Jackie Z closes at The Mall at University Town Center

UNIVERSITY PARK -- Local retailer Jackie Zumba closed her Jackie Z. store at The Mall at University Town Center.

Zumba blamed slow mall traffic for closing the store. Her only other shop is in the Sundial shopping center in downtown St. Petersburg and she said with only one other store to rely on, she couldn't sustain a lack of business at the Mall at UTC like larger national brands can.

"We put our blood sweat and tears into that store and we're very sad to have to leave," Zumba said. "We hope one day we can come back and make it work again. It just didn't work for us." Zumba moved her downtown Sarasota location to The Mall at UTC when the mall opened last year.

Other retailers have struggled with foot traffic as well. Saundra Petty, store manager at the House of Samsonite, told the Herald previously the mall's traffic isn't what she expected, either. At a meeting for mall managers on Wednesday morning, Petty said she was sad to see Jackie Z leave the mall but she understands.

"Traffic has been steady for us and it often depends

on the weather," Petty said. "Like this week it's been busy because of rain but people are coming in and not buying."

For the time being, Zumba and her husband, Brian Kins, will focus on the St. Petersburg store.

Octavio Ortiz, general manager of the Mall at UTC, said he was shocked to learn about Zumba's decision to close and he is under the impression Zumba is still under a lease. The mall is trying to find new tenants for the spot.

Zumba opened her Sarasota store in 2011, with the goal of offering her style of clothing and personal styling services so folks wouldn't have to trek to 10 stores to get the look they wanted. Brian Kins' interest in fashion helps bring up the men's line, too, which includes brands like Bogosse, Buffalo, Moods of Norway and Jared Lang.

"We're always working on new tenants but don't have anyone to announce for that space," Ortiz said.

Zumba said as a business owner, she had to do what was best for her and her company.

"Some risks pay off and this one didn't," Zumba said. "I'm just trying to stay as positive as possible."

The Cache store at the mall had to close in May as part of its parent's company nationwide closing.

Janelle O'Dea, Herald business reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7095 or follow her on Twitter@jayohday.

This story was originally published October 29, 2015 at 7:19 PM with the headline "Jackie Z closes at The Mall at University Town Center ."