SARASOTA, Fla. — Brick-and-mortar stores are closing their doors across Sarasota and around the country, but one Sarasota gift shop isn’t closing—it’s more than doubling in size.
The Church of the Redeemer Gift & Book Shop will have a grand opening celebration at its new, larger location on Nov. 9, 10 and 11, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. each day. The shop is on the campus of Church of the Redeemer at 222 S. Palm Ave. in downtown Sarasota. Customers will receive 20% off all purchases made on these three days.
Several area Christian bookstores have closed their doors in recent years, focusing on their online sales. The Church of the Redeemer Gift & Book Shop is thought to be the only physical book and gift store in Sarasota that is focused on selling Christian products.
Everyone is welcome at the shop, which also stocks many non-religious items. It is the perfect place to shop for a variety of needs, from hostess, birthday and Christmas gifts to graduation, baptism, and wedding gifts. The store sells an assortment of inspirational books, including Bibles, prayer books, devotionals and more. It also offers decor and accessories for the home and garden along with a beautiful, curated selection of jewelry, art, and kitchenware.
The Gift & Book Shop is nestled in the midst of curving pathways and tranquil gardens, providing a respite from the hustle and bustle of downtown and modern-day life. Shoppers can look out the store’s large windows to see a garden with a fountain, flowers, and a big, draping shade tree. The benches in the garden invite people to linger a while longer to rest and reflect.
The light and bright shop and its lush surroundings offer a true sense of calm. Co-managers Deb Kern and Susie Shugg like to say it is “a shop that refreshes the spirit.”
Kern and Shugg are Church of the Redeemer parishioners, and they manage the shop as volunteers. The shop is staffed by a full team of hard-working volunteers.
Gift shop sales support the Church of the Redeemer’s Rector’s Discretionary Fund, which is used to help parishioners and members of the community who are in need. Lately, the fund has provided financial relief to people whose homes were damaged in Hurricane Ian.
The store’s regular hours are Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and Sundays from 8:30-9 a.m., 10-11 a.m., and 12:15-1 p.m. Free public parking is available on Gulfstream Avenue in front of the church.