Shops, Venues, Event Organizers Respond To COVID-19 Surge

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — With the coronavirus spreading quickly throughout the state, some shops, venues and event organizers in Sarasota and Manatee counties are adapting their safety protocols to slow the spread of COVID-19 and to keep customers, visitors and staff safe.

The Sarasota Karate Club at 5300 Colonial Oaks Blvd. in Sarasota is requiring everyone attending their youth classes, including those who are vaccinated, to wear a mask, owner April Noss said in a Facebook comment. “Masks are optional for vaccinated students in our adult class, but most still wear them.”

Pixie Dust Metaphysical Boutique at 1476 Main Street in Sarasota is also asking all shoppers to mask up when entering their store.

“Due to the high levels of transmission of the Delta variant, we ask that everyone please wear masks while inside Pixie Dust. As always, we will provide one free if you don't have one,” the boutique shared on its Facebook page.

Art Uptown Gallery, which is located at 1367 Main Street in Sarasota, is also asking all visitors, artists and employees to wear masks in the gallery.

“We aren’t requiring it, but we are asking everyone to wear one,” a staff member who answered the phone at the gallery said.

Meanwhile, Bhavana Yoga Studio has never taken a break from its safety protocols, and continues to offer limited-sized classes and to require masks in common areas, owner Soraya Preseault said in a Facebook comment.

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“We never dropped our protocols; we’ve just been super slow to ease off. We’ve never had a case and I don’t plan on starting now. I can’t be a member of the community as a small business owner and contribute to the spread,” she wrote.

And the Atomic Holiday Bazaar, an annual indie craft show held at the Robarts Arena in Sarasota, has canceled its fall even scheduled Nov. 27-28, because of the rise in numbers. The event has been rescheduled for Nov. 26-27, 2022.

Adrien Lucas, the event’s organizer, said she made this decision “with a heavy heart.”

“I have been following Covid numbers, the Delta variant is taking over and growing at a rate that is beyond disturbing. Atomic is not a social distancing type of show and the stats reflecting the Delta virus in Sarasota County and the state of Florida grow larger each day,” she wrote on Atomic’s Facebook page.

The World Baseball Softball Confederation's Under 18 Baseball World Cup that was scheduled Sept. 10-19 at Sarasota's Ed Smith Stadium and Bradenton's LECOM Park has also been postponed until 2022 because of the coronavirus threat in Florida, USA Baseball, the national governing body for amateur baseball, said in a news release.

LECOM Park, the Pittsburgh Pirate’s spring training base and home of the Pirates’ Low-A affiliate, the Bradenton Marauders, has also reinstituted its mask policy.

The Marauders lifted its mask requirements for guests in May, the Bradenton Times reported. The ballpark has since updated its website to include a new face mask policy.

“Fans ages 2 years and older will be required to wear face coverings while in the facility. Coverings may only be removed to eat or drink while in a stationary location,” the policy reads.

And one Anna Maria Island restaurant only wants to serve vaccinated diners. Beach Bistro in Holmes Beach is asking unvaccinated people to stay home.

"Beach Bistro will now request its patrons to be vaccinated, given the dangerous surging of delta coronavirus and the Beach Bistro's deep commitment to safety for both staff and guests," the restaurant said in a news release.

Owners Sean Murphy and Susan Timmins added that "to complete a realistic safety protocol for staff and guests, we now believe the next necessary step is to ask our patrons to refrain from visiting unless they have been fully vaccinated."

Do you know of a local business, venue or event in Sarasota or Manatee counties that has updated its mask, social distancing or other safety protocols because of the increase in COVID-19 cases? Email Tiffany.Razzano@Patch.com.