How The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime Redefined Downtown Sarasota Events During COVID and Beyond
- The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime
- Feb 1
- 4 min read
If you are searching for shopping downtown Sarasota events, you are probably looking for something more than a transaction. You want connection. Energy. Local flavor. A place where the people behind the products actually wave at you.
That heartbeat never stopped at The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime. Even when the world did.
The Shutdown That Changed Downtown Sarasota Events Forever
On March 17, 2020, COVID changed everything. Doors closed. Streets quieted. Shopping downtown Sarasota paused in a way none of us had ever experienced.
The Bazaar had to close to the public.But closing the doors did not mean closing the mission.
With 40 local artists, creators, and curators depending on sales, standing still was not an option. So on March 18, 2020, just one day later, The Bazaar launched something completely new.
It was scrappy. It was heartfelt. It was very Sarasota.
It was the Bazaar Shopping Network (BSN).
Bazaar Shopping Network: A Downtown Sarasota Shopping Event Gone Digital
Think Home Shopping Network, but hyper-local. Handmade jewelry instead of mass production. One-of-a-kind art instead of warehouse inventory. Personality turned up to eleven.
Kim Livengood became the face of The Bazaar. She went live on Facebook and showcased products available from Bazaar vendors. Customers could purchase and choose curbside pickup or delivery. It was simple, fast, and community powered.
And yes, when toilet paper became rarer than a calm news cycle, The Bazaar handed out free rolls from Who Gives A Crap because The Bazaar really does give a crap about the community.
BSN streamed every single day for several weeks. Daily.
Through uncertainty. Through fear. Through empty sidewalks.
Each episode became one of the only reliable, joyful shopping downtown Sarasota events still happening.
A Letter That Changed Everything
As weeks turned into months, no one knew what the future would look like. Kim wondered if BSN should continue once the initial urgency faded. Then a letter arrived.
An out-of-town customer wrote to share that BSN had become the bright spot in her day. It kept her connected to her Sarasota friends and community. It made her feel less alone.
That letter changed everything.
BSN shifted from emergency pivot to weekly tradition.
Even after The Bazaar reopened its doors, BSN continued. And it still does.
“As long as people are watching and care about our Bazaar family,” Kim says, “I’ll keep going.”
And she has.
Downtown Sarasota Events With a Local Celebrity Twist
Over the years, BSN has evolved into one of the most unique recurring downtown Sarasota shopping events around.
Kim has hosted episodes while traveling. Very few weeks have been missed since 2020.
There have been co-hosts. Guest appearances. A few costumes. Maybe a flame-printed shirt or two.
Special guests have included:
Charley Belcher of Good Day Tampa Bay
Les McCurdy of McCurdy’s Comedy Club
Joey Panek, co-host of Suncoast View
Jesse Sharp, Lead Actor from Beetlejuice The Musical
The Grinch (yes, the real Grinch from New York's Broadway show)
Jenny Townsend, Music Compound
Sharon Kunkel of Wordslinger Marketing
Muffy Lavens with Van Wezel and Satchel’s Last Resort
Jason Champion representing Project Pride
Joshua Beadle, SarasotaOut.com
Luke Manual of Dingbat Theatre
Mark Klecka & Scott Malouf of "I Love Downtown Sarasota" Facebook group
Amanda Heisey and Brian Finnerty, The Players Theatre
And yes, there was an appearance by “Guy Fieri.” Technically, it was Kim in a pretty good costume. Frosted tips and all. But hope springs eternal.
Joey Panek's first appearance was to celebrate BSN's 100th episode. Now, he returns every May, to celebrate The Bazaar’s birthday with a live studio audience episode that feels more like a community party than a broadcast.
Each of the 40+ Bazaar vendors has also had their own feature episode, spotlighting their stories, products, and passions.
Why Bazaar Shopping Network Is More Than Just Online Shopping
BSN is not just a livestream. It is not just a sales channel.
It is a weekly reminder that shopping downtown Sarasota events are about relationships.
It is proof that retail can be resilient. That creativity thrives under pressure. That community shows up.
Even when doors close.Especially when doors close.
Experience Shopping Downtown Sarasota at The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime
Today, you can shop The Bazaar in person every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 am until 3 pm.
You can browse art, gifts, handmade goods, vintage finds, and locally curated treasures from 40 small businesses under one funky roof. You can grab a bite at Hamlet’s Eatery. You can still catch BSN live and shop from your couch.
The Bazaar did not just survive 2020.
It redefined what shopping downtown Sarasota events could look like.
If you are looking for something real, something local, something infused with personality and purpose, tune in to BSN. And better yet, stop by in person.
Because this is not just shopping.
It is Sarasota showing up for Sarasota.
And as long as people are watching and care, Kim will keep going.
