SARASOTA, FL, July 1, 2006 – It’s simply charming and charmingly simple. The Lido Key Tiki Bar, formerly known as the Azure Tides beach bar, is officially open to the public.

The walk-up tropical bar features beer, wine and mixed drinks consistent with the bar’s original recipes and pricing. Frozen cocktails include beloved Mai Tais, Mudslides, Rum Runners and Melonballs. Prices range from $3.50 for a can of Budweiser to $6.50 for the bar’s signature Rum Runner. Hours of service are 11 a.m. to dusk Wednesdays through Saturdays and 12 noon to dusk on Sundays. Times are subject to change due to weather conditions.

The Lido Key Tiki Bar is located directly on the beach behind The Ritz-Carlton Members Beach Club on Lido Key. The open air structure features a rustic décor and is adorned with strings of mini lights and plastic palm trees. In addition to seating at the bar, some chairs and tables are available on the adjacent beach as well as an area for beach volleyball games. While the Tiki Bar is managed by The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, it is operated as a separate business and is available to the public. Customers are invited to walk down the beach and visit at their leisure. Cash and credit cards are accepted.

SLAB Lido, L.L.C. purchased the Gulf front Azure Tides Resort property for the development of The Members Beach Club. Plans to raze the hotel’s pastoral beach bar were halted, as developers chose to keep the landmark bar open in response to community support. When the Azure Tides beachfront tiki bar finally closed May 13, 2001, the regulars threw a wake. The bar construction was never demolished anticipating its eventual restoration and reopening.