Photo: Taubman Centers
Written by: Justin Quittschreiber
Interview by: Stacy Brown
The Sarasota region is receiving an upgrade to its shopping and retail environment in the near future. Benderson Development and Taubman have collaborated to create The Mall at University Town Center. This mall will contain roughly 115 stores and the majority of them aren’t available anywhere else in Sarasota. Benderson Development is a family run business built on personal passions and commitment to the community. The Mall at University Town Center is just another example of the wonderful additions that Benderson Development has added to the Sarasota Community.
Photo: Taubman Centers
Play Golf Sarasota Magazine’s, Stacy Brown, sat down with Mark Chait, Director of Florida Leasing, at the Benderson Corporate Headquarters and discussed several features that Benderson Development has added Stacy: The Mall at University Town Center will be a destination, to Sarasota. Stacy Brown (Stacy): In early 2012, while the Director
in and of itself, and the perfect addition to the Gulf Coast’s finest retail corridor. The approximately $315-million two-level
of Marketing at Mission Valley Country Club; I was called by
enclosed shopping center will feature a Saks Fifth Avenue,
Benderson, who was gathering demographic information about
Macy’s, Dillard’s along with approximately 115 other stores with
golf communities. As a dedicated University Town Center shopper
the majority expected to be new to our area. What other uses will
myself, I remember being excited that The Mall was back on track.
the project offer?
What is important about golf data in your market research?
Mark Chait (Mark): The golfing community on a whole
Mark:
We have two existing hotels; a Courtyard Marriott
and Hampton Inn. On the south side of University there will
is an affluent community. There’s a commonality between an
be two new hotels with 500 additional hotel rooms. There are
affluent club member, golfer and our shoppers.
also approvals in place for 1,750 multi-family residential units.
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