Sarasota rug dealer temporarily moves locations due to hurricane damage

A large rug dealer in Sarasota that closed due to damage from Hurricane Milton has reopened in a temporary location. Rugs As Art opened at the end of November in nearly 50,000 square feet of space in the University Town Center area off Cattlemen Road.

It was nearly “impossible to find large retail space in Sarasota for a few months,” Jesse Murse of Rugs As Art tells the Business Observer in an email. “However, Benderson Development worked with us and let us lease this space through the end of March."

The new Rugs As Art location at 147 N. Cattlemen Rd. is 48,000 square feet, according to Julie Fanning, director of marketing for Benderson Development. She says it is between DSW and Golf Galaxy in the West District of UTC. The UTC area, on the border of Sarasota and Manatee counties, has attracted a wide variety of new tenants in recent years. A Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, for example, is expected to open on the Manatee County side of the UTC area soon. 

“A representative for Rugs As Art contacted our leasing team after their store was damaged by the hurricane, and we fortunately had a space available to lease temporarily until they’re able to reopen the location on South Tamiami Trail,” Fanning says.

Rugs As Art had been housed at its permanent space at 6650 S. Tamiami Trail for more than 20 years. It opened in 2001 there, spanning 20,000 square feet. The shop sells everything from Oriental to contemporary rugs and everything between.

“The new location has all of our rugs, furniture, accessories and art on display,” Murse says, adding the business is also accepting rug wash and repair work. It provides all the same services and products as it did in its permanent location, Murse says.

Since October, the location on South Tamiami Trail has been closed due to Hurricane Milton, which damaged the roof, allowing water to enter in a few spots, Murse says.

Photo by Elizabeth King

“Fortunately, all of our rugs are elevated on platforms or our rack systems, so about 95% of our inventory was fine,” Murse says. “The majority of damage sustained was due to our wood flooring getting wet. That had to all be ripped up, baseboards pulled and some drywall work done. We also have to replace the roof.”

To allow for work on the roof and flooring to be completed, all of the products in the store had to be removed for about three to four months, according to Murse.

“To speed up the process, we are going to polish the concrete floors” instead of replacing the wood, he says. 

It took six weeks to open Rugs As Art at UTC, where the plan is to remain open for several months.

“We do not want to tear down in the middle of season,” Murse says. “We hope to return to Tamiami Trail sometime in March.”