Downtown Sarasota is about to get fancier: a Bentley franchise is opening on State Street in January 2026.
Bentley Sarasota will be located where a high-end auto dealership called The Sarasota Studio has been operating since 2015, selling vehicles from McLarens to Rolls-Royces. The Sarasota Studio is operated by Tampa Bay car sales powerhouse Dimmitt Automotive Group, which will convert the space, at 1518 State St., to align with Bentley standards. (The Sarasota Studio, according to its website, currently sells used/pre-owned Bentleys, such as a Black 2025 Bentley Continental GT, which was on its website Sept. 19 for $380,000.)
But having a Bentley franchise — an investment that will cost Dimmitt Automotive into the millions — is another step up in luxury. The UK-based brand approached the Clearwater-based auto dealer and asked the company to open the franchise location in Sarasota, Dimmitt CEO Scott Larguier says.
“The manufacturer does studies on populations and markets” then determines where it should have representation, Larguier says, adding Bentley identified Sarasota as a place where it wanted a dealership…