Clothing retail Tommy Bahama has long had a side business in restaurants—but is it even a side business anymore? Florida alone has eleven Tommy Bahama food & beverage spots—including both full-service Tommy Bahama restaurants and the brand’s Marlin Bars.
Tommy Bahama’s second restaurant and retail location opened at 300 John Ringling Blvd. in Sarasota all the way back in 1996. “The business grew to the point the entire space was converted to restaurant use and the retail space moved down the street,” the Observer tells the story in coverage from last month. But things changed this year.
“In the wake of hurricanes Helene and Milton, the newer retail store was able to reopen,” the coverage says. “However, the restaurant and bar suffered considerable damage and will be unable to reopen.”
But that’s not the end of the story, as a combined retail/restaurant location will return in a new location. The Observer coverage quotes a press statement from Tommy Bahama CEO Doug Wood:
“Tommy Bahama opened in Sarasota 28 years ago as the company’s second location, and it has always been such an important part of our brand DNA. The idea of not having a restaurant in St. Armands, which is like a second home to us, was unthinkable.”
What’s coming is a new location that will “reunite the restaurant and retail under one roof to provide our guests with the authentic Tommy Bahama experience.”
What Now reached out to Nick Ragni, Senior VP of Restaurant Operations at Tommy Bahama, to inquire about the particulars of the new location. Ragni was not immediately available for comment.
You can keep up with all things Tommy Bahama by following @tbahama on Instagram.
