Photo Provided by Antonello Piras.

For owners Antonello Piras and Christian Delunas, their newly reopened boutique, Italian Idea, on St. Armands Circle, represents not just a business venture but a long-held affection for the island. This October marked the third time the local brand has opened in the location—evidence both of their persistence and their belief in the Circle’s potential. “This is the third time that we tried in St. Armands because we love this place,” says Piras. “Even if it's close to the other location that we have in Downtown Sarasota, we think it's a completely different type of place.”

Italian Idea, a luxury store for Italian handbags, first debuted on St. Armands Circle in 2017 and quickly found success, until the arrival of COVID-19 forced Piras and Delunas to close its doors. Last year, they tried again, reopening just before Hurricanes Helene and Milton swept through and damaged the shop. Despite the setbacks, they never considered giving up on St. Armands.

As new businesses come to the Circle and old ones reopen in the wake of these storms, Piras says that he is optimistic about their third reopening. The store will serve as a complementary partner to Italian Idea’s first location in Downtown Sarasota. Though the two locations carry many of the same brands, each store has its own distinct selection of items. Styles stocked on St. Armands won’t necessarily appear downtown, ensuring customers can find new items every time they return to the brand.

Featuring five handbag brands from different regions of Italy, each with its own story and specialty, Italian Idea focuses on sourcing items made in Italy with real Italian leather. What makes them stand out, Piras says, is that they source directly from small, reputable producers who create only the highest quality. Cuoieria Fiorentina, one of the first brands the shop ever carried, features classic Florentine craftsmanship that the owners have trusted since 2017. Visona, from Vicenza, is known for its exceptionally soft leather. Ripani, from Abruzzo, offers both leather goods and airy raffia-leather blends—bright, lightweight pieces ideal for Florida. Another standout is Enrico Versari, a collection of handmade crochet-style bags from Arezzo. Smaller accessories, including Italian hats from Petracci, round out the mix.

Looking ahead, Piras and Delunas hope to recreate the loyal customer base they’ve built downtown. “We know what we're doing. If you buy a bag, after a while, you come back again to buy another one, because you love the prices, you love the quality, you love the style,” says Piras. “What we would like to do in the future is try to bring new customers in at St. Armands as well. We know that it will take a while, but as I said, we know what we're doing.” For now, all they need is the storms—and the slow seasons—to stay away long enough for St. Armands to fully come back to life.

Italian Idea, 59 S Boulevard of the Presidents, Sarasota, 941- 400-7807, italianidea.us/.

Photo Provided by Antonello Piras.