America’s Newest Mall is a Hit with Shoppers

The Mall at University Town Center (140 University Town Center Drive, Sarasota) opened its doors on October 16, and in the weeks since the grand opening, tens of thousands of shoppers have flocked to its doors. Residents of the Florida Suncoast are loving the new shopping center, not just for its diverse retail offerings but because new shopping malls are becoming a rare commodity. In fact, The Mall at University Town Center is the only new shopping mall built in the United States this year.

The mall is anchored by the dual-level department stores Macy’s, Dillard’s and Saks Fifth Avenue. Saks’ Sarasota presence brings the department store brand back to the west coast of Florida, after the company closed its location at WestShore Plaza in Tampa in May 2013. Dining options at the mall include Brio Tuscan Grille, Seasons 52, The Capital Grille, The Cheesecake Factory, Kona Grill, and Rise Pies Handcrafted Pizza.

Specialty stores that have opened inside The Mall at University Town Center include the Apple Store, Brooks Brothers, Crate & Barrel, J. Crew, MAC Cosmetics, Michael Kors, Pottery Barn, Sephora, and Williams-Sonoma. New stores that will be opening in the next couple of months include Kiehl’s, Lucky Brand Jeans, and Sarasota’s first H&M department store.

The mall is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays, and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. There are special holiday hours on Thanksgiving weekend and between December 13 and January 1. The special holiday hours for the month of December are usually 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Some days vary, consult mallatutc.com/hours for more information.

Directions: The Mall at University Town Center is located adjacent to University Parkway at North Cattlemen Road, just off Interstate 75 in Sarasota. Drivers from South Florida, Fort Myers and Naples will need to take Exit 213 (Fruitville Road) to get to the mall. Drivers from Tampa Bay can take Exit 210 (University Parkway).

The Mall at University Town Center is a Taubman Centers property. For more information, visit mallatutc.com. “Like” them on Facebook at facebook.com/mallatutc.

Mike Halterman

Mike Halterman has been the editor of Hotspots Central since its launch in July 2016. He joined the Hotspots Media Group family as editor of Hotspots' South Florida magazine in June 2013. A former "40 Under 40" honoree in The Advocate magazine, Mike lives in the Tampa Bay area.

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