Diabetes and Neuropathy Treatment in South Sarasota, FL
Living with neuropathy and diabetes is a challenge that millions of Americans face every day. Neuropathy - which comes in several forms and manifests in many ways - can affect any person. In the United States, neuropathy and diabetes often go hand-in-hand, with about 50% of people with diabetes suffering from the condition. In fact, the number of people with neuropathy is only increasing as diabetes becomes more common and the population ages.
People who suffer from these conditions must endure painful and disruptive symptoms, such as:
- Intense Bouts of Sharp, Burning Pain
- Numbness, Prickling, or Tingling in the Hands and Feet
- Decreased Muscle Strength and Paralysis
- Trouble with Balance and Coordination
- Unusually High Sensitivity to Touch
- Digestive and Bladder Control Issues
While some patients are at a greater risk of developing certain types of neuropathy, it doesn't discriminate between sex, race, age, or medical history. Fortunately, neuropathy and diabetes awareness are growing. By proxy, so are new and exciting treatment options that show dramatic improvements in both conditions.
If you've been suffering from the symptoms of diabetes or neuropathy and are in search of a truly effective solution, Sarasota Neuropathy Center can help. Unlike some clinics, our commitment is to offer more than temporary relief. As a diabetic and neuropathy treatment specialist in South Sarasota, FL, we aim to rectify the distinct root causes underlying each patient's symptoms.
But to understand how we're able to accomplish that goal, you've got to first understand the nuances of neuropathy and diabetes.
There are several types of diabetes of which you should be aware:
Other types of diabetes can include:
- Monogenic Diabetes
- Cystic Fibrosis-Related Diabetes
- Secondary Diabetes
Service Areas
Neuropathy 101
Neuropathy is a medical condition that arises when the peripheral nerves, which are responsible for transmitting signals between the brain, spinal cord, and other parts of the body, fail to function correctly due to damage or disease. These nerves are essential for detecting sensations such as warmth, cold, and pain, as well as regulating muscle movement and carrying out automatic processes like digestion and heartbeat without our conscious involvement.
What Causes Neuropathy?
When patients speak with a nerve pain doctor for the first time, they have a lot of questions, and rightfully so. At Sarasota Neuropathy Center, one of the most frequently asked questions we hear centers around the factors causing neuropathy. If you're reading this article, chances are you have similar questions. While we can't pinpoint what's causing your neuropathy without proper testing, here are a few of the most common factors that can cause neuropathy to manifest:
Diabetes
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of diabetes in adults - especially when a person has dealt with high blood sugar levels over long periods of time. When diabetes harms your nerves, it can lead to diabetic neuropathy and create a recurring trigger for this type of nerve damage.
Lack of Vitamins
Your nerves require certain vitamins, including B1 (thiamine), B12, B6, and vitamin E, to function correctly. Without a balanced diet or supplementation, deficiencies in these vitamins can lead to nerve damage over time.
Autoimmune Disorders
In certain instances, a person's immune system accidentally attacks its own cells, including nerve tissues. When this happens, neuropathy often follows. Diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome come under this category, where the immune system's misguided attack on nerves causes dysfunction and pain.
Genetics
Neuropathy can be inherited in some families, meaning it is passed down from one generation to another. When this occurs, peripheral nerves can be affected by genetic forms of the condition, such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
Infections in the Body
There are certain viruses and bacteria that have the ability to attack nerve tissues and also cause conditions that can result in nerve damage. Examples of such infections include Lyme disease, HIV, and hepatitis C. These illnesses have the potential to either initiate or worsen existing neuropathy.
Physical Trauma
Physical injuries, whether caused by accidents, repetitive movements, or falls, can lead to nerve damage. Such injuries can result in neuropathy, causing loss of function and painful sensations in the affected region of the body.
What are the Different Types of Neuropathy?
Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that can affect one nerve, a group of related nerves, or multiple nerves in different parts of the body. The symptoms can vary depending on which type of nerve signals are affected. Keep reading for a closer look at the various types of neuropathies and how they affect you. If one of the categories below sounds familiar, make a mental note to discuss it with your diabetic and neuropathy treatment specialist in South Sarasota, FL.
Peripheral Neuropathy:
Nerve Pain in Your Arms and Legs
Of all the different types of neuropathies, this is the kind that you're probably most familiar with, as it's the most common form treated in the U.S.It occurs most often when the nerves responsible for transmitting messages of touch and movement between your brain and your extremities don't function properly.
Symptoms can include:
- Sensations of Pins and Needles
- Numbness
- Soreness
- Cramping
- Shooting Pains
As the condition progresses, muscle weakness can occur, making it difficult to perform precise movements and walk without assistance. Balance problems are also common.
Focal Neuropathy:
Nerve Pain in a Specific Area
Focal neuropathy can sometimes result in damage to a single nerve or a cluster of nerves in a particular region, leading to localized pain or weakness. For instance, carpal tunnel syndrome can affect the wrist, causing numbness or weakness in the hand. Similarly, Bell's palsy can impact the face, resulting in droopiness or stiffness on one side of the face.
Other symptoms can include:
- Muscles Don't Work Correctly
- Sharp Pains
- Localized Pain and Weakness
Autonomic Neuropathy:
Nerve Pain That Controls Automatic Body Functions
This type of neuropathy affects the nerves that control involuntary bodily functions, such as heartbeat, digestion, and bladder control. When these nerves are damaged
You may experience symptoms such as:
- Dizziness When Standing Quickly
- Issues with Sexual Intercourse
- Constipation
- Issues Regulating Body Temperature
Compression Neuropathy:
Nerve Pain from Your Nerves Being Squeezed
This type of neuropathy happens when a nerve is pinched or squeezed. It happens most often when you are injured or have to repeat actions over and over again for work or sports purposes. Some examples include Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and sciatica. Symptoms can include:
Symptoms can include:
- Sharp Shooting Pain
- Weakness in the Affected Body Part
- Numbness
Whether you or someone you love are trying to live with neuropathy, you know that it can significantly alter lifestyles, making it difficult to perform day-to-day activities, work, or engage in hobbies. That's why it's so important to understand the underlying causes of your nerve pain, so that you can receive appropriate treatment and improve your quality of life. Taking care of the root problem, as well as managing the pain and other symptoms, is key to helping you stay active and comfortable. That's where working with a diabetic and neuropathy treatment specialist in South Sarasota, FL, becomes crucial.
Addressing the Root Causes of Your Neuropathy
Sarasota Neuropathy Center is a nerve pain clinic that provides patients with a comprehensive, rewarding journey toward healing. It begins with a thorough evaluation that involves in-depth laboratory tests and analyses. This introductory step helps us identify the specific factors that contribute to your peripheral neuropathy. Our team of neuropathy treatment specialists then creates a personalized treatment plan tailored exclusively to your body and symptoms.
By providing you with a wide range of strategies aimed at addressing the root causes of your condition, you can achieve lasting relief and may even be able to reverse the effects of peripheral neuropathy.
Our advanced therapeutic options include:
Nerve Regeneration Equipment
We use cutting-edge machinery like laser light therapy and electromagnetic impulses to stimulate your nerves, encourage repair, and foster nerve tissue regeneration.
Vaso-Pulse Technology
This FDA-approved treatment sends signals through your feet and around your spine, which helps us highlight and rectify areas where nerve and vascular damage are present.
Antioxidants
By incorporating antioxidants into your treatment plan, we can better mitigate nerve damage and counteract oxidative stress.
Anti-Inflammatory Treatments
Inflammation exacerbates nerve damage and pain. Our neuropathy specialists use anti-inflammatory agents to help alleviate your symptoms
Minerals and Vitamins
Nutritional deficiencies impact nerve health. We supplement those deficiencies with vitamins and minerals to help nerve repair.
Immunomodulators
For neuropathies linked to autoimmune disorders, we employ immunomodulators that help regulate the immune system's activity to prevent it from attacking the body's own nerve tissues.
Lifestyle and Diet Changes
Changing your diet and incorporating exercise into your daily routine are two of the best ways to support nerve health.
Through a personalized, natural, and comprehensive treatment plan from Sarasota Neuropathy Center, reclaiming your life doesn't have to be a dream - it can be a true possibility.
Diabetes 101
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by elevated levels of sugar in the blood. This happens when the body is unable to produce or use insulin effectively. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps regulate blood glucose levels by facilitating its absorption into cells for energy or storage.
There are several types of diabetes of which you should be aware:
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes is a condition in which the immune system attacks and destroys the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, resulting in little to no insulin production. This condition usually develops in childhood or adolescence but can occur at any age. Patients who suffer from Type 1 Diabetes have to depend on daily insulin administration to manage their blood sugar levels.
The exact cause of this autoimmune reaction is not fully understood, although it is believed that genetic and environmental factors may contribute to it. Contact your diabetic and neuropathy treatment specialist in South Sarasota, FL to learn more about this disease.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and is mainly caused by lifestyle factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, and poor diet. In this condition, the body either doesn't produce enough insulin or the cells don't use insulin effectively, leading to high blood sugar levels. Unlike Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes can sometimes be managed or reversed with lifestyle changes, although some people may still need medications or insulin therapy.
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational Diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy and typically goes away after giving birth. However, it can give an indication of a woman's future risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. The condition is caused by hormonal changes during pregnancy that make the body's cells more resistant to insulin. It's important to manage Gestational Diabetes to prevent complications for both mother and baby.
Other types of diabetes can include:
- Monogenic Diabetes
- Cystic Fibrosis-Related Diabetes
- Secondary Diabetes
Genetics
You can have genetic links to both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. These links make you predisposed to the condition.
Lifestyle
Poor diet, lack of exercise, and obesity all contribute to insulin resistance, which causes diabetes
Autoimmune
Your immune system mistakenly targets and eliminates insulin-producing beta cells in your pancreas, leading to insufficient insulin production and Type 1 Diabetes.
Insulin Resistance
The most prevalent type of diabetes - Type 2 Diabetes - arises when cells resist insulin's effect, causing a spike in blood sugar levels.
The Sarasota Neuropathy Approach to Diabetes Care
As a diabetic and neuropathy treatment specialist in South Sarasota, FL, we are committed to offering a groundbreaking approach for Type 2 Diabetes, which focuses on reversing the condition by addressing the root causes rather than just managing the symptoms. Our innovative strategy goes beyond conventional treatment paradigms and delves into the underlying factors that contribute to Type 2 Diabetes.
We use a holistic methodology that includes comprehensive lifestyle interventions, nutritional counseling, and personalized medical oversight. This approach has consistently demonstrated remarkable efficacy in significantly reducing blood glucose levels among our patients.
Key highlights of our diabetes treatment include:
Book Appointment
The Path to Relief Starts with a Diabetic and Neuropathy Treatment Specialist in South Sarasota, FL
At Sarasota Diabetes & Neuropathy Center, our mission is to empower you to overcome neuropathy, Type 2 Diabetes, or both by embarking on a transformative journey to wellness. By integrating advanced medical care with comprehensive lifestyle interventions, we help you achieve better health outcomes and a renewed sense of hope and control over your journey to a healthy life.
Latest News in South Sarasota, FL
Take a Peek at Siesta Promenade, a New Development That’s Headed to South Sarasota
Kim Doleattohttps://www.sarasotamagazine.com/home-and-real-estate/2023/09/benderson-siesta-promenade-south-sarasota-development
The project, which will be located at the corner of Stickney Point Road and South Tamiami Trail, will break ground early next year. September 5, 2023 Mega-developer Benderson Development is poised to break ground on Siesta Promenade, which will change the face of the gateway to Siesta Key...
The project, which will be located at the corner of Stickney Point Road and South Tamiami Trail, will break ground early next year.
September 5, 2023
Mega-developer Benderson Development is poised to break ground on Siesta Promenade, which will change the face of the gateway to Siesta Key in south Sarasota.
And as the project at 6450 S. Tamiami Trail inches toward groundbreaking in 2024, Benderson Development gave us an exclusive look at what’s coming to the long-vacant site.
The 24-acre Siesta Promenade project, near the “south bridge,” as locals call it, will start going up early next year. It’s headed to the northwest corner of South Tamiami Trail and Stickney Point Road—“what we believe to be one of the best available corners in the state,” Benderson’s vice-president of retail development Rex Burgher told us all the way back in 2005.
The project will comprise a total of 10 retail and restaurant buildings, including a yet-to-be-named grocer. It will have 140,000 square feet of retail space, with a minimum of 7,000 square feet of office space, and an apartment building with 414 units, 25 of which will be affordable. The affordable units will target those earning 80 percent of the area’s annual median income, which amounts to $51,200 for one person, and $73,100 for a household of four. It’s Benderson’s first multifamily development in Sarasota County.
Siesta Promenade will also include an 80-foot high, 130-room hotel, which will be larger than any single hotel on nearby Siesta Key, where space for such a dense hotel is limited.
The building heights will transition across the property, with the hotel being the highest point. That said, some details as far as the number of levels of each building may shift ahead of groundbreaking, according to Benderson’s marketing director Julie Fanning. The hotel and grocer will be located on Stickney Point; the residences will be located to the north of the project, tucked away from heavier traffic; and some of the retail and restaurant spaces will face the bustling South Trail.
Retail and residential will be built in unison and take about two years to complete, and the hotel will follow. “The intent is for the shops and restaurants to be open when residents move in, so they can immediately enjoy the on-site amenities and lifestyle experiences,” says Fanning.
Benderson acquired the site in 2005 for $17.1 million. It formerly housed a Shell gas station and the Pine Shores Mobile Home Park, where there were roughly 140 mobile homes.
Siesta Promenade was approved by Sarasota County in 2018. “The property was always intended to be a mixed-use development, but the design has evolved over the planning process from a town center to a neighborhood destination with a coastal village feel,” Fanning says.
The collection of buildings will feature a variety of architectural styles, from Florida modern to coastal contemporary, “The village environment will be enhanced with landscaping and plenty of inviting outdoor spaces to relax and recharge,” Fanning adds.
On Sept. 27, the Sarasota County Commission will vote on a decision on plans to add 39 parallel parking spaces along Glencoe and Crestwood avenues, which are residential roads. That’s a point of contention for nearby residents, but Fanning says that adding the spaces “is one of many traffic-calming measures being considered by Benderson to maintain the neighborhood feel and create a more pedestrian-friendly area.”
Opponents, however, say the extra parking does not comply with the stipulations agreed to as part of the county commission’s initial approval of the development, which included a 20-foot landscaped buffer for the neighborhood, instead.
Founded in 1949 in Buffalo, New York, Benderson Development’s portfolio includes more than 800 properties and more than 50 million square feet in 40 states, including grocery-anchored centers, warehouse-industrial properties, offices and hotels.
In March, Benderson Development opened a Publix at The Landings on U.S. 41 south of Proctor Road, and is also working on Fruitville Farms, a Publix-anchored mixed-use development now underway at the intersection of Fruitville Road and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard. Benderson also recently closed on the former Café Baci restaurant on 4001 S. Tamiami Trail and purchased the Walgreens on the corner of Bee Ridge and Beneva roads.
Last year, the company acquired the Sarasota County administration building and surrounding parking lots last year. It plans to redevelop the property by the end of 2025 and build a mixed-use development of residential, office and retail spaces.
“Tamiami Trail and Stickney Point Road is the literal gateway to Siesta Key—a world-renowned tourist destination,” Fanning says. “The property had been severely neglected when we acquired it, presenting a tremendous opportunity. When complete, it will be a vibrant destination for both locals and visitors to enjoy.”
A New York Times travel writer spent 36 hours in Sarasota. Here’s what they highlighted
wtsp.comhttps://www.wtsp.com/article/travel/destinations/sarasota-new-york-times-36-hours/67-9fda4430-8375-487b-af91-96b0b318db18
Even after a weekend in the area, there's still so much left to do! Good thing we live where a travel reporter vacationed.Credit: MJ Kerr - stock.adobe.comSARASOTA, Fla. —For many locals in Tampa Bay, Sarasota is a hidden gem because it’s home to the best things about Florida, and not yet commercialized or made mainstream by tourists like St. Pete or Clearwater.After the New York Times sent a travel reporter who grew up in Florida to Sarasota for the weekend, they seemed to think the same.&ldquo...
Even after a weekend in the area, there's still so much left to do! Good thing we live where a travel reporter vacationed.
Credit: MJ Kerr - stock.adobe.com
SARASOTA, Fla. —
For many locals in Tampa Bay, Sarasota is a hidden gem because it’s home to the best things about Florida, and not yet commercialized or made mainstream by tourists like St. Pete or Clearwater.
After the New York Times sent a travel reporter who grew up in Florida to Sarasota for the weekend, they seemed to think the same.
“Often overlooked in favor of Tampa to the north and Maimi to the south, Sarasota, on Florida’s Gulf Coast, is a laid-back city that seems content to keep its white-sand beaches out of the spotlight,” Valeriya Safronova wrote in the article for the publication's "36 Hours" series.
The area’s nature – its beaches and state parks – took center stage as the review recommends a walk through the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, a stay in a luxury tent at Timberline Glamping Co., kayaking in Sarasota Bay and bar crawls in Siesta Key Village.
Besides the coastal atmosphere that finds its way into all attractions, the report highlights the other icon of Sarasota: The Ringling and its museums.
The complex itself has a whole day’s worth of experiences. There’s a Museum of Art and Circus Museum with artifacts from the Ringlings’ prime in the early 1900s. John and Mable Ringling’s 36,000 square-foot winter mansion at the Ca’ d’Zan gives visitors a glimpse into their opulent 1920s lifestyle. Mable Ringling’s rose garden, completed in 1913, is one part of the property’s Bayfront Gardens.
During Safronova’s 36 hours in the city, she only got to visit the Circus Museum. As locals, perhaps we’re lucky we don’t have to try to fit the whole Ringling estate into one visit, because we can save the parts we don’t get to for the next day trip to Sarasota.
There’s more to Sarasota’s history than the Ringling. The black community in Newtown helped bring the city to where it is today, and historical records have been preserved at Newtown Alive to share that story.
You can take a ride through the Newtown neighborhood on your way into the city or beaches from the north.
If you keep heading south past downtown Sarasota, Siesta Key Village awaits a community of beachgoers, soaking in the sand all day long before heading to the restaurants and bars that transform the streets into a buzzing nightlife scene.
Health, wellness and being outdoors were common themes throughout Safronova’s 36 hours. She visited rooftop bars, tasted uniquely Floridian flavors at the Meliora restaurant, strolled through the Lakewood Ranch Farmer’s Market and noted all the wildlife she spotted while kayaking through mangroves in Lido Key.
Not only is tourism in Sarasota growing, but so is the number of people moving there. PODS, a moving company that offers services nationwide, reported Sarasota had the second-highest number of move-ins in 2023.
The reason why could be quality of life. U.S. News & World Report recently ranked Sarasota as the fifth-best city in the country to live in. It was the highest ranking for any Florida city.
Sarasota County Public Hospital Board Begins 2024 with New Officers
Florida Hospital News and Healthcare Reporthttps://southfloridahospitalnews.com/sarasota-county-public-hospital-board-begins-2024-with-new-officers/
Sarah LodgeJANUARY 24, 2024 – As 2023 came to a close, the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board, which governs Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, named its new officers for 2024. The new chair is Sarah Lodge, who has represented the Board’s Central District Seat 1 since 2020.Lodge has extensive experience in long-term strategic planning and financial problem-solving. A certified financial planner, she is currently first vice president with the Gress Lodge Group at RBC Wealth Management in Sarasota. Born...
Sarah Lodge
JANUARY 24, 2024 – As 2023 came to a close, the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board, which governs Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, named its new officers for 2024. The new chair is Sarah Lodge, who has represented the Board’s Central District Seat 1 since 2020.
Lodge has extensive experience in long-term strategic planning and financial problem-solving. A certified financial planner, she is currently first vice president with the Gress Lodge Group at RBC Wealth Management in Sarasota. Born and raised in Florida, Lodge moved to Sarasota a few years after graduating from the University of Florida in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in health science. All three of her children were born at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
Known for her passion for volunteering and giving back to the community, Lodge has served in leadership roles for a number of local civic organizations. During her term as president of the Rotary Club Foundation, she helped start Rotary food pantries throughout Sarasota County, led the Rotary Reading Project, and was subsequently named the 2019 Rotarian of the Year by the Rotary Club of Sarasota. She also served as director and a founding board member of Impact 100 SRQ, which empowers women to collectively fund transformational grants to non-profit organizations in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. A past president and current volunteer with the Junior League of Sarasota, Lodge also was a member of Leadership Sarasota’s class of 2014-15 and the Gulf Coast Leadership Institute in 2012. She has worked closely with the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation in its efforts to support critical hospital services and programs.
Lodge succeeds Tramm Hudson, who served as chair of the Hospital Board for 2023. During his tenure, the health system received numerous quality honors and moved forward with key projects including the expansion of SMH-Venice, the development of new medical campuses in south county, the opening of a new Urgent Care Center in south Venice and ground-breakings for our Research & Education Institute and Cancer Pavilion.
Other Hospital Board officers for 2024 include:
Tramm Hudson remains on the nine-member Board, which also includes Victor Rohe.
About Sarasota Memorial Health Care System
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is a regional referral center offering Southwest Florida’s greatest breadth and depth of care, with more than 1.5 million patient visits each year across its 2 hospital campuses, freestanding ER, and network of outpatient care centers. Its flagship 897-bed Sarasota hospital has been consistently recognized as one of the nation’s best, with superior patient outcomes and comprehensive network of outpatient. The public health system opened its second acute-care hospital, SMH-Venice, in November 2021 to serve the growing south Sarasota County region. For information, visit smh.com.
Ohio hot dog joint chooses south Sarasota County for Florida debut
Mark Gordonhttps://www.businessobserverfl.com/news/2024/jan/25/hot-dog-joint-sarasota-florida-debut/
Hot Dog Shoppe, a popular Ohio-based eatery founded in 1946, is opening a new location in Venice — its first franchise store and first spot outside the Buckeye State.The new Hot Dog Shoppe, at 415 U.S. 41 Bypass N., next to the Hotel Venezia, is scheduled to open Jan. 29, according to a statement. A ribbon-cutting will be held Jan. 30, with a celebration that includes a raffle to win two free hot dogs per week for a year.Local entrepreneur Marty Rauch owns and leads Hot Dog Shoppe Venice. He plans to open 20 locations as ...
Hot Dog Shoppe, a popular Ohio-based eatery founded in 1946, is opening a new location in Venice — its first franchise store and first spot outside the Buckeye State.
The new Hot Dog Shoppe, at 415 U.S. 41 Bypass N., next to the Hotel Venezia, is scheduled to open Jan. 29, according to a statement. A ribbon-cutting will be held Jan. 30, with a celebration that includes a raffle to win two free hot dogs per week for a year.
Local entrepreneur Marty Rauch owns and leads Hot Dog Shoppe Venice. He plans to open 20 locations as part of the company’s expansion in Florida, the release states.
Hot Dog Shoppe offers a menu that includes hot dogs, chili dogs, burgers, hand cut fries, chicken sandwiches, soups, hand-spun milkshakes and breakfast. It utilizes around 1,000 pounds of potatoes a day to make its famous French fries, the release states.
“The menu features hot dogs and chili dogs on a freshly steamed bun sold at crowd pleasing prices along with fresh cut French fries, hamburgers and hand spun milkshakes,” Rauch says in the release. “Our team couples the nostalgia of hot dogs with freshly prepared, high quality food offerings which are exceedingly tasty and prepared to perfection every time.”
The restaurant provides dine-in, drive-thru, carryout and third-party delivery options.
“We’re excited for Marty to be our first franchisee and bring the same great food we’ve been serving since 1946 to Venice, Florida, says Greg Vojnovic, President of Shoppe Franchise Development.
The Hot Dog Shoppe was founded in 1946 in Warren, Ohio, outside Youngstown, with the motto to “make real food for real people with real taste.” The founder, according to the company’s website, Paul Trevelline, came home to Warren after World War II “and decided to open a knickknack shop. He soon discovered that knickknacks didn’t sell so well. To save his business, Paul tried selling hot dogs and it was a hit.”
Vojnovic acquired the Hot Dog Shoppe Brand from the Trevelline family in 2021, according to QSR, a quick-service food industry publication. Vojnovic, a longtime executive of Popeye’s, Arby’s and Inspire Brands, bought the brand with his brother, Tampa area restaurant entrepreneur Nick Vojnovic, who is with Little Greek Fresh Grill.
One of Sarasota's most celebrated restaurants opening a new location on St. Armands Circle
Wade Tatangelohttps://www.heraldtribune.com/story/entertainment/dining/2023/12/01/celebrated-sarasota-restaurant-napule-opening-st-armands-circle-location-15-south/71754341007/
Wade TatangeloAbout once a month this year, we've had to report on a restaurant permanently closing in Sarasota and Manatee counties. None in 2023 has saddened me mor...
About once a month this year, we've had to report on a restaurant permanently closing in Sarasota and Manatee counties. None in 2023 has saddened me more than the closure of St. Armands Oyster Bar on St. Armands Circle.
I loved the New Orlean-style eatery that opened last summer and closed about a year later. I loved the food, loved the drinks, and loved the building it occupied at 15 S. Boulevard of the Presidents.
For those unfamiliar with the two-story structure with its own elevator and stylish staircase leading to the space above, it has quite the history. St. Armands Oyster Bar replaced The Whiskey Barrel, opened in early 2021, preceded by another short-lived restaurant called The Venue.
However, the space is most famous for housing an Italian restaurant and upstairs nightclub called 15 South Ristorante Enoteca, which remained a popular destination among diners, drinkers and dancers for about two decades. I was a big fan of the place, especially its pizza cooked in the wood-burning oven, and am excited to report it will be revived by the owner of one of Sarasota's most celebrated restaurants.
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15 South by Napulé restaurant to open on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota
Restaurateur Alessandro Di Ferdinando, one of the owners of Napulé, the acclaimed Italian restaurant on South Tamiami Trail in Sarasota that earned a coveted Golden Spoon award from Florida Trend magazine, has announced plans to revive "the spirit and name" of 15 South Ristorante.
The new restaurant will be called15 South by Napulé. Di Ferdinando said in a statement that he aims to pay homage to the original 15 South, which was "a beloved mainstay of Sarasota’s dining and nightlife for almost 20 years."
15 South by Napule's first-floor dining room and bar will offer a more traditional dining experience, "with the warm glow of the imported wood fired oven offering a visual centerpiece." The upstairs will feature another full bar and dance floor with a street-style menu of small, shareable dishes.
15 South by Napulé will feature an 'authentic, gold-tiled Neapolitan pizza oven'
Di Ferdinando will manage the front of the house, while the food operations will be overseen by two of his longtime friends and collaborators. Antonio Mancini, a former Napulé pizzaiolo, will man what Di Ferdinando described as an "authentic, gold-tiled Neapolitan pizza oven" located near the first-floor bar. Chef Giancarlo Di Cosmo, who Di Ferdinando said worked alongside him at a Soho House concept in London, will helm the kitchen.
“And of course, we’ll have a lively atmosphere with a good martini and cocktail list and a dance floor upstairs,” Di Ferdinando said in a statement. “You’ve heard of eat, pray, love. We’re going for eat, dance, love. And then maybe we eat again.”
15 South by Napulé is expected to open in early 2024, with an authentic Italian menu that includes scratch-made pasta dishes, Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizza, and a full-liquor bar on both floors. 15 South by Napulé plans to eventually offer its own delivery service to St. Armands Circle as well as Lido Key and Longboat Key.
"Fueled by a commitment to Old World cooking techniques and family-style hospitality, 15 South by Napule combines all the charm of a trattoria with a dash of fine dining," reads the press release issued Nov. 29.
High hopes for 15 South by Napulé
Di Ferdinando and Giuseppe Del Sole, the former owners of Venice’s Made In Italy, founded Napulé at 7129 S Tamiami Trail in 2017. Di Ferdinando, who said he is currently the sole owner of Napulé, also informed me via email that Del Sole sold his "share" several months ago and is no longer involved at Napulé or in its future projects. They wish him "all the best" in his ventures.
It was also several months ago that Del Sole opened Osteria 500 at 1580 Lakefront Drive in Waterside Place, the upscale new Lakewood Ranch development. Following lunch and dinner visits marked by exquisite cuisine and attentive service while seated on the patio overlooking Kingfisher Lake, I wrote a column about Osteria 500 being Sarasota County's best new waterfront restaurant.
I have equally high hopes for 15 South by Napulé. Di Ferdinando has an impressive record with restaurants, and I can still vividly recall the charms of the original 15 South Ristorante.
"We stroll along the sidewalks of St. Armands Circle and talk of returning to 15 South in the near future," I wrote in 2013. "We want to return for the drinks, for the pizza, for the excellent service, for the photos on the wall of Portofino, and for the wonderful, escapist experience that made us forget, at least temporarily, about our deadlines and commitments in Bradenton and Sarasota."
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Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. He can be reached by email at [email protected]. Support local journalism by subscribing.