New Dining Option Coming to UTC

May 8, 2024 | Sarasota

The dining scene at University Town Center (UTC) is about to get a little spicier. Florence and the Spice Boys is set to open its second Sarasota location in the West District of the sprawling shopping and dining destination. 

The Spice Boys first started as a food truck in 2019 and quickly gained a loyal following for their visually beautiful and delicious modern Middle Eastern fusion street food. After a successful run on the road, the owners – Carl Kolber and husband and wife team Florence and Steven Schmitt – decided to park the truck permanently and opened their first brick-and-mortar restaurant in March 2023 at The Landings in South Sarasota.

Now, the talented chefs are continuing their culinary journey with a new 2,500-square-foot restaurant at UTC along Cattlemen Rd. Similar to the original location, the interiors will feature lush greenery and a mix of bohemian and eclectic décor, weaving rattan and neon to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.  The new space will open onto a large, inviting patio with an indoor-outdoor bar, perfect for sipping on a lineup of creative craft cocktails.

The restaurant menu will feature some of the original classics, like the turmeric fried chicken sandwich, vegan falafel pita taco and chicken shawarma taco, plus a few more elevated dishes. 

“It’s hard for us to believe that we are making this announcement; it feels like yesterday we were still in the food truck, dreaming of one restaurant, let alone two,” shared owner Florence Schmitt. “We are incredibly excited to get started, truly humbled by the opportunity and more than ready to see our Lakewood Ranch friends more often!”

Florence and the Spice Boys is among an exciting lineup of new restaurants coming to UTC. Other upcoming additions include Naked Farmer, a farm-to-fork concept scheduled to open this June, and Pura Vida Miami, a health-conscious all-day café opening late summer.

The Benderson-owned UTC is a premier mixed-use destination off I-75 and University Parkway on the border of Sarasota and Manatee counties. Spanning over 4 million square feet, the property features more than 250 specialty stores, 80-plus restaurants, three hotels and over 250,000 square feet of premier office space.

For more information on University Town Center, visit www.utcsarasota.com