Downtown attracts new clothing store

J.McLaughlin, an American clothier known for its classic American clothing line, is bringing its ninth Florida location May 1 to downtown Sarasota.

The store will open in an approximately 1,000-square-foot space next to Eileen Fischer on the corner of Main Street and Lemon Avenue in a building owned by Lemon Avenue Properties, which is a division of Pineapple Square.

“We are very excited about J.McLaughlin coming in and are also negotiating with some other retailers for some retail space we own on Lemon Avenue,” said Charles “Butch” Isaac, the president of Lemon Avenue Properties. Lemon Avenue Properties has 1,500 square feet of space available on Lemon Avenue and can’t disclose its negotiations at this time.

J.McLaughlin public relations and social media manager Eliza Madison told the Sarasota Observer that although the lease begins May 1, the store may not open until just before June 1.

“We are indeed coming to downtown Sarasota and are looking forward to our new location in an exciting market,” Madison said.

Brothers Jay and Kevin McLaughlin opened their first store 35 years ago on New York’s Upper East Side. The stores feature classic American brands featuring a flair for bold colors and signature prints, according to the company’s website.

The McLaughlin brothers are known for such items as hand-quilted barn jackets, Caribbean colored Catalina T-shirts and handmade five-fold silk ties.

There are currently 55 stores nationwide, but no two J.McLaughlin stores are alike; instead, they reflect the character, local architecture and traditions of the particular town in which their stores reside.

According to its website, J.McLaughlin targets specific downtowns with busy pedestrian corridors.

The stores are known for reflecting a vintage atmosphere that’s inspired by the community.

J.McLaughlin also has Florida stores in Delray Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Vero Beach, Jacksonville, Naples, Palm Beach, Ponte Vedra and Stuart.

Further south, meanwhile, rumors continue to swirl that Westfield Southgate tenant Saks Fifth Avenue is ramping up for a move to the future Benderson Development University Town Center mall off of Interstate-75 and University Parkway, which is being built this year and expected to open a 1.1 million-square-foot mall on a 276-acre site in fall 2014.

Saks opened its 39,000-square-foot store at Westfield Southgate in 1996, and the store is looking for a larger location that University Town Center has available — a 95,000-square-foot spot.

Westfield Southgate mall Marketing Director Sam Davidson said he can’t comment or confirm the move; and Saks officials also declined to comment.

Saks has been having ongoing discussions in the past both with Benderson and Westfield Southgate in an attempt to gain a larger space to accommodate customers.