BUSINESS VERSUS THE RULES
Le Grand Bisou is located in Siesta Center, at 5129 Ocean Blvd. Photos by Rachel Hackney
SIESTA VILLAGE BUSINESS OWNERS AGREE TO WORK TOGETHER
ON MODIFYING COUNTY REGULATIONS TO ALLOW THEM GREATER
MARKETING OPTIONS ON THE KEY
By Rachel Brown Hackney
Editor
Martha Smith saw sales at her Siesta Village
shop, Le Grand Bisou Caribbean Boutique,
drop from $1,600 a day to $195 a day in one
week after a Sarasota County Code Enforcement officer told her it was a violation of the
local zoning code to display clothes on racks
outside the shop.
of the Siesta Key Village Association (SKVA).
"And right now [my store] looks like a sardine
can."
James Ritter of Siesta Village Outfitters added that he saw his sales drop 90 percent the
day after a Code Enforcement officer said he
had to stop displaying
his sports rental equipment outside.
"I spent a lot of money on the mannequins
We need a majority. We are
and certainly my ina democracy.
ventory," Smith told
about 30 people TuesCheryl Gaddie
President
day morning, June 4,
Siesta Key Village Association
at the regular meeting
"For us, having something that just shows
the customer that we're
open is crucial," he told
the SKVA members.
