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Published: March 18 2012

In a Fort Lauderdale shopping center bound by Oakland Park Boulevard, the condo canyons of A1A's Galt Ocean Mile, and the Intracoastal Waterway, there's a renaissance under way.

An arts and entertainment district, especially along Northeast 32nd and 33rd streets, is blossoming to supplant the tired, sleepy shopping center that once defined the area.

"We always knew it had potential," said Adam White, who opened his Gallery 101 about a year ago. "It's a great location, with low rents and with sidewalks perfect for strolling. We once had about 28 vacancies. Now, we're down to nine or 10."

The art walks White organized with other merchants, held on the first Saturday of each month, are drawing droves to the area – now known as the North Beach Arts District – and weekday crowds are growing as well.

Those crowds come for the art galleries and studios, restaurants, night spots, shops and boutiques, clothing stores, salons, consignment shops, furniture stores, Pilates studio and more – plus a sprinkling of lawyers and title companies.

"We have a nice class of people coming here," said Susan Mohr, proprietor of Mohr2go gift store. "It's a win-win situation, a win for the people who come, a win for the businesses here."

The Broward Art Guild recently opened a gallery here. City officials have joined in, too, constructing a new entryway fronting A1A, adding signage and lighting.

"There's a little of everything here now," said Stan Chaman, co-owner of PreviewMod, a vintage furniture store, and ModSurf, a funky boutique.

A stroll during the Art Walks, or at any time, is a sensory experience. The aromas of fine food wafting from La Dolce Vita. The blues and jazz floating from Blue Jean Blues. The riots of color, beckoning from The Red Trombone, Gallery 101 and Rachel J. Henriques' studio. The strains of soca, from a sidewalk performance outside ModSurf.

The draw, said Sheila Bechert, owner of the recently opened Red Trombone, is the relatively low rents, especially when compared to other areas of the city. That, and the need to fill a sophisticated population's desire for art and entertainment -- and something new.

"Fort Lauderdale is reinventing itself," Bechert said. "That's always exciting."

White and other merchants, all of whom seem to be members of a close-knit club, have great plans. They want more vendors outside on the streets. And plenty of space remains for other galleries and businesses.

"We're really just getting started," White said. "As long as we keep progressing, in two or three years everyone in Florida will know North Beach as an art destination."

North Beach Arts District
Art walk first Saturday of every month
Enjoy art, entertainment and dining

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