One of the area’s best food trucks, Florence and the Spice Boys has found a permanent place to park. The owners – Carl Kolber and husband and wife team Florence and Steven Schmitt -- are bringing their signature modern Mediterranean and middle eastern flavors to a brick-and-mortar location at The Landings in Sarasota. The Spice Boys joined the Sarasota food truck scene in 2019 and quickly gained a loyal following for its bold, unique flavors. The business was recently rebranded Florence and The Spice Boys to include head chef Steve Schmitt’s wife, Florence, who is the talent behind the menu’s hand-made drinks and desserts.

By late summer, fans can find Florence and the Spice Boys seven days a week in beautifully renovated space on the south end of the retail center, located on U.S. 41 south of Proctor Road. Similar to the bright tropical truck, the restaurant will feature lush greenery and a mix of bohemian and eclectic décor, weaving rattan and neon to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Outside, the restaurant will offer plenty of patio seating that will overlook a new greenspace that is being added to the property. The restaurant menu will be served in a fast-casual setting and feature all the creative classics, like the turmeric fried chicken sandwich, vegan falafel pita taco, and chicken shawarma taco topped with pickled slaw, egg, banana peppers, tahini and zhug sauce. Now with a bigger kitchen, the owners plan to expand the menu with some new, soon-to-be favorite dishes, a variety of vegan options, more desserts and shareable family-style platters.

The Benderson-owned The Landings is being reimagined and remerchandised with an exciting lineup of new businesses, including Spice Boys, Crumbl Cookies and Mantra Fitness. Other retailers in the center include Tripletail Seafood & Spirits, Apollonia Grill, Vampire Penguin, EoS Fitness and a newly renovated Publix that is scheduled to open this summer.