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SRQ DAILY Oct 8, 2015

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"We had requests for more small bottoms and for what is trendy. It was a pleasant surprise."

- Christel Hathaway, Banana Moon Swimwear
 

[Retail]  Store Growth Continues Around UTC
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

The Mall at University Town Center has been the largest development to transform University Park, but won’t be the last. At an event celebrating the coming one-year anniversary of the Taubman Centers mall, Benderson Development officials announced plans to open a movie theater and a cluster of new hotels and announced space has been leased north of University Parkway for a new restaurant and several other retailers. “We are always asking what else we can do to enhance the area,” said Mark Chait, executive director of Leasing-Southeast for Benderson. “Know our commitment.”

Taubman Centers hosted a media breakfast Wednesday morning to tout a year’s worth of success in the $315-million mall, which has seen another 25 businesses, including Microsoft and Arhaus, open inside the center since it first opened on Oct. 16, 2014. Another business is under construction, and there has been only one closure—Caché, which closed all locations nationwide. The mall has created some 2,000 permanent jobs, and the construction of the mall created 1,000 construction jobs as well. “We have been very happy,” said Octavio Ortiz, general manager for UTC. Stores are looking forward to having last-year numbers now to compare. To date, he said, retailers have been pleased with the locale.

Chait noted that the Benderson-owned retail centers around the mall have seen extraordinary success as well. None of the spaces in a Target-anchored center on Cattlemen Road south of University Parkway have ever remained vacant, and construction is underway on a Rusty Bucket and other stores. In a 19,000-square-foot project planned north of University, the Tableseide Restaurant Group will open the new Oak and Stone restaurant concept. Benderson has signed leases with Newk's Eatery, Menchies, JPan and others to locate in different parts of the University Park shopping areas. There are also plans for a new movie theater near the mall, Chait said, and tourism officials cheered the plans for four hotels in the area.

As for the mall itself, the first year of business has been insightful for retailers. Mindie Camus, store manager for eyewear boutique Edward Beiner, said the store has been looking forward to the October through January period. “We’ve actually done pretty well,” she said. “We are looking forward to season.” This is the 12th and furthest north Beiner location, and Camus acknowledged the company hoped more foot traffic would go through the mall, but the store has still performed well in terms of revenue thanks to the high-powered consumers in the Sarasota area. The more high-end products are sold, and consumers will often buy multiple pairs, she said, so that has balanced out any traffic disappointments. 

And retailers like Banana Moon Swimwear have been surprised at the taste of buyers. “I thought we would need more moderal, older swimwear,” said Christel Hathaway, Banama Moon director of sales for the U.S., Central and South America. “But a lot of young people are here. I thought we would need something different in terms of cuts and I had to really adjust. We had requests for more small bottoms and for what was trendy. It was a pleasant surprise.” 

Photo by Wyatt Kostygan: Octavio Ortiz speaks at an anniversary event at The Mall at University Town Center

[SRQ Story Project Spotlight]  Walking Tour of Sarasota Architecture

At Center for Architecture, October is Architecture and Design Month – a month-long celebration of our built environment designed to educate and inspire our community about the importance of thoughtful planning and building. A highlight of the month is internationally-renowned architect Toshiko Mori’s exhibit “Dialogue in Details” on display at the Center and her lecture and house tour on October 16 and 17.

This weekend we bring the conversation closer to home with a very special tour. Celebrating some of Sarasota’s important historical buildings in and around the Center’s own neighborhood, "Walking Through 130 Years of Architecture" will lead guests to some of Sarasota's most iconic architecture. Local historian John McCarthy has been leading historic tours in Sarasota since 1982, and on Saturday, October 10 from 9 to 11 AM he will lead us on a tour around the Center. John will share his diverse knowledge of local history, architecture and urban planning in this historically-rich neighborhood that will take us from the pioneer era to the present day. This is the kind of tour that will change your perspective on Sarasota’s heritage and our architectural legacy. Attendance is limited and comfortable shoes are suggested.

For more information and to register, visit CFASrq.org. The Center is located in the McCulloch Pavilion at 265 S. Orange Ave. 

The Center for Architecture Sarasota is a 2015 SRQ Story Project partner and the featured non-profit organization this October. To learn more about the mission of CFAS and their growing outreach, educational programs and produced events, visit them online at CFASrq.org.  

[Recognition]  Ramirez-Fair Receives Heritage Award

Gov. Rick Scott presented Pine View School Assistant Principal Sue Ramirez-Fair with the Hispanic Heritage Excellence in Education Award at the Governor’s Mansion Monday. Ramirez-Fair was one of three state educators who received the award. She represented middle schools. The awards, which also included essay and art awards for students, were part of Hispanic Heritage Month in Florida, which recognizes the contributions of Hispanic community leaders, educators and students to Florida and the nation. 

Sarasota County School District

[Exec Moves]  Fallacaro Joins Stateside International

Stateside International Realty hired Corinne Fallacaro as part of its sales team. The boutique style real estate company, based in Sarasota, sold over 80 homes last year, including waterfront, new construction and luxury home sales. Fallacaro has called Sarasota her home for over 11 years and is originally from New York. Her background is in the fine art field. 

Stateside International Realty

[Expansion]  First Watch Opens Cincinnati Location

First Watch, a Bradenton-based restaurant chain, will open the doors to its newest location in Florence Square in the Cincinnati area on Monday, 24 years after First Watch made its Cincinnati debut. The new restaurant occupies a 3,500-square-foot space on Mall Road. 

First Watch

SRQ Media Group

SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email

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