Merchant's Pointe — Local services in Siesta Key

Merchant’s Pointe in Sarasota really surprised me in the best way—it’s not flashy or upscale, but it’s the kind of place you instantly appreciate for how convenient and community-focused it is. Located right off Colonial Drive, this shopping plaza is easy to get in and out of, with plenty of parking and a nice, laid-back feel. It’s clean, organized, and well-maintained, making it feel safe and comfortable whether you’re running errands or grabbing a quick bite. What I liked most is how functional everything is. You’ve got your essentials all in one place—a grocery store, a hardware store, dry cleaners, and a couple of small restaurants. It’s the kind of plaza where you can stop by after work or on a Saturday morning and take care of everything without having to hop from one end of town to another.

The energy here isn’t overly busy or overwhelming. It feels like a neighborhood spot—people are polite, and the businesses seem to know their regulars, which adds to the small-town charm even though you’re right in Sarasota. The food options were simple but appealing. I noticed a local Chinese spot—China Wok—that had great reviews for generous portions and friendly service. The plaza gives off that dependable vibe: it may not have a trendy café or artisanal bakery, but if you need a solid takeout dinner, a last-minute grocery item, or to swing by Ace Hardware for something, it’s all right there. You can tell the businesses here are well-established and care about keeping things professional and...

The store employees are wonderful. It is the customers who are rude, nasty, offensive and are deplorable. I do NOT recommend this location for people who are severly visually impaired or blind and use a red tip cane to navigate. The customers took offense to me standing in a location with my buggy and very obvious RED TIP cane while my husband would step away to pick an item up to place in our buggy. I has nasty comments made, I was run into by people and pushed out of the way.. Love Deteilers, Love the employees, love the selection. HATE the demographic of the entitled people the Clark road store serves. Just deplorable behaviors shown by a bunch of self...

Great place to get fresh produce and fresh cuts of meats. Seafood is also great. Scallops are huge. Fish is usually farmed raised but most of the selections of seafood are straight from the ocean. It's a bit pricey here so don't expect to get any amazing deals. Occasionally you get a good deal here and there. You're paying for quality for the most part. The atmosphere is a bit wonky. Lots of stuffy rich people who feel entitled and can be rude. It's nice and clean in the store and always a good selection of fresh foods to create a healthy eating lifestyle. Much of the fresh foods are sourced from...