12 businesses coming soon to University Town Center

Two business will be opening in University Town Center in the weeks ahead, and they mark the first of a dozen businesses coming to the shopping district bordering Sarasota and Manatee counties over the next year.

Florence and the Spice Boys will bring its Middle Eastern street cuisine to a 2,500-square-foot location in the West District at UTC starting April 28. The eatery began out of a food truck in 2019 and opened its first restaurant in The Landings in 2022. This will be the second brightly colored, brick-and-mortar establishment for the business, located at 257 N. Cattlemen Road, Unit 90.

L.L. Bean is also opening its doors this spring. It will hold a grand opening May 9. This is the first location in the Southeast and in Florida for the Maine-based retailer. The clothing and outdoor store will be in a 17,000-square-foot space near Target at 111 N. Cattlemen Road in the West District at UTC. The first 100 customers at the store on May 9 and on May 10 will receive a $50 L.L. Bean gift card. The line starts at 6 a.m. The L.L. Bean Bootmobile will also be on site.