University Town Center (UTC), Sarasota-Bradenton’s premier shopping, dining and entertainment destination developed by Benderson, continues to flourish with an exciting mix of new retail, dining and lifestyle concepts coming soon. The latest additions include 12 new brands totaling more than 86,000sq ft of space.
Among the newest additions is West Elm, the global modern home furnishings retailer known for inspiring customers to create spaces that reflect their personal style. Now under construction adjacent to L.L. Bean in The West District at UTC, the 18,000sq ft store will offer thoughtfully designed furniture, décor, lighting, textiles and home essentials, along with expert design services to help bring every room to life.
Further expanding UTC’s home offerings, IKEA is set to open later this summer in The West District near REI. The sixth Florida location for the global brand will feature more than 5,000 products available for immediate purchase, including home furnishings, lighting, décor, textiles and more than 100 small furniture items.
Along the Cattlemen corridor, Body Hot Pilates will open a new 2,200sq ft studio next to New Balance. The Miami-based fitness concept has built a devoted following for its 95-degree classes that incorporate infrared sauna technology to create a high-energy, full-body workout experience.
At The Market at UTC, LaserAway is opening a 1,700sq ft location near Club Champion. Starting as a single clinic in SoCal, LaserAway is now a nationwide leader in aesthetic dermatology, offering advanced laser hair removal, tattoo removal, Thermage, laser facials and more.
Over at The Square at UTC, construction is underway on a 6,000sq ft expansion next to F45 Training to house Pure Hockey, the nation’s largest ice hockey retailer offering a huge selection of sticks, helmets, pants, gloves, skates and more from top brands.
For the foodies, UTC’s culinary scene also continues to grow with several new concepts coming soon. Mister 01 | Extraordinary Pizza will open this summer next to Mission BBQ in The Market at UTC, bringing its award-winning artisan pizzas created by Italian chef Renato Viola, whose culinary expertise earned him an O-1 visa for extraordinary ability in pizza making.
Opening next door will be Just Salad, the New York City-based fast-casual brand known for its plant-forward menu and commitment to sustainability. Nearby, Pure Green will open next to Pure Barre, offering cold-pressed juices, superfood smoothies and acai bowls. Across the street in The West District at UTC, Playa Bowls will be dishing up high-quality açaí bowls, smoothies, juices and more from a fresh new spot along University Parkway near Chipotle. Coming to The Shoppes at UTC near Marshalls is Zen Dumpling, a growing Florida-born eatery known for its handcrafted soup dumplings, bao buns and wok favorites like dandan noodles, General Tso’s chicken and Mongolian beef.
Shoppers will also see new additions at The Mall at UTC. In addition to the Dick’s House of Sport now under construction, James Avery Artisan Jewelry will open on the second level near Hollister, featuring handcrafted jewelry designed for meaningful gifting and everyday wear. And for those craving a sweet treat, ScandyCandy is bringing a premium selection of authentic Swedish candy to a new ground-level location.
In addition to the 12 new brands coming soon, UTC recently welcomed two exciting dining destinations. Kitchen Social, the Ohio-based restaurant concept that made its Florida debut at UTC, has quickly become a popular gathering spot thanks to its crave-worthy cuisine, handcrafted cocktails and warm, inviting atmosphere. Nearby, Blu Kouzina introduced its authentic Greek cuisine and Mediterranean-inspired ambiance to the centre. The restaurant features traditional family recipes, fresh seafood, grilled meats and classic Greek specialties that deliver an elevated yet welcoming dining experience.
