Tag Archives: business journalism

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Mall a sign of renewed optimism for retailers

Column by Justine Griffin for the Herald-Tribune.

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The future of the Mall at University Town Center project, a multimillion-dollar shopping mall that promised to bring high end brands to Southwest Florida for the first time, was almost dead in the water this time six years ago.

Plans to build the $315 million center stalled amid the worst recession several lifetimes. Key tenants Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus abandoned plans to open new stores here. Brick-and-mortar sales continued to plummet as national chains struggled to combat the ever-growing online shopping threat.

But that was then.

As the regional economy was finding its footing, Taubman Centers Inc. and Manatee County’s Benderson Development Co. resurrected plans to build the ambitious shopping center, breaking ground two years ago on a 276-acre parcel that would be home to the most upscale shopping mall between Tampa and Naples.

On Thursday, shoppers will walk through the doors to the 880,000-square-foot mall for the first time.

Read more here. 

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Opening the only locally owned boutique in the UTC Mall

By Justine Griffin for the Herald-Tribune

Jackie Zumba strolled down the center aisle of the Mall at University Town Center one night, taking a break from the ongoing work and construction in her new boutique.

Zumba, a 27-year-old retail entrepreneur in Sarasota, marveled at the expansive — and expensive — storefronts of the many national and international retailers that will open alongside her store next week.

“I look at all these beautiful stores and think, ‘Wow, I’m in the big leagues, now,’ ” she said. “Even though it’s been really stressful, this is such a great opportunity for me.”

Zumba owns Jackie Z Style & Co., the only locally owned boutique opening inside the new mall.

The store also will be the only store that’s not a department store to sell multiple brands.

Making the move from Main Street in downtown Sarasota to the $315 million mall has been anything but easy.

Read more here.

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Foundation raises funds for Nathan Benderson Park

By Justine Griffin for the Herald-Tribune

A new foundation headed by community and political leaders has raised $3.5 million for Nathan Benderson Park and hopes to raise at least $11 million in private donations for the emerging international rowing venue over the next 12 months.

The Nathan Benderson Park Foundation, headed by Randy Benderson of the Manatee County-based real estate firm, aims to be the fundraising arm that will draw the private financial support needed to complete the rowing facility’s major structures. The nonprofit organization, which is separate from the Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates — another nonprofit that is responsible for the park operations — will continue to raise donations to help build towers at the start and finish lines, a boathouse and several other buildings at the park.

“When the Sarasota Scullers Rowing Club came to us with an idea for the rowing park, we never thought this would become what it is now — one of the top facilities in the world,” Benderson said. “While the foundation is only a month old, we’ve been talking about fundraising efforts and working hard to get to this point.”

The foundation hopes to raise $5 million to $6 million by the start of 2015, said Mike Bennett, a former state senator and the Manatee County elections supervisor who was named to the foundation’s inaugural board.

Read more here.

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What’s In Store video series debuts

My retail blog and column brand, What’s In Store, expanded to include a weekly video series this week.

Every week I’ll take readers on a tour of a new store or give them retail news that is unique to the coverage we do in print and on the blog.

“Check back every week for a round up of the top retail news through a new video series with retail reporter, Justine Griffin.

Interested in being apart of the What’s in Store video series? Pitch your story ideas to Justine directly by emailing her here.”