After denying the rumors, Nordstrom officials confirmed this week that they will open a Nordstrom Rack store at the Shoppes at University Town Center in Sarasota.

The 35,000-square-foot location will open in the fall and occupy the space that previously held Circuit City, the Bradenton Herald said.

Benderson Development Co., which owns the building, is expanding the space from 20,000 square feet to 35,000 square feet. Nordstrom Rack stores sell apparel and accessories at discounted prices, some of which are also carried at full-line Nordstrom stores, the Herald said.

Nordstrom still would not confirm rumors that they will also open a "full-line" Nordstrom store in the mall, the Heraldsaid.

"We are open to discussion about serving Sarasota with a full-line Nordstrom store in the future, and we have great relations with Taubman. Opening a store there could be a possibility some day, but we are not planning on it now," said Colin Johnson, Nordstrom public relations specialist.

Still, observers believe the addition of Nordstrom will help lure other retailers to UTC, which is slated to open in October 2014.