Henry "Hank" Battie closed the doors of Cravats' Custom Clothiers & Haberdashery on Dolphin Street at the end of August after 36 years in the custom menswear business.

Battie isn't retiring. He's shifting to a concierge model, visiting clients in their homes and offices by appointment instead of keeping a storefront open in the Burns Court area south of downtown.

"After all these years, I'm ready to have more time with my family, but I'm not ready to stop doing what I love," Battie said in a statement reported by the Business Observer. He said the new model lets him keep serving clients while freeing up time for family.

Battie founded Cravats' in 1990 at the original Sarasota Quay, which was demolished in 2007 to make way for new development. The shop later moved to 1530 Dolphin St., on the northern edge of the Burns Court district, where it built a following for tailored suits, sport coats, formalwear and pocket squares.

The business served both men and women. Its client list included U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, according to a statement from the company.

Battie's son is Sarasota City Commissioner Kyle Battie.

Under the concierge format, Battie said he plans to meet clients one-on-one for custom fittings and styling consultations. The shop had been known for its range of offerings, from custom lounge jackets and designer fabrics to formal shirts. Battie said the appointment-based approach will let him maintain that level of personal attention without the overhead of a physical storefront.

The closure removes another independent retailer from Burns Court, a walkable stretch of shops and restaurants south of Main Street. The City of Sarasota said on X on July 2 that it had added 79 free three-hour parking spaces at 200 S. Orange Ave. to support the area.

No date has been announced for when the concierge service begins taking appointments.