Despite 10 weeks without visitors and the temporary or permanent closure of many local businesses, there is plenty of good news on the horizon.
Several new Key West businesses — resorts, restaurants, retail shops, bars, banks, boutiques and a South Jersey-inspired sub shop — are now open or soon will be.
Though not a comprehensive list, the Weekly offers a sneak preview of some newly opened enterprises and coming attractions:
The shops at Galleon Square, 218 Whitehead St., have welcomed three new tenants to feed, clothe and protect Key West residents and visitors:
LIttle Whitehouse Subs
Micah Woerner was tired of going on vacation and spending his time looking for a decent sub shop and old-school deli. So he decided to open his own in Key West, where he has worked in the restaurant industry for more than two decades.
Woerner’s grandmother is from South Jersey, where every neighborhood boasts its own mom-and-pop deli and sub shop.
“I’m getting my bread from a bakery in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and all our meats are Boar’s Head,” Woerner said, adding that Little Whitehouse Subs also will sell meats and cheese by the pound. “I want to compete with Publix deli prices, not Duval Street prices. I’m just waiting on a final city permit, so we should be open in the next couple weeks.”
The menu features a traditional Italian sub, as well as a “Thanksgiving dinner on a sub,” complete with turkey, stuffing, cranberry aioli and mashed potatoes. There’s also a turkey sub, a meatball sub with a Jersey family recipe for the sauce, pulled pork, Cuban pork, a blackened snapper sub and a vegetarian sub. Woerner’s partner, Joy Terwilliger, also bakes gourmet cupcakes for the shop.
Kirby’s Closet
Longtime local radio personality Kirby Myers is launching Kirby’s Closet, an upscale resale boutique featuring women’s clothing, shoes, jewelry, accessories and yes, Fantasy Fest costume apparel. She hopes to open the first week of July at 218 Whitehead St.
“My concept of ‘upscale’ doesn’t mean inaccessible or prohibitively expensive,” Myers emphasized. “Everything in here is pre-loved, but in excellent condition. Kirby’s Closet will feature all sizes and styles for all women — sundresses, blazers, palazzo pants, and island-style tops, shoes, bags and small home decor items.”
Myers’ new venture differs from a traditional consignment shop in that she pays cash up front for gently used clothes, rather than waiting for the item to sell and then paying the original owner.
“I want this to be a place where women can come in, relax, have a glass of wine and enjoy shopping here,” she said. “And I’ve already started collecting for Fantasy Fest costumes, which will be a lot of fun.” Message Myers on Instagram @kirbysclosetkw to make an appointment.
(Kirby Myers’ husband, Britt, owns the Key West Weekly.)
Hidden Gems Botanica
Stina Worsley describes her new retail shop, Hidden Gems Botanica, as a “spiritual store for people of all denominations, beliefs and backgrounds.”
The shop at 218 Whitehead St. opened May 4 and features “candles to take care of people’s chakras, as well as cleansing baths, love baths, protection and prosperity baths.
“We cater to everyone, no matter what you practice — Santeria, Hoodoo, pagan, Christian, Buddhism and everything in between,” Worsley said. “We have books on religion, dreamcatchers, incense burners, incense sticks, gemstones, gemstone jewelry, amethyst, quartz and jade, as well as small gift items such as handbags, wallets, and decor items.
Hidden Gems is open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and offers a 15% discount for locals. Visit them online for more information.
Also in Old Town:
Scotty’s Front Street Stage
Scotty Edwards is putting his musical heart and soul into Scotty’s Front Street Stage at the corner of Front and Simonton streets. The new bar and restaurant will emphasize live music and a casual, island atmosphere in the building that formerly housed the Rum Barrel.
Edwards and his team have completely reconfigured the building and bar to accommodate a large indoor stage. The second-floor patio will host acoustic musicians and will be available for private events, Edwards said. He’s hoping to open in July.
Meanwhile, on North Roosevelt Boulevard:
Gulf Atlantic Bank
Peter E. Batty Jr. and Jeff Searcy on April 13 opened the full-service Gulf Atlantic Bank, 2222 North Roosevelt Blvd.
“We’ve been able to incorporate some of the most updated technology to better serve our customers,” Batty said. Gulf Atlantic Bank does not depend on servers for data storage, but rather is entirely cloud-based, making the institution less vulnerable to hurricanes. “We can be back up and running in two days after a storm, regardless of what the building looks like.”
The bank offers traditional accounts as well as commercial and residential lending, SBA loans, debit Mastercards and a user-friendly mobile app. The timing worked out well, Batty said, as the new bank had no existing loans on which customers defaulted due to the pandemic.
The Capitana Resort
Ocean Properties continues construction on its new Capitana Resort that’s taking shape on the former Banana Bay Resort property.
