Meet the newbies! Sarasota’s retail scene is abuzz with new stores and existing showrooms that unveiled incredible makeovers as the season opened. We salute these irrepressible entrepreneurs for their taste, talent, and unwavering commitment to our retail vitality.

Dream Kitchens are their specialty, but the brand-new Extreme Remodelers offers full-service renovations for every room. Check out Viking appliances and new Wood-Mode cabinets, like those in this Southampton kitchen. Extreme Remodelers, 3750 S. Osprey Ave., (941) 894-3750.

Surfer Girls’ hearts come all undone (as the Beach Boys’ tune goes) with Shore’s array of hot new looks like Lucy Love “feather” dresses (under $50), modeled by (names TK), who work at the store after school. Shore, 465 John Ringling Blvd., (941) 388-3535.

Form and Function blend seamlessly at Ferguson, a new 12,500-square-foot designer kitchen, bath and lighting products showroom. Fully functional displays represent the latest innovations (like this designer bath from TKTK). Ferguson, 2451 17th St., (941) 951-0110.

Ocean’s Roar Buzz is too tame to describe the chatter Elizabeth Rice’s new FantaSea Home is creating. Splurge-worthy gifts include crystal, coral, and shell-studded frames by model/actress Christine Ferrara ($675 each). FantaSea Home, 378 St. Armands Circle, (941) 388-3031.

What’s Cooking? The hottest new professional-series Bertazzoni 36-inch six-burner range (from $2,149, and actually painted in Lamborghini’s factory) is among the gourmet must-haves at Florida Builder Appliances showroom. Florida Builder Appliances, 5249 S. Tamiami Trail, (941) 926-0700.

Design Makeover Sally Trout has remodeled her Current boutique into room displays by design theme and color, including a vignette centered on this new Duchess Chest from Guildmaster ($2,700), each individually hand-painted. Current, 75 Cocoanut Ave., (941) 953-4418.

Inca Trail No need to trek to Peru: Nella Infantas’ new store is brimming with her native land’s pottery, straw bags and jewelry (necklace $205; earrings $49) adorned with spondylus shells (considered sacred by ancient Andeans). Nella Terra, 1656 Main St., (941) 366-3552. 

British Theater In the U.K., audiophile Mark Brooker designed high-end home theaters and sound systems using the same high-performance gear you’ll find at Kimark udio’s brand-new showroom, including Linn speakers ($TKTK). Kimark Audio, 4625 S. Tamiami Trail, (941) 922-7900.

Don’t forget to…

-         Browse the antiques, art, furniture, and estate jewelry at the 10,000-square-foot multi-merchant mall just opened by Robert Seth Ward (formerly of Churchill’s antiques).  Sarasota Antique Mall, 710 N. Lemon Ave., (941) 373-0100.

-         Look for Simply Spoiled where Box Furniture used to be. Vanessa Opstal owns both, and swapped spaces to fit in more beauty products like hair treatments by Rare Elements (from $34). Simply Spoiled, 1417 First St., (941) 364-3337.

-         Check out the new national prototype Tommy Bahama store (it debuted in Sarasota) in a separate location from its former digs, now being expanded into a two-story Tommy restaurant. Tommy Bahama, 371 St. Armands Circle, (941) 388-2446.

New Kids in Town

A baby boom in Sarasota shopping.

Petite Pinafores Tiny Provencal sundresses ($42-$62), French home decor and gifts found at this St. Armands Circle boutique now debut at a second shop in brand-new Bay Street Village & Towncenter. Décor de France, 3976 Destination Drive, Osprey; 24 N. Boulevard of Presidents, St. Armands Circle (941) 388-1599. 

Much Obliged Thank you, Sarasota-based OBLI Organics, for 100 percent organic onesies (from $24) and T-shirts (from $22) with “ecolecutal” messages. In less than a year the brand showed up on Access Hollywood, in Oscar goodie bags and at local shops like Write-On Sarasota, 1423 First St., (941) 953-2800. 

Rare Vintage From retro to hip-hop, every fashion base is covered at Laurie Beaty’s new kids’ emporium, with brands like English Roses (Madonna’s line) and My Vintage Baby (dress, $TKTK). Watch for the intro of boys’ clothes, too. Pickles & Ponytails, 1821 B Hillview St., (941) 953-2024.  

Mommy and Me L. Boutique owner LeeAnne Swor opened L.Kids to outfit tots with the same chic clothes as grownups wear, including designer Carolina Zapf’s Baby CZ cashmere cardigan ($238) and silk polka dot skirt  with tulle petti ($128). L.Kids, 556 Pineapple Ave., (941) 951-5560. 

Little Monsters will melt your heart in L.A. street-scene clothes as cool and hip as Hollywood and Vine. Monster Republic camo cargo pants and layered skateboard T-shirt are each $58 at LeeAnne Swor’s new boutique brimming with chic clothes for kids. L.Kids, 556 Pineapple Ave., (941) 951-5560.

Runway Retail Shana Frankowski and Gayle Foshee-Naughton hold four fashion shows a year with kids’ couture you can buy before it hits the stores. Order this showstopper by Regina Bell for Alexandria Couture ($100) at Cloe Elle Couture, www.cloeellecouture.vpweb.com,  (941) 321-8355. 

Tiny Luxuries abound at the new Company Outfitters, where every gift is waiting to be personalized with elegant embroidery, from Yves Delorme towels to a toddler’s micro fiber hooded robe with terry cloth lining ($50). Company Outfitters (Say it with Stitches), 5750 S. Tamiami Trail (941) 925-3855.

SHOPTALK:

Happy Birthday! 

Downtown Girls Andrea Rankin and Karen Magee just marked the first birthday of Jake’s Downtown, where cause-related marketing and luscious “crushers” pajama gift sets ($55) are cause for celebration. Jake’s Downtown,, 1463 Main St. (941) 955-5253.

Fashion-Forward shoes, boots and handbags like Cristal’s Audrey Hepburn-inspired satin clutch (under $300), with eye-popping Swarovski crystal bow-clasp, have the look that catapulted this elegant couture shop through a highly successful first year. T. Georgiano's Shoe Salon, 1409-B First St., (941) 870-3727.  

Ports of Call Kelly Augustyniak’s year-old boutique boasts unique fashion finds from around the globe, including this eel skin belt with carved wooden buckle ($695) and slim skirt ($1,095) by Ports 1961, a hip brand by modernist designer Tia Cibani. Kelietza, 602 S. Pineapple Ave., (941) 312-5403.

Who’s in Store

There’s no doubt that Bill Wort was recruited as manager of the new Ringling Museum Store because he’s a 19-year veteran of the shops at the Smithsonian’s Freer & Sackler Galleries, which form the national museum of Asian art. That experience will come in handy as the Ringling gears up for the upcoming Dr. Helga Wall-Apelt Asian Art Galleries.

“I was a film major; that’s why I’m in retailing,” quips Wort, who quickly commandeered the store’s second floor for circus-related clothes and toys that are flying out the door. His Asian flair is already evident in stunning vintage Japanese silk scarves and bags, kiddie kimonos and gorgeous Chinese ceramics in blue and white or Blanc de Chine.

Surprisingly affordable, these fab gifts are just the beginning. “It’s important to find and design products related to our collections and exhibitions,” says Wort, who’s developing everything from scarves based on Cà d’Zan stained glass to jewelry inspired by paintings in the Historic Asolo Theater.

Ringling Museum Store, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota (941) 359-5700, ext. 1110

What this town needs is a nice vegetarian restaurant on par with those in Washington, D.C. I really miss that. But I don’t miss the traffic or the winters; plus, my commute from Lakewood Ranch is a breeze.

Can’t live without: My cats. My late wife was very involved in rescuing alley cats from a feral colony in downtown Washington, D.C.  I have two of those feral cats (and two from PetSmart). They’re all sweet.

Retail Curator Tying products to collections and exhibits is itself an art, resulting in best-selling circus tents ($70), toddler kimonos ($39.95), great scarves ($68) and bags ($32.95) of vintage Japanese silk fabrics.