Michael Ballos always wanted to open a boutique in St. Armands Circle. The dream, built over visits to the area and family vacations, came true in 2019 when he opened Cariloha Bamboo on the west spoke of the Circle.
Ballos’ dream was further verified when he won first place in the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce’s “Good as Green” Small Business Awards category for the renewability of the bamboo that makes up his apparel and home goods products as well as his goal of a zero energy waste building.
As his own only employee, Ballos accepted his award before leaving early to reopen his store after lunch.