Fresh Growth: Sprouts Springs Into Downtown Sarasota & Venice

Sprouts Farmers Market has officially opened its newest store in Downtown Sarasota, and another one is already on the way in Venice this November. These back-to-back openings highlight the grocer’s growing footprint in Southwest Florida and reinforce the region’s appetite for health-forward shopping options.

Sarasota: Fresh Produce in the Heart of Downtown

The new Sarasota Sprouts sits at 111 Links Avenue in the Aster & Links development. The grand opening, held September 6, kicked off with a ribbon cutting at sunrise and a weekend packed with giveaways, product samplings, and even free roses for early shoppers. The layout follows Sprouts’ trademark approach: colorful produce up front, bulk bins, natural and organic packaged goods, plus vitamins and supplements rounding out the aisles.

For downtown Sarasota, this marks a significant upgrade in grocery access. Residents within walking distance now have a neighborhood option that blends convenience with the fresh-first ethos Sprouts is known for. The store also brought around 100 jobs into the local market.

Venice: Opening November 14, 2025

Venice Sprouts Farmers Market is located at 1120 Jacaranda Blvd., Venice, FL 34292, at the corner of Jacaranda Blvd & Center Road.

The store is slated to open on Friday, November 14. Like Sarasota’s launch, the Venice opening will feature early-morning festivities, reusable shopping bag giveaways, and a pop-up celebration. Sprouts is hiring 90+ new team members for the new location, with local recruitment already underway.

This store will be the fourth Sprouts in the Sarasota-Manatee area, showing that the chain sees strong demand in both established neighborhoods and growing suburban hubs.

Grand opening activities will mirror the downtown format: early ribbon cutting (6:45 a.m.), free reusable bags for the first ~200 shoppers, free long stem roses for the first ~400 shoppers, pop-up party out front, in-store samplings, and other family-friendly events.

The expansion speaks to more than just retail growth. Sprouts is positioning itself as a health-minded anchor in local communities. For Sarasota, its presence strengthens downtown as a live-work neighborhood. For Venice, it anchors a growing corridor and signals new retail and dining opportunities to follow.

Competition among grocers in the region is also heating up. With Publix firmly established, Aldi expanding, and Whole Foods catering to premium shoppers, Sprouts is carving out a middle space focused on value, wellness, and everyday access to natural foods.

Why It Matters

Health-forward shopping gets more local
Sprouts has always aimed at the “better-for-you” segment. Having one downtown and another in Venice means more people can access natural, organic, bulk, and specialty items without traveling longer distances.

Increased competition = better offerings
Other grocers and specialty stores will need to up their game. Pricing, freshness, layout — all of those become even more important when customers have more options.

Economic impact & jobs
The downtown store brought ~100 jobs.
The Venice location is listing 93 new roles.
That’s real opportunity for folks in both communities.

Catalyst for development
Grocery anchors tend to attract more foot traffic, which means more demand for complementary retail, restaurants, and services nearby. The Sprouts in One Main Plaza helps legitimize that project; the Venice Sprouts could anchor new retail zones down there.

Community engagement & brand trust
The way Sprouts is doing these openings — with freebies, sampling, local farmer tie-ins, etc. — builds goodwill. They’re not just opening; they’re inviting people in as part of the event.

Sign of growth in “health grocery” trend
The continued expansion in Florida shows confidence in the region’s appetite for natural/organic options. It’s not a niche play — it’s becoming a core segment.