MANATEE -- Local stores in Manatee and Sarasota are setting operating hours for Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

Manatee County Habitat for Humanity Thrift stores are offering special "Black Friday" savings on all items at two locations -- The Hardin Avenue Store location starting at 7 a.m. Santa will pay a visit from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Cortez Store location will offer deals all day long from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Refreshments and door prizes will be available at both locations. Proceeds from the sales at Habitat ReStores help support the local Manatee Habitat affiliate and helps build Habitat homes.

Westfield Southgate stores including Macy's, Cache, Victoria's Secret, White House Black Market, GAP

will be open at midnight Thursday for Black Friday shoppers.

Starbucks will open at 5 a.m. and Banana Republic at 6 a.m. Ann Taylor and LOFT will open at 7 a.m. All other stores at 8 a.m. Friday.

All stores are scheduled to close at 8pm except Macy's (10 p.m.), Starbucks (10 p.m.), White House Black Market (10 p.m.), Dillard's (9 p.m.), and Saks Fifth Avenue (7 p.m.)

Winn Dixie stores will be open on Thanksgiving Day from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Winn-Dixie pharmacies will be closed.

Crowder Bros. Ace voted Coolest Store

LAKEWOOD RANCH -- Ace Hardware Corp. has named Crowder Bros. Ace Hardware in Lakewood Ranch one of its "coolest stores on the planet."

The Lakewood Ranch franchise location is among five Ace stores in the 4,600-store chain to receive the honor and is a platinum dealer for Ace Hardware.

The store was nominated by Ace district managers and voted on by Ace Hardware company staff.

The 30,000-square-foot

store, which opened in 2008, sells hundreds of brands. A gift shop is connected to the hardware store, which sells accessories, clothing items and jewelry. The award was the store's first as a chain of Ace Hardware.

Commercial building on Stickney Point sold

SARASOTA -- José R. Antunes and Catherine C. Antunes have purchased the free-standing commercial building located at 2480 Stickney Point Road from Brazos XVII LLC for $550,000.

Rico Boeras, Preferred Commercial, Inc. was the selling agent and Jag Grewal, Ian Black Real Estate, was the listing agent in the transaction.

-- Herald staff reports