Artsy coastal on Beach Road

ENGLEWOOD — The Beach Road Boutique is home to a plethora of gift ideas and decor.

The vibes are Florida, but there's an artsy spin to the layout of the boutique and the items inside.

Owner Jill Hemmes said the boutique is a great step toward progress after Hurricane Ian.

"It's taken about a year and a half to get this back open, but I'm so glad it finally is," Hemmes said.

The boutique, at 1350 Beach Road, right next door to the Beach Road Wine Bar & Bistro, that is also being repaired after Hurricane Ian.

"We're meeting with Truex (Construction) Monday morning to get our plan together, and figure out what we can and cannot do," Hemmes said. "I wanted this (Beach Road Boutique) to be open for two or three weeks, so I can have peace of mind."

Hemmes also owns The Waverly Restaurant & Bar on Manasota Key with her husband, Scott. That restaurant, hit hard by Ian, reopened in November after extensive renovations, also by Truex Construction.

The Englewood Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for the boutique Thursday, but Hemmes said the shop has been open previous to this.

"So many people were so crazy when we opened," she said. "I was like a mob scene."

She said one of her favorite aspects about the boutique is being able to put her personal touch on decorating the shop along with the items she sells to the community.

"I actually did a year-and-a-half of interior design in school, and then I got into a really bad car accident and stopped, but that's really my thing," she said. "I went a little crazy picking things out, but it was fun, and I can't wait to do next door because I have so many ideas."

Having been gone for so long, Hemmes missed her customers and a chance to be a part of the community.

"It's nuts how nice the people have been about coming in and supporting," she said. "I got choked up so many times because I'm like 'oh my god that's so nice.'"

The boutique has something for everyone.

"I wanted it to be more of a special gift for people, so everything's got a seashore feeling, but it's more of a special gift," Hemmes said. "I work with a lot of local artists, and I just like different things."

A goal of Hemmes for the boutique is having a variety of price points for everyone.

"I have a lot of local people that I work with, so we have a lot of unique custom pieces which is great because being unique is awesome," she said. "This is a place where everyone can shop, not just certain people."