Shore leaving Sarasota following damage from hurricanes

SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) — A major brand is leaving Sarasota following the devastation caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

The Leonard family, owners and founders of the clothing and lifestyle brand Shore, announced that damage to the original location has led to the decision to lease the area and move the brand’s presence to a new location.

“It’s been a challenging time for us, especially given the extended recovery process after the storm. The lack of urgency from the city in addressing the infrastructure issues—particularly the malfunctioning pumps that led to standing water remaining in the store for days after the store —forced us to reevaluate our future here,” said Tom Leonard, co-founder of Shore. “The infrastructure on St Armands Circle has remained largely unchanged for years, and while we love this community, it’s clear that the city has a long way to go in terms of modernizing its streets, sidewalks, and drainage systems. We experienced firsthand the frustration of waiting for repairs that should have been prioritized much sooner.”

The family said they would consider bringing Shore back to Sarasota if the right opportunity presented itself.

“Sarasota will always be home to us and hold a special place in our hearts. While we’re making the difficult decision to leave our current location, we’re not saying goodbye to Sarasota forever,” Susan Leonard added.

The City of Sarasota issued the following statement:

Sarasota experienced unprecedented rainfall in June during Invest 90L, then was devastated with 4-5 foot storm surge from back-to-back major Hurricanes Helene and Milton. These weather events were extraordinary. Infrastructure systems up and down the west coast of Florida were overwhelmed by the historic flooding. Sarasota County oversees and maintains the City’s stormwater system. City of Sarasota staff coordinated with the County before, during, and after the storms to pump heavily flooded streets, including St. Armands Circle, as soon as safely possible. The City is continuing to provide support to St. Armands as the community recovers and businesses on the Circle reopen.

Shore is a clothing and lifestyle brand known for relaxed but sophisticated vibes with locations still in Longboat Key and Disney Spring.

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