Magnificent Seven

The Sarasota Square Mall is buzzing these days — and Christmas is still three months away.

The source of the buzz, though, is Santa-esque in that the gift is a new Costco for the mall, owned by Australia-based Westfield Corp. Mall Marketing Director Todd Beckwith says the late summer crowds have been significantly larger than past years since the Costco, the first of several going into Westfield properties nationwide, opened Aug. 17.

“The retail business is first and foremost dependent on foot traffic,” says Beckwith, “and the addition of Costco has been a huge hit, for both Costco and Westfield.”