Fox Tales
Big-name brands are well and good, but every town needs a place like The Fox Mercantile, a home store and café hybrid in Cortez, one of the last remaining fishing villages on Florida’s Gulf Coast. “When I’m really into a project, I can see a vision for it imperially,” says owner Ashley Petrone. “And when we came across this amount of space, the wheels in my head just started spinning.” Said space, a former antiques shop called Sea Hagg, had the ample indoor and outdoor square footage to realize Petrone’s vision: a destination for both locals and tourists to enjoy a strong cup of coffee and then peruse a selection of home goods and gifts in the adjoining shop.“The inventory consists of glassware, unique linens, kitchen accessories, art, and local goods,” says Petrone, who lives with her husband and four kids in nearby Anna Maria Island. “Everything we offer is handpicked by me. I love curating collections based on the season of life I find myself in.” Originally from California, Petrone and her husband, Dino, are particularly keen on this area of Florida. After opening the Jolie Inn, a boutique hotel on Anna Maria Island, in 2021, The Fox Mercantile felt like the logical next step. “This area is home to us,” adds Petrone. “We plan on being here for many years to come.”
Year of the Rabbit
According to a superstition that dates to the early 1900s, repeating the word “rabbit” upon waking up on the first day of a new month ensures good luck for the next four weeks. That’s all Amanda Gilliand needed to hear to christen her lifestyle concept shop rabbit RABBIT when she opened the place on Sarasota’s Boulevard of the Arts. The inventory here is ideal for those seeking gifts, with selections that include glass incense holders, miniature ceramics, coasters, scented candles, and tea towels. “The shop supports creativity and sustainability while offering a fun shopping experience,” says Gilliand. “This is a place where you come in for a gift for others and leave with something for yourself.”
Story Credits:
Photos courtesy of The Fox Mercantile and rabbit RABBIT
Text by Christopher Day
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