Summer Night Out wined and dined customers in Whitney Beach Plaza

Summer Night Out kicked off the weekend just right for the Key.

Businesses in Whitney Beach Plaza partnered together to invite all residents on the island to shop, eat and drink in support of these small businesses. Driftwood Beach Home and Garden and Design 2000 Salon hosted the event on Aug. 24 from 4 to 6 p.m.

 “On this island, if you say there's going to be a bottle of wine and pizza, the place would be mobbed,” said Richard Perlman at his first Summer Night Out.

Residents started the evening browsing Driftwood Beach Home and Garden while sipping on Champagne and munching on homemade cookies. 

Then people made their way next door to Design 2000 Salon to enjoy pizza from Ventura’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar and cheesecake from the Elegant Lady Cheesecake Parlor. Design 2000 Salon also had gift bags for anyone who came in and encouraged everyone to make an appointment for all hair and nail needs.

“I've lived here for nine years and I didn’t even know this place was here,” said Brittany Lyssy. “I heard about this event last month and came for the first time in July. Then I got my hair done here like a week later.”

This month, Ultra-Marine, the marine lifestyle store in the plaza, joined the fun and welcomed residents in for Champagne to chat about their business. The store also parked one of its boats in the parking lot as a surprise. Customers loved coming from Driftwood and Design 2000 to mingle by the boat and hear about its features. 

“We aren't open today hoping to sell a boat or sell a charter,” said owner Ed Kolodzieski. "It is about seeing people and meeting people. Four people just came by, had a glass of Champagne and said, ‘Oh, we didn't know you sold stuff like that.’”

Kolodzieski described the event as a creative way to bring awareness to the small businesses on the Key and meet new people while doing it.