Bringing Back the Old General Store at Burns Mercantile

Image: Hannah Trombly
Owen’s Fish Camp in Burns Court is a slice of Old Florida. The indoor restaurant is a 1926 Sears & Roebuck fishing cottage (complete with squeaky wood floors) and a screened front porch. The back yard is filled with picnic tables so diners can listen to live bluegrass while shelling boiled peanuts and waiting (and waiting and waiting) for a table, thanks to the restaurant’s “no reservations” policy.
But with the addition of its next-door dry goods emporium, Burns Mercantile, there’s another entertaining way to spend time (and money) while waiting for your table. The shop has Owen’s same vintage vibe with quirky flourishes like a taxidermy turkey and Jules Verne-esque diving suit.
“What if you took Anthropologie, a little bit of Ralph Lauren and Old Florida, and threw in some Cracker Barrel?” says Lindsey Osburn, the store’s general manager. “That’s how we envisioned the design.”
Another plus: You can browse for those items while drinking a boozy milkshake, bottled Coke, Cheerwine, or a Pabst Blue Ribbon at the store’s soda counter—or grab a container of smoked fish spread, a jar of local strawberry vanilla jam made by Cortez’s Sunshine Canning, a straw cowboy hat adorned with genuine turquoise, and an antique alarm clock. What more could you want, a 1.5-inch harmonica on a gold chain? Don’t worry, Burns Mercantile’s got it.

Image: Hannah Trombly
Harmonica Necklace ($48)
Annoy your friends at a moment’s notice. Yep, it works.

Image: Hannah Trombly
Origami Leather Tote ($308)
If you’re in the mood for a worthwhile splurge that will last, this folded leather tote with brass embellishments is the way to go.

Image: Courtesy Photo
Bottle of Cheerwine ($3)
Born in 1917 in North Carolina, this regional cherry-flavored soda is as synonymous with the Carolinas as barbecue. To find it all the way down here is a real treat.

Image: Hannah Trombly
Owen’s Fish Camp 5x7 Print ($18)
This charming painting from Jenna Alexander Studio in St. Augustine features a tall tree decorated with fishing buoys and a tire swing.
BURNS MERCANTILE | 530 Burns Lane, Sarasota, (941) 951-6901, burnsmercantile.com