Tube Dude to open in downtown Sarasota

Three years after leaving downtown Sarasota for St. Armands Circle, Scott Gerber is taking his Tube Dudes back to Main Street.

On Aug. 1, Tube Dude LLC will open a storefront for the quirky metallic stick figurines — and myriad accessories — in the former Victoria Blooms building at 1818 Main Street. Gerber said he will remodel the historic property, which was built in 1929, to look like a Tube Dude’s home.

“There’s going to be a Tube Dude bedroom, Tube Dude living room and Tube Dude office,” said Gerber, who signed a two-year lease. “The kids are going to go crazy over this.”

The store will feature at least $100,000 worth of artwork, including some of the items he hasn’t been able display in the past. Those include Tube Dude toilet paper holders or hand towel displays.

Gerber said he has struggled with foot traffic on St. Armands for a variety of reasons, including the Coon Key Bridge construction, and was dealing with the hundreds of trucks that rumble through the Circle carrying sand for Longboat Key’s beach renourishment project.

“We’re selling more of our stuff by word of mouth,” Gerber said.

The trucks have rankled the business owner the most, due to the noise they generate as they pass by in groups of three throughout the day.

“I swear to God I’m going deaf,” Gerber. “If I dont leave here, I’m truly concerned about my long-term health.”

In 2013, Tube Dude opened in the former Bullet Hole space on the 1500 block of Main Street, but left for St. Armands citing issues with homelessness and lack of foot traffic. 

This time Gerber is confident the 1800 block is the right place for the Tube Dude store, but he’ll still have to endure another month of sand trucks.

“In 30 days I’ll be lucky if I don’t lose my hearing or my mind,” Gerber said.