If you see this off the coast of Sunset Beach, get it out of the water, throw it out — and be grateful that, with the addition of Sunset Beach Shop, there's one less business putting plastic above planet. Credit: Ben Mierement, NOAA NOS (ret.)

If you see this off the coast of Sunset Beach, get it out of the water, throw it out — and be grateful that, with the addition of Sunset Beach Shop, there’s one less business putting plastic above planet. Credit: Ben Mierement, NOAA NOS (ret.)
When Susanne Sucholdski decided to open a shop showcasing local art and artisans, she had the perfect location: Sunset Beach. After all, this tiny subculture of Treasure Island has a vibe all its own: Ka'Tiki, laid-back vibes (laid-back even compared to other beaches, that is) and an eclectic community. What better place to celebrate the eclectic work of Pinellas artists and artisans — especially since she could turn to some of her neighbors for sources of art? 

The shop — she's calling it Sunset Beach Shop — will also aim to educate customers about environmental issues and sustainability. Since it's probably not practical to pay beach real estate prices selling only art, Sucholdski will also sell bathing suits, flip-flops and other beach ephemera. What she won't sell is plastic bottles of water, and whatever you buy will not get put in a plastic bag. When shoppers ask why they can't have a plastic bag, Sucholdksi will draw on her USF graduate work in global sustainability to explain why. 

Local artists and globally sustainable business practices? It sounds promising. We're psyched for Sunset Beach Shop to open on Cinco de Mayo. 

Contact Cathy Salustri here. 

This article appears in Apr 26 – May 3, 2018.

Cathy's portfolio includes pieces for Visit Florida, USA Today and regional and local press. In 2016, UPF published Backroads of Paradise, her travel narrative about retracing the WPA-era Florida driving...