SRQ Magazine | Tribute to Business, February 2023

FEB 2023

MORTON’S GOURMET MARKET TROPICAL INTERIORS FLORIST

As a locally grown, locally owned company, SRQ MEDIA pays tribute to our community’s visionary local businesses and the people behind them who work hard to create economic opportunities every day on the Gulf Coast of Florida.

MORTON’S GOURMET MARKET–LOCALLY OWNED AND MANAGED OVER 50 YEARS SERVING THE SARASOTA COMMUNITY. Through hurricanes, heatwaves and a multitude of community changes, Morton’s Gourmet Market has been Sarasota’s recognized leader offering only the best foods, wine, unique and highly prestigious brands. Eddie, Todd and Kristin Morton continue to manager this gem located at the same Osprey Avenue address since inception.

Patrons will find all the ingredients for the best madeat-home dinners as well as a fine array of prime meats, seafood, fresh produce, freshly made salads, prepared entrees, on-premises bakery with coffee bar and a large selection of fine wines. If you’re not in the mood or have no time to cook, a full-scale deli and gourmet prepared meals are available for fast grab and go.

“The business becomes more challenging each year, especially now with the worker shortage, supply issues and struggling economy, however, we have found it extremely rewarding to meet the shopper requests and offer items that our customers search out.” says Eddie Morton.

Todd Morton says that he “thrives on seeing the smiling returning customers and new ones every day. Being able to help shoppers with their choices is something we and our experienced staff thoroughly enjoy.”

A smaller version of Morton’s on Osprey is Siesta Key Market with an island twist which is located in Siesta Key Village. This location offers some staple groceries and similar items as the Osprey location plus non-food items. Positioned next door is their full-service liquor, wines, cigars and bar accessories shop. With some restrictions, delivery is offered on the key.

Giving back is very important for the Morton’s family and two of the many ways they do just that are the Chili Cookoff which supports the local Firefighters Benevolent Fund and Morton’s Culinary Education Fund. Through customer purchases, the Fund offers scholarships to Sarasota County students interested in pursuing a culinary career.

Entrenched and an integral part of the community for over 50 years, there are many ways to find just what you need such as in-store, online shopping, full-service curbside pickup and delivery services available plus staffed catered events. The prepared family dinners with all the fixings have become a holiday favorite. Morton’s is available to handle any size request.

TRIBUTE TO BUSINESS ON THE CREATIVE COAST

“At all locations, what is important are happy customers.”

— Eddie Morton, Co-owner

Above: Eddie and Todd Morton, co-owners.

TRIBUTE TO BUSINESS ON THE CREATIVE COAST

TROPICAL INTERIORS FLORIST

“Our success so far is reflective of all the hearts—mine and our staff members’—and, perhaps most importantly, the enthusiasm and support of the community. We’re really excited to be able to continue the memory of Tropical Interiors Florist because we’ll get more face time with the community that has already lifted us up so much in the last two years. We’re excited to be more present in more areas locally in Manatee and Sarasota County.”

— Chanté DeMoustes, Owner

TROPICAL INTERIORS FLORIST IS CONTINUING ITS LONG-STANDING 48 YEARS IN BUSINESS IN THE MANATEE AND

1975. The owner Chanté DeMoustes wanted to keep the life of the floral industry going and introduce the newly designed shop by creating a unique showroom that invites you into the rustic and French flower market with products and floral arrangements that are unique to the area. Come on in and meet the Tropical team and check out the beautiful store. We offer a wide selection of arrangements to create unique wrapped bouquets that are made to order. Chanté DeMoustes is excited to have a local storefront in Bradenton for the business she took over in 2020. “We can offer so many things that you could never find in traditional retail stores,” she says. “I’m looking forward to letting people see the real floral beauty that is possible to generate from our bouquets with classic staples to trending artistic arrangements. We are excited to connect with the community in a way that we have yet to have the opportunity to do. We’re looking forward to seeing many new daily faces in the community and being able to talk to people about our work and showcase how abundant our products are to help cater to any customer needs.” Tropical Interiors Florist offers year-round flower subscriptions for weekly or monthly services, daily everyday arrangements, botanical décor, tropical flowers, fresh cut flowers, houseplants, dried flowers, centerpieces, sympathy funeral arrangements for services, office arrangements and business house accounts to create custom arrangements. Services also include wedding and event design consultations. Tropical Interiors Florist offers specialty cut flowers that are straight from farms internationally. “In the floral industry it is hard to compete with all 1-800 online stores and Grocery store offers, but we promise the flowers last and speak for themselves. The floral industry needs all local continued support as it is a chain of businesses working together to keep the floral artistry alive. There is so much that goes into each flower arrangement from the time it is grown to getting it into the customers’ hands to enjoy. It is a living piece of art, and each flower has its own unique beauty. We can’t encourage more to call your local flower shop and avoid online-order-taking companies. Your local florist can cater to customers’ needs faster and with better quality. We focus on customer care, quality, and our rapport with each client.” Through the Tropical website www.tropicalinteriorsflorist.com, customers can buy bouquets or schedule pickup of flowers to design their own arrangements at home. As for the flower subscriptions, these are great gift givers or just for oneself to enjoy. Subscribers can select different packages available from monthly, quarterly and yearly. If you are thinking ahead for special occasions or holidays this is great gift idea.

Chante’ DeMoustes, Owner

SARASOTA AREA SINCE