Periwinkle Place
More than a shopping plaza, this is a place to shop, dine and relax in a secret garden
Periwinkle Place, located in the heart of the island, is reputedly Sanibel’s No. 1 shopping center and certainly among its most elegant. Situated on a seven-acre parcel of land, it upholds the sanctuary ethos of the island, by going large and lavish on its nativeplant landscaping.
Periwinkle Place’s signature gardens offer tranquility to the perambulator. Two fountains grace the grounds, one a virtual waterfall, streaming over a tiered rock formation. Hidden slyly in surrounding vegetation are a dolphin topiary and a sculptured seahorse—but only visible to the most observant. Two citrus trees—a grapefruit and a kumquat—bear fruit that is often ripe for picking. Gardenia plants hang along the center’s walkways. Innumerable varieties of palm punctuate the landscape, and anchoring the grounds are giant, old-growth ficus trees.
Benches dot the property, and a playground, equipped with a slide and swings and climbing things, provides a shady spot for kids and their parents to take time out for some temporary relaxation. Shoppers can pick up a free Island newspaper at the central kiosk, or take a stroll around the butterfly garden.
Twenty-six retailers offer exceptional merchandise at the center. The clever Periwinkle Place shopper will find unusual, and often tropical-themed, men’s and women’s apparel and accessories, costume and fine jewelry, gifts and works of art, children’s clothing and toys, and beachwear and specialty items.
Shoppers can begin at “The Original Chico’s” ladies’ boutique, which was founded right on the island in 1983. Chico’s trademark merchandise includes brilliantly colored clothing styles in easycare fabrics and exclusive, coordinating jewelry. Chico’s clothes are always in style.
Another storied shop, Peach Republic, dates back to Periwinkle Place’s beginnings. As one of the center’s founding stores, it has been in continuous operation since the 1970s.
Similar to many of the unique retailers to be found in Periwinkle Place, Peach Republic, which sells women’s and children’s apparel, is a boutique in the truest sense. Its hand-picked merchandise is gathered from some of the finest and most exclusive designers available.
For island beachwear and tropical clothing, try Island Pursuit, Fresh Produce, Butterfly Beach, Beach Daisy and Sea Glass Lane. For specialty items for the home or gifts for yourself or loved ones, explore Classical Collections, the Naples Soap Company and Island Style.
Have an appetite? Take a seat, either indoors or alfresco at the award-winning Blue Giraffe Restaurant. It offers distinctive tropical entrées for your epicurean pleasure. Enjoy the Polynesian pineapple fruit salad and a Grouper Sunset entrée, served with saffron rice and seasonal veggies. Open seven days per week, for breakfast, lunch or dinner, the Blue Giraffe is casual island dining at its best.
Ready for a rest? Head for the Sanibel Day Spa, a full-service spa and salon that has served Sanibel for 25 years. The Day Spa offers beauty and wellness services that include deep tissue or hot oil massage, whole body treatments, and natural nail manicures and pedicures.
The merchandise and services to be had at Periwinkle Place come with Sanibel’s distinctive style and flair. The possibilities are endless: gourmet specialty foods, wind chimes, Florida- or island-themed prints and wall hangings, outdoor decorations for a garden, charming birdfeeders and planters, tropical furniture, furnishings and home accessories, or luxuriant soaps and fragrances, including the now-famous Sanibel Perfume. In Periwinkle Place’s secret garden, you can shop ’til you drop, knowing that the experience will be stress free—and that’s a guarantee.