Work underway on Tesla in Sarasota

The Tesla at University Town Center in Sarasota is a step closer to opening after the developer, Benderson Development, announced  “work is well underway."

The 55,000-square-foot showroom and service center is expected to open sometime later this year, University Park-based Benderson says in a statement. Tesla is an electric vehicle company headquartered in Texas. The company already has a showroom in the Mall at University Town Center as well as a service center at 5231 McIntosh Road. The new location will be along University Parkway, just west of the University exit of Interstate 75. 

It was also announced that the Sarasota-Bradenton area would be getting its first Drybar, also at UTC. The blow-dry bar salon will occupy a 1,600-square-foot space next to Restore Hyper Wellness. 

The announcement was the latest to come from the Benderson property after a string of news including a 25,000-square-foot REI Co-op, a specialty outdoor retailer, that’s expected to open this fall and Greek restaurant Blu Kouzina in St. Armands Circle is set to open its second location in Sarasota at UTC.

Rocco’s Tacos and Tequila Bar recently opened at UTC with Yard House coming up next with an opening date of April 2, the company says. Other concepts announced include:

• Naked Farmer, a farm-to-fork concept
• Foxtail Coffee Co., an Orlando-based shop
• Anna Maria Oyster Bar
• Fat Point Brewing, a taproom and restaurant
• The Breakfast Co.
• J. Crew
• Venetian Nail Spa