BRADENTON, FL / ACCESS Newswire / January 22, 2025 / A decade ago, The Mall at University Town Center (Mall at UTC) opened its doors, setting off a transformative wave that has reshaped the Sarasota-Manatee region. A joint partnership between Benderson Development and The Taubman Company, the two-story, 880,000-square-foot Mall at UTC was the first regional shopping center to be built in Sarasota in 35 years and the first new enclosed mall to open in the U.S. in nearly five. It has since evolved into far more than just a major shopping destination - it has become a community hub.

"My father, Nathan Benderson, had the early vision to create a regional shopping destination here. At the time, the adjacent Lakewood Ranch was just beginning to take shape. Now, it is the number one fastest growing multi-generational master planned community in the country," shared Randy Benderson, managing director of Benderson Development. "With Sarasota's vibrant tourism and many cultural and recreational opportunities, the region has emerged as the epicenter of southwest Florida's growth story. We have experienced tremendous growth over the last 10 years and expect that trend to continue well into the future. UTC is already a super-regional retail destination, and the Mall at UTC helped get us here."

A Decade of Economic and Community Impact

The success of The Mall at UTC spurred significant development throughout the entire Benderson-owned UTC District, which now spans more than 4 million square feet along the border of Sarasota and Manatee counties. Since the Mall at UTC opened in 2014, Benderson added nearly 1 million square feet of surrounding retail and restaurant space with another 1 million square feet soon to be developed on the east side of the mall.

Today, the impact of UTC continues to ripple across the area, driving economic growth and establishing Sarasota as a retail and entertainment powerhouse. Featuring unique-to-market and top brands like Apple, Alo, Lululemon, L.L.Bean, Trader Joe's, The Cheesecake Factory and The Capital Grille, the UTC District attracts over 20 million visitors annually. With more than 250 specialty stores, over 90 eateries, and a growing array of entertainment venues, it generates over $1.5 billion in annual sales and supports thousands of local jobs.

Randy Benderson emphasized the broader impact. "When we first envisioned this shopping center, it wasn't just about creating a retail destination - it was about building a true community hub where guests and families could come together to shop, dine, and socialize. Over the years, we've seen how it has transformed into a place of connection, creating tens of thousands of local jobs and contributing to the vibrancy of our economy."

Building Community and Culture

Randy Benderson points to the neighboring Nathan Benderson Park (NBP) and upcoming Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA) as another boom for the community made possible by the success of UTC.

Two years after the Mall at UTC opened, the Sarasota County-owned NBP completed its new finish tower and hosted the World Rowing Championships, the first time the event had been held in the U.S. in over 20 years. Today, NBP welcomes over 600,000 local, national, and international visitors every year; has been named top rowing venue in North America for two years running; and is set to build a new 100,000-square-foot indoor sports complex to further fuel sports tourism in the Sarasota-Manatee area

Directly to the south of the Mall, construction is nearing completion on Mote SEA, a $130 million world-class aquarium with more than 1 million gallons of marine life exhibits. Mote's move to the UTC District from its current location on City Island is expected to double the current attendance - attracting over 750,000 visitors in the opening year.

"We are proud to be a part of these iconic, placemaking projects that have transformational potential. To put them all in one place creates a powerhouse of a destination," Randy Benderson said.

Beyond spurring investment and development in the surrounding area, UTC continues to be a hub for community events. From outdoor movies and markets to live music concerts and fitness classes, UTC hosts over 400 free events a year. The annual Holidays at UTC features dazzling nightly light shows, ice skating, horse-drawn carriage rides and more, drawing more than 3 million visitors to the area over the holiday season.

"Community is at the heart of what we do," Randy Benderson said. "It's been an honor to play a part in bringing people together, fostering enjoyment, and helping the community thrive."

A Bright Future for Sarasota

As The Mall at UTC celebrates its tenth anniversary, Randy Benderson envisions an even brighter future. "Our mission remains the same: to create opportunities for Sarasota to thrive. The UTC District will continue to evolve, but our focus on community and economic growth will never change."

With its transformative impact over the past decade, The Mall at UTC stands as a testament to Randy Benderson and his company's vision and commitment to the greater Sarasota-Bradenton community.

CONTACT:

Andrew Mitchell
media@cambridgeglobal.com

SOURCE: Cambridge Global