Carls Patio to open showroom in Sarasota

Casual Living Staff -- Casual Living, 1/7/2011 3:56:59 AM

Summer Classics’ leaders join with customers and International Home Furnishings Center officials in a ribbon cutting to open its new High Point showroom, IHFC W168.CARLS PATIO, one of the nation's leading outdoor furniture retailers, opened the company's 19th showroom on Nov. 1. "We are very excited about the new opportunity in Sarasota," said Carls Patio President Gary Ecoff. "Everyone knows the economy isn't where we'd like it, but there are still a number of people who want to live the Florida lifestyle and we intend to serve them. Even in this challenging environment we need to be able to execute on our strategic growth initiative."
     The new 10,000-ft. Sarasota showroom, at 7492 South Tamiami Trail, further extends the presence of Carls Patio up Florida's Gulf Coast. Carls Patio currently has Gulf Coast locations in downtown Naples, North Naples and Fort Myers.
     "We have been extremely pleased with the overall performance of our stores on the West coast of Florida," Ecoff said. "There is a good sense of style here and the consumers have responded well to our selection of outdoor furnishings and accessories. It is our intention to continue our expansion north to Tampa and beyond in the coming years."
     Carls Patio is part of a retail outdoor furniture group that also includes six locations in California and the e-commerce Web site, PatioFurniture.com. Originally a part of the Carls Furniture company, Ecoff and current members of management enlisted the investment firm of Weinberg and Bell of Cleveland, Ohio to break away in 2008.