Florida shopping district is adding 12 stores and restaurants. See what’s coming
If you’re heading to Tampa, Orlando or Gainesville on Interstate 75 on Florida’s Gulf Coast, you’ll soon have more choices to shop and eat during a pit stop.
University Town Center, just west of I-75 in Sarasota, is expanding its offerings with a dozen new stores and restaurants.
The shopping center will grow in 2025 and 2026. Here’s a look at what’s coming to UTC:
Award-winning Tampa restaurants coming to UTC
Award-winning chef Chris Ponte has two restaurants planned along North Cattlemen Road, across from Ford’s Garage. One is a modern Italian restaurant, Olivia, and the other is a contemporary American restaurant, On Swann.
Olivia, which was named after Ponte’s daughter and started in South Tampa in 2019, will occupy a 6,500-square-foot building. The UTC location is its third.
On Swann will take up 5,000 square feet. It’s the second location for the restaurant that started in Tampa, where it earned a Michelin Guide recommendation.
“I always wanted to expand to the Sarasota market,” Ponte said in a statement. “This has been an idea years in the making that is finally becoming a reality at UTC. The fact that we can have both brands right next to each other is a win-win.”
On Swann features dishes such as lamb meatballs over grits with minted ricotta cheese and chicken tenders with paprika honey butter.
The two restaurants are scheduled to open in 2026.
More new restaurants planned for UTC
Other planned restaurants for UTC’s West District include:
- Bulla Gastrobar, known for its Spanish tapas, will rise near furniture store Ethan Allen with a 2026 planned opening date.
- Blu Kouzina, a Greek restaurant that started on St. Armand’s Circle in Sarasota, is opening later this year next to Ford’s Garage.
Zōtō is a Japanese izakaya — or tavern — that features sushi, small Japanese plates, premium sake and craft cocktails with a Japanese twist. It’s expected to open this summer in UTC’s West District.
Florence and the Spice Boys, which offers Middle Eastern food, is opening its UTC restaurant on Monday, April 28.
Rita’s Italian Ice is opening in the Shoppes at UTC in late spring or early summer. It’s next to the Sprinkles cupcake shop.
L.L. Bean and more stores announced
Popular outdoor and adventure store L.L. Bean is opening its first Florida store on May 9. It’s located near the Target in UTC’s West District.
In addition, there are plans for City Furniture to open a showroom in a 120,000-square-foot building next to Tesla in UTC’s East District. The opening date is later this year.
Furniture store Design with Reach is opening in the summer on the lower level at The Mall at UTC, while Canadian clothing retailer Garage and Southern California-based jewelry Gorjana also have planned The Mall at UTC openings.
UTC, a Benderson Development project, spans over 4 million square feet of retail, dining, lodging and office space, including The Mall at UTC, which opened in 2014. Visit UTCSarasota.com for more info.
This story was originally published April 25, 2025 at 5:00 AM.