A rainbow of rich colors fills the curved glasses on the bar at Summer Tap Juice Bar, a new business thriving in Burns Court. Opened in April, the business has seen customers crowding to slurp down smoothies. The restaurant industry took a serious hit from extended lockdown policies. But while the pandemic left many a table flipped upside down for most of 2020, it also created a health consciousness within the population. “Having a healthier lifestyle, it’s where everyone is going,” said Galina Naguibine. “This is something I wanted for myself with my family.” Her’s isn’t the only business doing well in the area right now. From Meliora in Hillview to Shiny Gumbo in Gulfgate to Deep Lagoon Seafood in Lakewood Ranch, restaurateurs see opportunity for more brick-and-mortar locations to serve customers throughout the region. And existing entrepreneurs have also seen reason to invest further in their portfolio of restaurants. Anna Maria Oyster Bar owner John Horne just bought and took over management for Café L’Europe in St. Armands Circle and expressed confidence in the future of the restaurant. “Café L’Europe has been a mainstay in the Sarasota, Lido and Longboat Key area for fine dining and an impeccable experience, so when Ron and Julie (Milton) made the hard decision to retire and offered us the opportunity to add this iconic restaurant to our hospitality group, we jumped at the chance to take the reins for the next 50 years,” he said.