St. Armands retail building fully leased after Hurricane Helene damage

SARASOTA, Fla. - EntSun -- A three-unit retail building at 28 S. Boulevard of the Presidents in Sarasota's St. Armands Circle is now fully leased following extensive flooding from Hurricane Helene and subsequent renovation, marking another example of strong recovery for the surrounding retail district. The property's final vacancy was filled with the recent lease signing of Chocolate Emporium, bringing the building to 100% occupancy.

Amy MacDougall, CCIM, and Heidi Haber of Ian Black Real Estate represented the landlord, South Ft Myers Properties, LLC, in all three lease transactions.

The 4,221-square-foot building is divided into three units and was repositioned after storm damage.

"We focused on securing tenants capable of long-term success in the area," said Thomas Lee, authorized representative of South Ft Myers Properties, LLC. "The tenant mix includes a blend of food, beverage and specialty retail concepts that are already contributing to renewed activity just off the Circle."

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Chocolate Emporium is bringing its premium handcrafted chocolates and confections to a 1,446-square-foot space on St. Armands. Building on the success of its Anna Maria Island debut, the new location will also feature nostalgic favorites like saltwater taffy—adding a playful, seaside twist. The St. Armands shop is expected to open in June.

Acadia Jewels Fine Jewelry & Design debuted its Florida location in the 1,390-square-foot St. Armands space on New Year's Day. This high-end luxury retailer, based in Bar Harbor, Maine, provides an elevated jewelry shopping experience in a charming setting, showcasing beautiful designs and rare gems in gold, platinum and silver.

Le Shop, occupying 1,385 square feet, is a coffee shop, wine bar and petit market offering espresso-forward drinks, small-vineyard wines – primarily French and Italian – and a curated selection of provisions. Opened in November 2025, it has quickly established itself as a popular destination on St. Armands Circle.

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"The landlord was very intentional about curating the right mix of tenants for this property," said MacDougall, broker associate at Ian Black Real Estate. "After the hurricane, there was an opportunity to not just rebuild but to elevate the tenancy with concepts that can thrive year-round in this market."

About Ian Black Real Estate
Ian Black Real Estate (IBRE) is a boutique commercial real estate brokerage firm located in Sarasota, Fla. The firm is one of the largest commercial brokerage firms in Southwest Florida and boasts a deep knowledge of the commercial real estate market in Sarasota and Manatee counties and the surrounding area. For more information, visit ian-black.com.