Chicago-based Torburn Partners has hired Holly Cohen to oversee retail planning for the redevelopment of the former Sarasota Square Mall in Southwest Florida in a tight market for shopping spaces.
Cohen, a nationally recognized retail strategist who has experience working with Nike, J. Crew, Madewell, Converse, Claire’s and Gap, will guide brand strategy, merchandising and experiential design for the project.
Redevelopment plans for Sarasota Square call for converting the former mall at 8201 S. Tamiami Trail into an open-air lifestyle destination with 530,000 square feet of retail, dining and commercial space, plus 1,200 luxury rental units.
The project seeks to tap a tight market for retail property in the area. Like many retail markets across the country, Sarasota's retail availability has been hovering around all-time lows, according to a CoStar analysis. As of the fourth quarter of 2025, Sarasota's retail availability rate sits at 3.7%, which equates to roughly 2.0 million SF of available space.
“We’re creating a destination that reflects the best of Sarasota’s lifestyle — sophisticated, wellness-driven and connected to its surroundings,” Torburn CEO Michael Burns said in a statement.
Demolition of the old mall is complete, and vertical construction on the retail portion is underway. Completion is expected in 2026, with work on a residential component beginning that same year.
Cohen launched Holly Cohen Retail Advisory Services in 2018 to help clients align brand vision with real estate development. She is a past trustee of the International Council of Shopping Centers and the former president of Commercial Real Estate Women Miami.
“Holly’s expertise and relationships across the retail and brand landscape bring a strategic lens to this vision, ensuring we attract the right mix of tenants,” Burns said.
“Torburn’s commitment to design, community and experiential retail creates a rare opportunity to build something enduring — a place that feels both elevated and approachable,” Cohen said in the statement.
Whole Foods and Homesense will anchor the project, joined by Charles Schwab, Cava, Chipotle and Joe & The Juice.