Things to do on and around Siesta Key
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Siesta Key welcomes Tunaskin Aquatic Apparel By Jane Bartnett
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It’s official! Tunaskin owners Dana and Bill Bronsord (center) cut the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce ribbon at the grand opening ceremony. Village Cafe owner Kay Kouvatsos (far right in blue) and Lauren Werfelman of Ascendia Group real estate (far right in white) joined the celebration. (Photo provided by Siesta Chamber of Commerce)
n the heart of Siesta Key, on an early Saturday morning in April, Siesta Village was abuzz with excitement. It was the grand opening day and the official ribbon cutting ceremony for the Tunaskin Aquatic Apparel shop. As the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce prepared for the event at the store’s new 5125 Ocean Boulevard location, shoppers, friends and a large group of onlookers joined the party. A large white cake with black writing, complementing the Tunaskin brand logo, was prepared for cutting. Champagne bottles chilled on ice and breakfast treats were enjoyed by those who came to celebrate the store’s entry into the Siesta Key retail community. “I’ve always loved Siesta Key,” said founder Bill Bronsord. “It
has a really nice feel and it’s our brand. We are people who love the outdoors.” The upscale store is bright and welcoming and shoppers who were on hand for the big day were delighted at what they found inside. As they examined the large selection of high-quality performance outdoor wear for men, women and children, many commented on the soft touch of the Tunaskin fabric. Shirts, shorts, cover ups, sweatshirts and hats, as well as women’s dresses and kids’ wear were on display. A beautifully designed selection of colorful, eye-catching, soft to the touch beach towels drew oohs and ahs from shoppers who admired the collection of Tunaskin towels. Designs depict Siesta Key’s iconic lifeguard chairs, the brand’s tagline, “live a crazy good day,”
sleek tunas swimming through the water, as well as tuna tails or finlets, the brand’s logo. The majority of Turnaskin’s designs are made from recycled materials and sustainable fabrics with built-in sun protection. “We do all of our design work at our Bonita Springs, Florida, headquarters and we manufacture in Honduras,” said Bronsord. The small Tunaskin team also handles color selection. Fabrics are dyed in a local dye house. Along with the outerwear clothing, the sleek store also features can coolers, reusable totes, a selection of baseball hats and the brand’s Bermuda straw hat for women. Private clients are also a key element of Tunaskin’s success story. The company’s design team Continued on page 10V
Happy Campers
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he county-run Turtle Beach Campground – one of the region’s few camping sites directly on a beach – is back in business following a nearly five-month shutdown from 2024 hurricane damage. After a late March soft opening to campers with existing reservations for that time period, the site fully reopened in early April to the general public. The campground’s restroom/ bathhouse/laundry room structure, destroyed by Helene and Milton, is gone. It has been temporarily replaced by a portable restroom/ shower trailer (which, to the first visitors’ astonishment and delight, is air conditioned.) But everything else is there: the campsites, picnic tables and gazebos, the beach – and lots of happy
By Ned Steele campers and good times. “I don’t think anything’s missing in terms of services. It’s a very pleasant environment,” said firsttime visitor Mary Ann Radnovich. “Everything works.” She and her husband Michael drove their RV down from the Atlanta area for a ten-day stay in early April. They had been allowed to be included in the limited soft open – at 50 percent capacity – because their October 2024 reservation had been cancelled by the storms. The couple had been attracted by the campground’s cozy size and lush greenery, not to mention its standout feature: “You can walk straight to the beach,” Mary Ann said. It’s just a short stroll from the campsite to the sand, and as the couple made the walk, they met
fellow campers. Soon they had new friends. “It’s just relaxing,” Mary Ann said. “We met some wonderful people. We’re not seasoned campers. Having good neighbors when you’re camping is great.” The Radnoviches have already booked for a November return. Cancellation disappointment turned to satisfaction similarly for Kurt and Mary Ann Langheld of Springfield, Mass. Their third consecutive annual visit to Turtle Beach, originally scheduled for February and March, was wiped out. But they were among the first to show up in their 20-foot camper van for their rebooked trip on the first day of the soft opening. “Whoever did the work did a lot,” Kurt, a retired engineer, said as he surveyed the scene. “It’s fine. I am Continued on page 10V
Mary-Ann and Kurt Langheld are happy to be at the Turtle Beach campground (Photo by Ned Steele)
SIESTA KEY
SWIMWEAR RESORT WEAR ACCESSORIES
1960 Stickney Pt Rd 941.922.4545
DOWNTOWN
50 N Tamiami Trl 941.954.8800
LONGBOAT
3170 Gulf of Mexico Dr 941.383.2288
www.SwimCity.com