Retailer reopens south Sarasota location 10 months after Ian

Bealls Florida has reopened a store in south Sarasota County that was shuttered for 10 months due to Hurricane Ian damage. 

The Bradenton-based retail chain held a grand reopening Aug. 4 for the store, at 4251 Tamiami Trail, Venice. Bealls President Tianne Doyle joined the local store team to ring bells and cut the ribbon before the doors opened, according to a statement, and the first 100 customers received free gift cards. 

Bealls first opened this location in October 2001 and has been serving the community since 1962, the release states. The newly remodeled store features Beall’s most updated store design and offerings including expanded home and beauty assortments, enhanced apparel offerings for the whole family, a completely new store design and self-checkout. 

“We have incredibly loyal customers here in Venice who have been patiently awaiting this grand re-opening and will be blown away when they see the new look and our expanded offerings,” District Manager Joanne Miller says in the statement. “We wanted to continue delivering the best year-round life in the sun assortment while adding a bit more of a mass merchant feel where our guests can also get great beauty products, kitchen gadgets, bedding, bath and home décor and updated looks for young moms and kids.” 

Bealls Inc. announced in March that it was rebranding its 68 Bealls stores in the Sunshine State to Bealls Florida, to align with the chain’s unique Florida “Live.Life.Local” assortment. The company’s 570 Burkes Outlet and Bealls Outlet stores in 23 states are being renamed bealls. Bealls Inc. has also been growing rapidly: In 2022, the company opened 81 stores and is now represented in 23 states with bealls, Bealls Florida, Home Centric and Rugged Earth Outfitters stores.