Sarasota rug dealer temporarily moves locations due to hurricane damage

A large rug dealer in Sarasota that closed due to damage from Hurricane Milton has reopened in a temporary location. Rugs As Art opened at the end of November in nearly 50,000 square feet of space in the University Town Center area off Cattlemen Road.

It was nearly “impossible to find large retail space in Sarasota for a few months,” Jesse Murse of Rugs As Art tells the Business Observer in an email. “However, Benderson Development worked with us and let us lease this space through the end of March."

The new Rugs As Art location at 147 N. Cattlemen Rd. is 48,000 square feet, according to Julie Fanning, director of marketing for Benderson Development. She says it is between DSW and Golf Galaxy in the West District of UTC. The UTC area, on the border of Sarasota and Manatee counties, has attracted a wide variety of new tenants in recent years. A Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, for example, is expected to open on the Manatee County side of the UTC area soon.