History of St. Armands Circle St. Armands Circle began as a dream of John and Mable Ringling, the circus magnates who made Sarasota their winter home in the early 20th century. Their vision was to create an upscale residential and shopping district that could serve as a commercial hub for the well-heeled visitors and residents of the area. Transporting all the building materials via a paddle-wheel steamboat called “Success,” the...