Dead malls: Sarasota Square Mall

Completed in 1977, Sarasota Square Mall was the premier shopping destination in Sarasota County for 37 years.

The location of Sarasota Square Mall’s original food court.

The remains of the food court that was added in 2006.

Anchoring the food court, AMC Sarasota 12 is one of the last remaining tenants in the mall.

Costco opened a new location at the mall in 2012. The Costco store replaced a Dillard’s store that closed in 2009. A part of a 1989 expansion of the mall, the Costco location was originally the site of Parisian.

The mall will be demolished in 2024 and replaced by a mixed-use development that will add 1,200 apartments to the site.

Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com