Benderson continues Pelican Plaza redevelopment

Benderson Development Co. has bought the last piece of Pelican Plaza it didn’t already own, bringing even more investment to Vamo in south Sarasota County. 

Using the company Pelsota LLC, the prolific developer purchased the former Denny’s building at  8214 S. Tamiami Trail for $1.2 million last week, and days later filed plans for a Starbuck’s on the other end of the 13-acre property, according to county building permit records. 

Benderson Director of Leasing Mark Chait said the firm has also secured a high-end national grocery store for the plaza. The unnamed tenant is new to the Sarasota market.

Sports Authority, Petco and Total Wine & More are currently the largest tenants at Pelican Plaza, which Benderson bought for $4 million in 2012 before undertaking a major revamp of the property.

That stretch of South Tamiami Trail has also attracted larger development plans.

The co-developer of the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota is proposing a $200 million collection of upscale condominiums, retail and entertainment space and offices on a 31-acre tract less than three miles north of that plaza called Cassia Cay.

Senior Editor Pam Eubanks contributed to this report.