Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW), owner and operator of the Westfield Siesta Key in Sarasota, has tapped Ian Black Real Estate to partner on leasing for the shopping center. The Sarasota-based commercial real estate firm will work in collaboration with URW’s in-house leasing team.
Westfield Siesta Key comprises more than 400,000 square feet of gross leasable area (GLA), with current tenants including Macy’s, Chico’s, CinéBistro, Bravo Coastal Kitchen & Bar, Connor’s Steak & Seafood, Lucky’s Market, and LA Fitness.
“What makes this property so phenomenal are three things – location, location and location,” said Ian Black, partner and founder of Ian Black Real Estate.
Westfield Siesta Key is located at the busiest intersection in Sarasota and visible from U.S. 41 and Siesta Drive. It’s three miles from downtown Sarasota and seven miles from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. Seventy-three percent of area households have an annual income at or above $150,000, and 4.5 million tourists visit Siesta Key each year. Visitors spend over $1 billion in Sarasota annually.
“We brought in Ian Black Real Estate because of their local knowledge,” said Matthew Magassy, senior leasing manager for URW. “They’re first-in-class in the local market and will help us make an impact here. Our team will continue to leverage our national relationships, and Ian Black Real Estate will bring in the local knowledge to help us diversify our merchandising mix.”
While Ian Black Real Estate has managed leasing for large neighborhood retail centers, this assignment is a significant extension of the opportunities the firm can offer to the local market.
“Malls across the country are being transformed, and we’re looking for tenants that can further energize this property,” said Steve Horn, partner at Ian Black Real Estate. “We’re keeping our ear to the ground for local users who may not look like the typical mall tenant but would be a great fit here.”
Black, Horn and Melissa Harris, sales associate at Ian Black Real Estate, comprise the firm’s team on this assignment.
About Ian Black Real Estate
Ian Black Real Estate (IBRE) is a boutique commercial real estate brokerage firm located in Sarasota, Fla. The firm is one of the largest commercial brokerage firms in Southwest Florida and boasts a deep knowledge of the commercial real estate market in Sarasota and Manatee counties and the surrounding area. For more information, visit ian-black.com.