A new market study shows that Sarasota's existing retail centers should remain strong even after a new mall opens on University Parkway. While retail expert Robert Gibbs warned there will be growing pains, the city in fact could sustain an additional 256,000 square feet of retail space opening in the region right now beyond the mall and still stay healthy.

"It's a strong market," Gibbs said.

Gibbs Planning Group was hired by the city of Sarasota to study four retail centers in the area: Downtown, the Rosemary District, St. Armands Circle and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Corridor. One of the more surprising findings, he said, was that the average income within the market of even the most modest districts was higher than the national average. The average household income for customers in the MLK Corridor is about $46,100 today and is estimated to be $54,300 in 2019. The U.S. national average is about $45,000, Gibbs said. For St. Armands, the average household income for customers is in excess of $166,000.

By the year 2019, the four markets combined could absorb another 300,100 square feet of retail, Gibbs said. "I'm not telling you you should build this," he stressed. "I'm telling you that is what is sustainable." The estimates take into effect the addition of The Mall at University Town Center, an 880,000-square-foot center Taubman Centers will open in October and the only enclosed mall expected to open in the nation this year.

Of course, the mall will impact the region, and there will be some pains for existing retailers. The simple novelty of a new mall will attract many existing customers at Sarasota retailers to gravitate toward University Parkway short-term, and there will be a downturn that can last as long as a year. "You will lose some retailers who will move there, and you may have some businesses close," he said. "But we think fairly conservatively it's still a healthy market." The existing retail centers will still be able to draw loyal customers from its prime geographic market, and the Gibbs studies showed more than 70 percent of customers still come from areas within a short drive of the centers.

The biggest long-term impact of the mall, Gibbs said, will be on shoppers' expectations. Many storefronts, particularly in the downtown area, have a dated look and customers will want to see a modern appearance for businesses. Gibbs recommended that commissioners create a storefront renovation program and consider boosting the standards for signage at retailers. "The better retailers now want to go to downtowns with high standards," he said. "It can cost $1 million or $2 million to open one of these stores, and they want to know everyone will build to that standard."

The city should also hire someone to actively recruit retailers in certain sectors, and specifically noted that St. Armands has too high a percentage of restaurants; he pointed out there are now seven ice cream stores in that district alone. "There will be a tipping point when, with a large percentage of restaurants and a small percentage of retail, it will become an entertainment district and it will be hard for retailers to survive." 

The Selby Gallery at Ringling College of Art and Design begins its 2014-2015 season with a special exhibit featuring selections from the life of Frank Rampolla, the acclaimed artist who spent his last and most productive years in Florida, including eight teaching at Ringling College of Art and Design, during which he created much of the work on display now. Rampolla died tragically young, at the age of 40. Now, more than 40 years later, Selby Gallery announces The Return of Frank Rampolla.

A prolific and politically charged artist, Rampolla’s work startles and challenges, reflecting the tumultuous world of the 1960s, wracked with social and political upheaval and violence, through a humanist lens that places the flesh-and-blood form, in all its squalid glory, at the fore.

“When [Rampolla] first came to Sarasota, he loved to go out to the beach and paint, but after the assassination of JFK and the Vietnam War his work really changed,” said Laura Avery, assistant director at the Selby Gallery. “Even though he was known for his affable, sunny personality, there was a very passionate dark side that related to showing the things that people do to each other.”

Featuring 36 pieces from various collections across the state, The Return of Frank Rampolla gives gallery guests not only the finished product, but also a peek at the developing style of this artist through his sketchbooks, prints and early work in sculpture.

But Rampolla’s massive paintings have to be the main draw. Grand in scale and richly colored, Rampolla captures a humanity trapped somewhere between man and beast, writhing and wriggling within confines both existential and self-imposed. His subjects cut tragic and fallen figures, all sunken eyes and twisted mouths, with an energy barely contained by their biological prison. Bodies intertwine in great masses of colorful flesh, often contrasting the geometric order represented in the background.

It’s art that’s pleasing if not always “pretty,” rewarding if not always easy.

The exhibition is noteworthy not only for its quality, which one has come to expect from Selby, but as one of the final shows designed by former Selby Gallery director Kevin Dean, a fellow artist and something of a kindred spirit to Rampolla, according to friends, who fought for the exhibit but passed only months ago, before it could be completed.

“Frank Rampolla’s approach was in line with Kevin’s interests in the political and humanism,” said Avery. “He and Rampolla had a real connection in the way that they approached teaching and where their art came from. Kevin was a little bit more conceptually oriented, but they had that same idea of humanism and the passion that accompanied that and exploring people, just in different ways.”

This season has been dedicated to Dean’s memory.

The Return of Frank Rampolla runs in the Selby Gallery until Aug. 8. 

Children First

Motorworks Brewing announced Gold Coast Eagle Distributing will begin distribution of the company's beers in the local market. Motorworks Brewing will now be found in bars and restaurants throughout Manatee and Sarasota counties. 

Motorworks Brewing

ABC 7 (WWSB-TV) announced its team of Co-Hosts for “Suncoast View,” the station’s one-hour, locally-produced daily talk show that premieres September 8.  The program’s format is inspired by the ABC Network’s popular, long-running talk show, “The View” and will air weekdays at 4pm. Stephanie Roberts, the popular Co-Anchor of ABC 7’s Good Morning Suncoast, will serve as the show’s moderator. Rounding out the team are ABC 7 reporters Linda Carson and Bobeth Yates and ABC 7 political contributor Regina Hopper.  All of the co-hosts will retain their other duties at the station. 

ABC 7

The Perlman Music Program/Suncoast announced two new and distinguished members of the music organization’s Board of Trustees: Jan W. Pitchford and Brianne L. Reck. PMP/Suncoast hosts the winter residency of the Perlman Music Program, which provides mentoring and performance opportunities for young string musicians and more than 20 free community events, as well as a year-round educational outreach program and emerging artists performance series. 

Perlman Music Program/Suncoast

At least several hundred dogs each year die heat related deaths. Common sense can help you avoid this dire circumstance, but let's say you get yourself (and Max) into a jam somehow with the heat, and he's in potential heat distress. Outward symptoms you should look for are: heavy panting, glazed eyes, rapid heartbeat, labored breathing, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue, seizure and the last thing will be unconsciousness. Unfortunately by the time your dog is actually exhibiting some of these symptoms, it may be too late to save him, so if you think he may be on the threshold of a heatstroke, call your vet first, tell them what's going on, and that you're headed their way. This way, they'll be prepared when you get there. Then move him immediately to either the shade or preferably air conditioning, to start cooling him down. To cool his core, offer him small amounts of cool (NOT cold) water, as a large volume all at once might make him vomit. Take his temperature if possible. Naturally, this is a rectal reading (sorry). A dog's normal temperature is no higher than 102.5 degrees, so if it's to 104, you need to initiate cooling procedures, and he's already to 106, something needs to happen right NOW, as he is in real trouble. [Note: Never put water in a dog's mouth who can't swallow on his own.] Use a hose, wet towels or any other source of cool water that's handy, and concentrate on cooling his head, neck, the areas underneath his front and back legs and his foot pads. Carefully cool his tongue if possible, but don't let water run into his throat, as it could get into his lungs. If able, get Max into a tub of cool (NOT cold) water and put a fan on him if possible. Continue to check his temp every few minutes, and if it gets to or below 104 degrees, stop the cooling process. Further cooling can lead to blood clotting or a too low body temperature. At this point, load him up and head to the vet, even if he seems to be recovering. Your vet will have a number of tests to perform. If you follow some simple precautions however, you can avoid this horrific situation altogether.

A native of Louisiana, SRQ Daily Columnist Gregg Flowers owns Dog's Best Friend Dog Training Services here in Sarasota, where he "teaches dogs and trains people." Gregg became fascinated by our relationship with dogs as a boy in the '60s, and by 1985 had developed his own unique style of working with dogs and their humans 

Dog's Best Friend

SRQ | The Magazine is pleased to announce its latest contest, #SRQLiveLocal. Our July SRQ Magazine Sonic Independence feature shared stories from solo artists within Sarasota’s cultural scene. These innovators Live Local. Tag your photos and videos on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with #SRQLiveLocal for your chance to win 2 tickets to the gala of the year, Bal Masqué! All participants must be 21 or older and all posts must be tagged by midnight on Sunday, July 27, 2014. The winner will be announced Tuesday, July 29, 2014. 

Artist Chris Wanta Is #SRQLiveLocal