13 new retailers, eateries coming to University Town Center

The retail district is growing at University Town Center, located near the border of Sarasota and Manatee counties off University Parkway. More than a dozen businesses — from restaurants to retailers — will be opening in the coming months. Together, the new tenants will occupy more than 86,000 square feet, according to a statement from Benderson Development, which developed and owns UTC.

Starting this summer, five new restaurants will be opening around UTC, serving up everything from pizza to dumplings to juice. Here’s what to expect:

• Mister 01 | Extraordinary Pizza will open this summer next to Mission BBQ in The Market at UTC, providing artisan pizzas and salads at 5231 University Parkway, Suite 111. Based in Miami, the company has two additional locations on the Gulf Coast, both in Naples.
• Just Salad will open next door in Suite 113, offering an array of salads in a fast-casual environment. Other locations for the New York-based brand are in Tampa and Naples.
• Playa Bowls is setting up shop in the West District at UTC, where it will serve acai bowls, smoothies, juices and other offerings near Chipotle, at 81 N. Cattlemen Road. Founded in New Jersey, the company has outposts in Sarasota, Tampa, St. Pete Beach, Wesley Chapel, Fort Myers and Naples.
• Pure Green will have cold-pressed juices, superfood smoothies, and acai bowls on the menu, at 5275 University Parkway, Suite 130, next to Pure Barre. Around the region, the Sunrise-headquartered business has locations in St. Pete, Cape Coral, North Naples and Fort Myers.
• Zen Dumpling will be in the Shoppes at UTC near Marshalls. Founded in Jacksonville, the brand is known for its handcrafted dumplings, soups, bao buns and wok dishes like General Tso’s chicken and Mongolian beef. There is also a Zen Dumpling in Brandon.

Retail, lifestyle concepts

Five retail and lifestyle concepts are also coming to the open-air shopping district at UTC. Multiple stores are currently under construction, including furniture retailers West Elm and Ikea.

• Ikea is set to open this summer in UTC's West District, at 147 N. Cattlemen Road. Located in a 48,000-square-foot store tucked between DSW and Golf Galaxy, the business will feature more than 5,000 home furnishing products and more than 100 small furniture items; larger furniture like sofas, beds and appliances can be ordered in-store for delivery or pickup. There will also be an on-site cafe serving Swedish meatballs, cinnamon buns and veggie dogs, among other items. This will mark the sixth Ikea in Florida. Currently, the only other Gulf Coast Ikea store is in Tampa.
• West Elm will feature modern home furnishings, such as furniture, decor, lighting and textiles, and offer expert design services from an 18,000-square-foot store adjacent to L.L. Bean in the West District at UTC on N. Cattlemen Road. This will be the eighth store for the New York-based brand in Florida. Others in the region are in Estero and Tampa.

• Pure Hockey will be in the Square at UTC, where construction is currently underway on a 6,000-square-foot expansion next to F45 Training off Honore Avenue. Billed as the nation’s largest ice hockey retailer, Pure Hockey will offer sticks, skates, helmets, pants, gloves and more. The Massachusetts-based brand has stores in Lutz and Fort Myers.
• Body Hot Pilates will open a 2,200-square-foot fitness studio next to New Balance at 315 N. Cattlemen Road, Suite 3. Based near Miami, the wellness concept incorporates infrared sauna technology into its classes, which are held at temperatures of at least 95 degrees.
• LaserAway will be in the Market at UTC at 5275 University Parkway near Club Champion. The 1,700-square-foot clinic will provide aesthetic dermatology services, such as advanced hair removal, tattoo removal, laser facial, injectables and skin rejuvenation. Started in California, the company has locations in St. Pete, Tampa and Wesley Chapel.

3 new UTC mall tenants

Just as the surrounding open-air shopping district is growing, so too is the Mall at UTC. There will be three tenants coming soon, according to a statement.

Photo by Elizabeth King

• ScandyCandy will bring Swedish candy to the ground floor of the mall. This will be the third ScandyCandy store in Florida and the first on the Gulf Coast. The company is based in Miami.
• James Avery Artisan Jewelry will open on the second floor of the mall near Hollister, featuring a selection of handcrafted jewelry. The company is based in Texas, where its products are made, and UTC will mark its first Florida store.
• Dick’s House of Sport is currently under construction in the mall, where signage says it is projected to open in 2027. The brand offers an interactive, experiential retail concept, such as a climbing wall, house of cleats and bike repair services. Other Dick’s House of Sport locations in the region are in Brandon and Tampa.