Updated September 2026 – What’s open now and what’s coming next to University Town Center in Sarasota.
University Town Center (UTC) in Sarasota, Florida continues to grow as one of Southwest Florida’s premier destinations for shopping, dining, entertainment, home design, and lifestyle. Located near I-75, University Parkway, Lakewood Ranch, and Nathan Benderson Park, UTC has evolved far beyond a traditional shopping mall into a large mixed-use district filled with restaurants, national retailers, home furnishings, fitness, events, and family-friendly attractions.
With new restaurants and stores continuing to open and additional businesses under construction, the UTC area remains one of Sarasota’s most active commercial districts. Recent additions range from upscale restaurants and specialty retailers to home furnishings, healthy fast-casual dining, and the Mote Science Education Aquarium.
Home, Furniture & Lifestyle Stores at UTC
UTC has become a major Sarasota destination for furniture, home décor, and interior design. In addition to established stores throughout the district, several newer and upcoming retailers continue to expand the area’s home-furnishings selection.
CITY HOME
CITY HOME is now open in The East District at UTC, with a large showroom featuring furniture, mattresses, home accents, and design inspiration for nearly every room of the home. The store also includes the KC Café and Wine Bar, giving shoppers a place to enjoy a drink or light bite while browsing.
Design Within Reach
Design Within Reach is now open at The Mall at UTC, offering modern furniture, lighting, accessories, and design-forward pieces for shoppers interested in contemporary and architecturally inspired interiors.
IKEA Coming Soon
IKEA is coming soon to The West District at UTC at 147 N. Cattlemen Road. The approximately 48,000-square-foot Sarasota store is expected to feature more than 5,000 home-furnishing products, including accessories, lighting, textiles, décor, and more than 100 smaller furniture items available for immediate purchase.
Larger furniture, including sofas, beds, and appliances, will be available to order for delivery or pickup. The store is also expected to offer planning services for kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, and other spaces, along with IKEA food favorites.
West Elm Coming to UTC
West Elm is another home-furnishings retailer joining UTC. Known for modern furniture, décor, lighting, rugs, bedding, and accessories, the store will further expand the area’s growing collection of interior-design and home-furnishing businesses.
Shopping & Retail at The Mall at UTC
The Mall at UTC continues to attract fashion, jewelry, lifestyle, and specialty retailers. Recent openings and announced additions are helping keep the shopping mix fresh while bringing several brands to the Sarasota-Bradenton market.
- Alo Yoga: An athleisure and wellness-inspired retailer offering activewear, yoga apparel, and casual lifestyle pieces.
- Madewell: Known for denim, casual clothing, accessories, and relaxed everyday style.
- Garage: A trend-focused fashion retailer offering casual clothing and accessories.
- Gorjana: A jewelry brand known for delicate, layer-friendly pieces and everyday accessories.
- Rowan: Offering nurse-administered ear piercing along with earrings and accessories.
- Vuori: A California-inspired activewear and lifestyle brand focused on performance, comfort, and casual style.
- James Avery Artisan Jewelry: Coming to the mall with handcrafted jewelry, including rings, bracelets, charms, necklaces, and other pieces. The UTC location is expected to be the brand’s first Florida store.
- ScandyCandy: Coming soon with a selection of Swedish candy and sweets.
Dick’s House of Sport Coming in 2027
Dick’s House of Sport is under construction at The Mall at UTC and is currently targeting a 2027 opening. The experiential retail concept goes beyond a traditional sporting-goods store by combining merchandise with interactive features and services.
Other House of Sport locations feature experiences such as climbing walls, footwear and cleat areas, bike services, and spaces designed to let customers interact with sporting equipment. The addition will bring another major national retail concept to the UTC district.
Dining at UTC: New Restaurants & Local Favorites
Dining has become one of the biggest draws at UTC, with options ranging from fast-casual restaurants and cafés to sushi, Mediterranean cuisine, Italian dining, steakhouses, and special-occasion restaurants.
Florence & The Spice Boys
Florence & The Spice Boys is open in The District West at UTC, bringing Middle Eastern-inspired cuisine to the area. The concept originally grew from a popular local food truck and has developed a following for its colorful, flavor-forward dishes.
Zōtō
Zōtō is open in The West District at UTC. This upscale Japanese dining concept offers sushi, small plates, sake, cocktails, and a polished atmosphere for diners looking for a more refined night out near University Parkway.
Yūgen
Yūgen is located next to Zōtō and offers an intimate omakase-style dining experience. Its limited seating and chef-driven format add another high-end culinary option to UTC’s restaurant scene.
Blu Kouzina
Blu Kouzina is now open at UTC, bringing Greek and Mediterranean cuisine to The West District. The restaurant features Greek-inspired dishes, seafood, mezze, and indoor and outdoor dining.
Just Salad
Just Salad is now open at The Market at UTC at 5231 University Parkway. The fast-casual restaurant offers salads, warm bowls, wraps, market plates, soups, and smoothies, with both chef-designed selections and customizable meals.
Mama G’s German Bakery & Coffeehouse
Mama G’s has opened a UTC location, bringing German-inspired baked goods, coffee, breakfast items, pastries, and café fare to the area.
Olivia & On Swann Coming to UTC
Olivia and On Swann are planned for UTC along North Cattlemen Road. The two Tampa-area restaurant concepts are associated with chef Chris Ponte and will occupy neighboring spaces in a new development opposite Ford’s Garage.
Olivia is an Italian concept known for handcrafted pasta, pizza, and a polished trattoria atmosphere, while On Swann features contemporary American cuisine in an upscale neighborhood-restaurant setting.
More Restaurants Coming to UTC
UTC continues to attract additional restaurants and fast-casual concepts as the district expands.
- Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza: An artisan pizza concept planned for The Market at UTC near Mission BBQ.
- Playa Bowls: Coming to The West District with açaí bowls, smoothies, juices, and other fruit-based selections.
- Pure Green: Planned near Pure Barre with cold-pressed juices, superfood smoothies, and açaí bowls.
- Zen Dumpling: Coming to The Shoppes at UTC with handcrafted dumplings, bao buns, soups, and wok dishes.
More Shopping & Lifestyle Options Around UTC
L.L.Bean
L.L.Bean is open in The District West at UTC, marking the outdoor retailer’s first Florida store. The store offers outdoor apparel, footwear, travel gear, swimwear, and products suited to Florida’s active lifestyle.
Rita’s Italian Ice
Rita’s Italian Ice has been planned for The Shoppes at UTC, adding another casual dessert option for shoppers, families, and visitors.
Mote Science Education Aquarium at Nathan Benderson Park
The Mote Science Education Aquarium, commonly known as Mote SEA, is now open at 225 University Town Center Drive next to Nathan Benderson Park. The aquarium brings marine-life exhibits, science education, interactive experiences, and STEM-focused programming to the UTC area.
Mote SEA has added a major family and educational attraction to an area already known for shopping, dining, recreation, and events. Its location near I-75, University Parkway, The Mall at UTC, and Lakewood Ranch further expands the reasons residents and visitors spend time in the UTC district.
Why University Town Center Matters for Sarasota Real Estate
The continued growth of UTC contributes to the lifestyle and convenience of living in this part of Sarasota. For many home buyers, proximity to restaurants, shopping, entertainment, parks, fitness, healthcare, and interstate access can be an important consideration when deciding where to live.
Communities near UTC offer convenient access to the area’s retail and dining while remaining within reach of Downtown Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, and Gulf Coast beaches. Buyers researching the broader area can explore our Sarasota homes for sale guide for additional community and real estate information.
University Town Center Continues to Grow
University Town Center has evolved into one of Southwest Florida’s largest shopping, dining, entertainment, and lifestyle districts. New retailers, restaurants, home-furnishing stores, and attractions continue to expand the reasons to visit the area.
With IKEA and West Elm coming, Dick’s House of Sport under construction for 2027, additional restaurants on the way, and Mote SEA now open, UTC continues to change well beyond the original Mall at University Town Center.
Information updated September 2026. Stores, restaurants, development plans, business hours, and anticipated opening dates can change. Visitors should verify individual business information before making plans.
Frequently Asked Questions About University Town Center
What is University Town Center in Sarasota?
University Town Center, commonly called UTC, is a large shopping, dining, entertainment, and lifestyle district near University Parkway and I-75 in Sarasota. The area includes The Mall at UTC, several open-air shopping districts, restaurants, home-furnishing stores, fitness and service businesses, Nathan Benderson Park, and the nearby Mote Science Education Aquarium.
What new stores are coming to UTC Sarasota?
New and upcoming additions to UTC include IKEA, West Elm, James Avery Artisan Jewelry, ScandyCandy, and Dick’s House of Sport. Additional businesses may be announced as development continues throughout the UTC district.
Is IKEA open at University Town Center in Sarasota?
IKEA is coming soon to The West District at UTC at 147 N. Cattlemen Road. The Sarasota location is expected to offer thousands of home-furnishing products, smaller furniture available for immediate purchase, ordering for larger furniture, planning services, and IKEA food favorites.
What new restaurants are at UTC Sarasota?
UTC’s expanding restaurant selection includes Florence & The Spice Boys, Zōtō, Yūgen, Blu Kouzina, Just Salad, and Mama G’s German Bakery & Coffeehouse. Additional concepts including Olivia, On Swann, Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza, Playa Bowls, Pure Green, and Zen Dumpling have also been announced or planned for the area.
Is Mote Aquarium open at UTC?
Yes. The Mote Science Education Aquarium, known as Mote SEA, is open at 225 University Town Center Drive near Nathan Benderson Park. The aquarium features marine-life exhibits, educational experiences, and science-focused programming.
Explore Sarasota Homes Near University Town Center
If convenient access to UTC’s shopping, restaurants, entertainment, Nathan Benderson Park, and I-75 is important to your home search, explore Sarasota homes for sale to learn more about communities and available properties throughout the Sarasota area.
