The Bazaar On Apricot & Lime Focuses On Indie Artists, Sellers

SARASOTA, FL — As Sarasota residents and visitors start thinking about the holiday season, Kim Livengood, owner of the Bazaar on Apricot & Lime, hopes they “shop local” this year.

It doesn’t matter where, she added. “I just want everybody to shop local. Probably with us. Hopefully with us. But no matter what, definitely support your small, local businesses.”

Still, the bazaar, which boasts more than 30 artisans and vendors, is a great place to support small businesses in the Sarasota area, Livengood said. The vendors offer “a very eclectic mix” of products, including art, jewelry, collectibles, plants and furniture. Some even offer art and music lessons.

The venue, which is located at 821 Apricot Ave., also regularly hosts entertainment through partnerships — the Players Centre for Performing Arts brings a production of “A Christmas Carol” to its spacious courtyard Dec. 10-19 — and Hamlet’s Eatery is set up as the resident food truck.

“There's truly something always going on and for all ages,” she said. “There’s never a dull moment. That’s for sure.”

On the third Saturday of each month, additional vendors set up in the courtyard for a monthly market.

The bazaar is open regularly Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The week before Christmas, they’ll be open the Dec. 23 — a Wednesday — as well, and they’ll stay open to 7 p.m. on Dec. 10.

The bazaar shut down for about two months this spring because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Livengood said. During that time, she hosted the “Bazaar Shopping Network” through Facebook Live to connect shoppers with vendors.

“I didn’t want our vendors to lose sales and I didn’t want our customers to forget about us during the shutdown,” she said. “So, I went on almost every day.”

They also launched an ecommerce site during this period.

The bazaar reopened in late spring, though. They have had strong interest since then, considering the times, she said. “People want to see what we have.”

Livengood acknowledges that “it hasn't been the season that we wanted, but we're making the best of it.”

She added, “This is a very positive place. We're a community. We support one another and work together and we’re making the best out of a situation that's out of our control.”

Learn more about the Bazaar on Apricot & Lime online here.