Sweet summertime

The summer slowdown in hospitality, particularly with restaurants, can be tough for some businesses to overcome.

But at Phillippi Creek Village & Oyster Bar in Sarasota, the summer, so far, has sizzled. Sales from the recent Fourth of July weekend, for example, rose more than 25% year-over-year says Phillippi Creek owner Roy LaLone. That comes on top of a strong 2015, LaLone adds, where sales were up 10% over the previous year. “The growth has been really substantial,” LaLone tells Coffee Talk.

He attributes some of the growth to several big initiatives designed to attract a younger subset of customers in the summer and during season. For one, he and his team updated the menu, from Old Florida to a mix of healthier dishes. The restaurant also recently upgraded all the dishware, to a more modern feel. The old roll of paper towels and picnic style tables remain a staple of Phillippi Creek, which opened in 1979. “The investments paid off incredibly well,” LaLone says.