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…