Brightwork plans more retail across from Southgate Mall

A Tampa-based firm continues redeveloping South Tamiami Trail, and retail options continue to grow in the areas around Westfield Southgate Mall.

Brightwork Real Estate aims to demolish the drive-thru at the Leedom Building near the intersection of Bee Ridge Road and U.S. 41 to build a roughly 4,100-square-foot retail project. The former bank property is just north of Paradise Plaza.

"It’s really a surprising strong market given its size.” Simmons said. "The economy is very strong there and there’s a great breadth and depth of different folks there with lots of different needs that a lot of retailers can serve.”

Representatives from development firm, which creates and owns the real estate for many of the most desirable national retailers including Starbucks, Wawa, Walgreens and Chipotle, said there are no immediate tenants planned for the project.

“We love Sarasota,” said Brightwork Real Estate Partner Austin Simmons. “Its demographics are fantastic and its traffic is fantastic for retailers."

Brightwork recently demolished the former site of El Adobe nearby to develop a Verizon Wireless store.

ECHO Realty LP is also revitalizing nearby retail space, with construction underway in the former Borders space in the adjacent Paradise Plaza.

Pier 1 Imports plans to move its store out of the Landings Plaza and open in a portion of the 21,000-square-foot space later this year. Columbus, Ohio-based stylist community firm Salon Lofts will open its second Sarasota location at the beginning of May next to the home decor store.

"It’s really a surprising strong market given its size.” Simmons said. "The economy is very strong there and there’s a great breadth and depth of different folks there with lots of different needs that a lot of retailers can serve.”