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.

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. 

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.

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.  

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 Kohler’s SOK overflowing bath for two. Ferguson, 2451 17th St., (941) 951-0110.

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 in his new Sarasota showroom. (Revel Ultima 2 Salon speakers, $21,998 a pair.) Kimark Audio, 4625 S. Tamiami Trail, (941) 922-7900.

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 Christina Ferrare($675 each). FantaSea Home, 378 St. Armands Circle, (941) 388-3031.

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) and Spy sunglasses modeled by Lauren Apple, a sales associate at the store.Shore, 465 John Ringling Blvd., (941) 388-3535.

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.

 

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) now being expanded into a two-story Tommy restaurant. Tommy Bahama, 371 St. Armands Circle, (941) 388-2446.