village. Fifi's offers a stylish selection of designer names in pristine condition. In Downtown Sarasota, The Woman's Exchange has an impressive array of treasures from jewels and furniture, to collectibles and clothing, a virtual treasure hunt, rare finds are an everyday occurrence here. With so many exciting options for finding elegant clothing and tropical home accents, one should not forget that Sarasota is also home to many unique antique shops. For instance, Jack Vinales Antiques on S. Pineapple Avenue is famous for its Bakelite collection and accessories by famed designers like Mies van der Rohe, Charles Eames and George Nelson. Cheryl Burke, of Burke & Company, travels frequently to find unique and unusual pieces specializing in Chinese porcelains and French country clocks. And to the south, both downtown Venice and Punta Gorda offer charming historic shopping districts that are home to a colorful assortment of locally owned boutiques and art galleries. Punta Gorda's Fishermen's Village, a bayfront outdoor mall offering an eclectic assortment of shops and restaurants, is not to be missed. While hunting down that rare and unique find, one should not overlook Rum Runners Antique Village in the coastal village of Nokomis, just a mile north of Venice. Browse for hours through the ever changing selection of fine antiques, artifacts and vintage items from the prehistoric era to the mid20th century. The big news in local shopping is the new University Town Center, a retail extravaganza, and one of the largest shopping malls to be built in the U.S in the past several years. Scheduled to open Fall 2014, this two-story shopping mecca will include Saks Fifth Avenue, Dillard's, Macy's and a fourth store to be announced soon, as well as over 100 specialty shops, half of which are new to the area. The Cultural Coast of Florida offers a rich array of shopping opportunities, a selection of shops and stores as unique and sophisticated as the area itself and a place where, even when it comes to shopping, you can expect the unexpected.

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