MALL HALL OF FAME

2010-01-03T18:20:00.001-05:00

THE AD-FREE
-NO POP-UPS-
CLASSIC MALL WEBSITE!

THE LATEST UPDATE:
*
-Posted Sunday, January 3, 2010-
*
SO-FLO MALLS
*
-3 all-new entries-
*
* Coral Ridge Plaza, Fort Lauderdale
* Pompano Fashion Square, Pompano Beach
* Boca Raton Mall, Boca Raton

*
-Plus New & Improved Articles For The Following-

*
*Sunrise Center / Galleria Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale
-And-
*Hollywood Mall, Hollywood, Florida

2010-01-03T18:16:00.003-05:00

Click on the link below to be taken to the site's
MALL DIRECTORY:
*
http://mall-hall-of-fame.blogspot.com/2009_08_01_archive.html
*
Or simply keep scrolling
into the January 2010 archive...
*

2010-01-03T18:13:00.003-05:00

Shopping Mall Milestones In The USA:

*
Although the info on this blog is as accurate as I have been able to
make it, there are instances of conflicting or insufficient information,
or oversights on my part
*
If you know -for a fact- that something on here is not entirely correct,
please feel free to post and let me know. I will make any changes
necessary. Moreover, I will be more than glad to list you as a
reference for any revised article.
*
Thanks much,
The Curator
*
Click on any images on the blog
to see larger, uncompressed, versions.
It may be necessary to -again- click the
image to see it fully enlarged

2010-01-03T18:05:00.003-05:00

Fort Lauderdale's Sunrise Center

A rendering from a circa-1953 brochure promoting SUNRISE
CENTER, the "Venice of America's" future retail complex. It
was to open for business, in January 1954, as the Sunshine
State's first shopping mall.
Drawing from "Feist53"

2010-01-03T18:02:00.001-05:00

A view of the open-air complex, taken between 1960 and 1965.
From this vantage point, we see the shopping center's close
proximity to So-Flo's Intracoastal Waterway. Gazing at this pic,
one might imagine hearing a Connie Francis soundtrack...it would
be quite fitting, matter of fact.
Photo from Malls of America Blogspot

2010-01-03T17:57:00.005-05:00

A circa-'61 physical layout of SUNRISE CENTER, with its upper Central
Terrace indicated in black and the lower level store blocks shown in dark
gray.

2010-01-03T17:43:00.005-05:00

A rendering of Jordan Marsh of Florida, which was added to the 3-year-
old SUNRISE CENTER as its first full-line anchor. The original 3-level
store was dedicated in October 1960.
Drawing from http://www.dshistory.com/

A shot of the completed store, which fronted on the palm-lined Central
Terrace of the mall. This photo was taken sometime after 1966, when
fourth and fifth levels had been added.
Photo from www.dshistory.com

A straight-ahead view of Jordan Marsh. The newly-added upper levels
are clearly visible.
Photo from www.dshistory.com

2010-01-03T17:39:00.003-05:00

A visually interesting shot of SUNRISE CENTER, showing its multi-level
configuration. In the distance, a Woolworth five and dime may be seen.
Photo from Malls of America Blogspot

A circa-1975 nighttime shot of the open-air center. This was taken just

a few years before a large-scale renovation would get underway

Photo from www.floridamemory.com / Roy Erickson

2010-01-03T17:28:00.004-05:00

The official -circa-1981- logo of Fort Lauderdale's then-emerging
GALLERIA shopping complex, which was being built as the circa-1950s
SUNRISE CENTER was being demolished.
Graphic from the Boca Raton News

GALLERIA FORT LAUDERDALE TENANTS 1981:

JORDAN MARSH / BURDINES / SAKS FIFTH AVENUE / The Athlete's Foot / August Max / Baron's Mens / Butler Shoes / The Cafe Deli / Champs Sport Shop / Chess King / Colony Shop / Elegant Handbags / FAO Schwartz / Financial Federal Savings and Loan / Florsheim Thayer McNeil / Fotomat / Foxmoor / GNC / Gulfstream Bank / Hollywood Federal Savings and Loan / Kinney Shoes / Lerner Shops / The Limited / McDonald's / McQuade Travel Services / Liz Martin / Morrow's Nut House / Naturalizer Shoes / Paine Weber / Pappagallo Shop / Parklane Hosiery / Romero Jewelers / Sbarro Italian Eatery / Spec's Music / Sunglass Place / Swim 'N Sport / Tennis Lady / That Jean Look / The Forum Mens / Thom McAn Shoes / Uno Jewelers / Waldenbooks / With Panache / Wuv's

2010-01-03T17:21:00.006-05:00

Circa-1983 site plan of the modified mall. A major overhaul started in
1978 was now finished. It had added a new Saks, plus Burdines, Neiman
Marcus and Lord and Taylor. The retail roster now listed one hundred
and twenty-six stores and services.

GALLERIA FORT LAUDERDALE TENANTS 1983:

EXISTING STORES
JORDAN MARSH / BURDINES / SAKS FIFTH AVENUE / The Athlete's Foot / August Max / Baron's Mens / Butler Shoes / Champs Sport Shop / Chess King / Colony Shop / Elegant Handbags / FAO Schwartz / Financial Federal Savings and Loan / Florsheim Thayer McNeil / Fotomat / Foxmoor / GNC / Hollywood Federal Savings and Loan / Kinney Shoes / Lerner Shops / The Limited / McQuade Travel Services / Liz Martin / Morrow's Nut House / Naturalizer Shoes / Paine Weber / Pappagallo Shop / Parklane Hosiery / Romero Jewelers / Sbarro Italian Eatery / Spec's Music / Sunglass Place / Swim 'N Sport / Tennis Lady / That Jean Look / The Forum / Thom McAn Shoes / Uno Jewelers / Waldenbooks / With Panache / Wuv's

NEW STORES
LORD AND TAYLOR / Ann Taylor / Body Shop / Brito / Cache / Size 5-7-9 Shop / Laura Ashley / Lillie Rubin / Motherhood Maternity / Peck and Peck / Pennington du Canada / Petticoat Parlour / Sara Fredericks / Susie's Casuals / t. edwards / Today's Woman / Bip Men's / Brooks Brothers / Clapper's Men's / Clement Men's / The Custom Shop / The Forum Men's / Polo by Ralph Lauren / The Gap / Andrew Geller Shoes / Bally Shoes / Battaglia Fine Footwear / The Bootery / Connie Shoes / Florsheim Shoes / Hanover Shoes / Margapita Shoes / Nunn Bush Brass Boot / Peter Lord Shoes / Wild Pair Shoes / Smoker's Gallery / Black, Starr and Frost Jewelers / Ciro Jewelers / Gordon's Jewelers / Les Must du Cartier Jewelers / Mayor's Jewelers / Mystique Created Gems / Ole' Jewelers / Piercing Pagoda / Card Shops / Lynn's Hallmark / B. Dalton Bookseller / Beyond Camera / Radio Shack / Ritz Camera / Video Concepts / Lily's Cosmetics / Suzanne Morel Cosmetics / Arango Good Design / Bentley's Luggage / Collector's Guild / Crabtree and Evelyn / Cristallerie / E. 57th St. Gifts / Good Grief Gifts / Graphiks Gifts / Hoffritz Cutlery / Kay-Bee Toys / Le Louvre International Gifts / Metal Crafter / Wicker Picker / Supercalifragilistic Children's Apparel / Faces Restaurant / Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream (2 locations) / Jamie's Restaurant / Mr. Grumps Restaurant / Orange Bowl / Original Oliver Restaurant / Pasta Pazazz / Spats Restaurant / Spritzel's Restaurant / The Great Cookie / Vie de France Cafe / Fashion Optical / Phone Center Store / Regis Hairstyling / Omnidentix / Community Room / NCNB

2010-01-03T17:14:00.004-05:00

An early '80s view of the Jordan Marsh mall entrance.
Photo from Florida Electronic Library / Roy Erickson

2010-01-03T17:10:00.002-05:00

The GALLERIA in 2001, with all five of its anchor stores still intact.
Lord and Taylor closed in 2002. Saks was shuttered in 2009. Rumor
has it that Nordstrom is going to build a new store, replacing the two
vacant structures on the east end. Perhaps this is wishful thinking...

2010-01-03T17:03:00.004-05:00

The renewed version of GALLERIA FORT LAUDERDALE.
During a 2002-2005 makeover, the former concrete caisson
/ '70s brutalist structure was given the look of a 19th Century,
Florida hotel...such as the Ponce de Leon in Saint Augustine.
Photo from www.galleriamallfl.com

2010-01-03T16:49:00.004-05:00

A bird's eye view of today's gargantuan GALLERIA complex,
looking to the west. At bottom left is the store structure that
housed Lord and Taylor (1983-2002). At bottom right, the
Saks location (1980-2009). In the middle of the mall, to the
left, is Jordan Marsh (1960-1991)...Dillard's (1993-). Farther
up, on the right, is Neiman Marcus (1982-). The anchor store
on top opened as Burdines (1980-2004)...Macy's (2005-).
Photo from www.bing.com

2010-01-03T16:46:00.001-05:00

SUNRISE CENTER
Sunrise Boulevard and Northeast 26th Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, Florida

The story of Florida's first shopping mall begins with the death of Hugh Taylor Birch, in 1943. A successful attorney and land speculator, he bequethed a 140 acre mangrove swamp in the northern environs of Fort Lauderdale to his alma mater, Antioch College.

The southwestern Ohio school began filling in said swamp in 1950; selling some of the property for residential construction and reserving a 48.5 acre section for future development as a retail venue. Proceeds from land sales, totalling some 500 thousand dollars, were invested in the creation of the shopping center.

SUNRISE CENTER, designed by Fort Lauderdale's Gamble, Pownall and Gilroy, opened for business January 27, 1954. Comprised of thirty-seven stores and services, the bi-level (266,000 square foot) complex included Saks Fifth Avenue, Thom McAn Shoes, Grayson's, Allen Frederick and The Colony Shop, as well as a Slenderella Figure Salon, F.W. Woolworth 5 and 10 and Food Fair supermarket.

In February 1957, plans were announced for a 3-level (170,000 square foot) Jordan Marsh of Florida...which was to be the second store in the Miami-based division of Allied stores (the first having opened in downtown Miami in February 1956).

Development of Jordan Marsh's SUNRISE CENTER store would be accompanied by the construction of a new (30,000 square foot) Saks, as well as locations for DePinna's and Bramson's of Chicago. The new Jordan Marsh was officially dedicated October 3, 1960.

With the completion of these additions, SUNRISE CENTER had grown into a 436,000 square foot, regional-class shopping venue. An outparcel motion picture venue, the Sunrise Twin Cinema, opened in 1964.

Competing shopping malls were built in the 1960s and 1970s, such as CORAL RIDGE PLAZA (1962) {2.1 miles northwest, in Fort Lauderdale}, LAUDERHILL MALL (1966) {5.9 miles northwest, in Lauderhill} and LAKES MALL (1973) {6.2 miles northwest, in Lauderdale Lakes}.

The SUNRISE CENTER Jordan Marsh was expanded, with 4th and 5th levels, during 1966. With the completion of construction late in the year, the store encompassed 256,000 square feet.

Pompano Beach-based Leonard Farber, Incorporated acquired SUNRISE CENTER in 1977. Ground was broken the following year for a three phase redevelopment of the open-air complex.

The first phase involved construction of a 2-level (84,000 square foot) Saks Fifth Avenue at the northeast corner of the site. This store, the third Saks location to operate in the shopping complex, came inline in July 1980.

Miami-based Burdines dedicated a 2-level (210,000 square foot) store, built at the northwest corner of the site, October 28, 1980. This brought the shuttering of the downtown Fort Lauderdale location, in business since 1947.

As new sections of shopping space were completed, the old SUNRISE CENTER structures would be demolished. After nearly three years of construction / demolition, a new, fully-enclosed mall had been created, built around the existing Jordan Marsh.

Dubbed GALLERIA FORT LAUDERDALE, the 2-level shopopolis was dedicated November 11, 1980. As an adjunct, the Sunrise Twin was quaded and renamed as the Galleria I-IV Cinema.

However, the construction process was not over. Neiman Marcus' 2-level (80,000 square foot) store held its grand opening September 13, 1982. This was followed by the dedication of the fifth -and final- anchor, a 2-level (80,000 square foot) Lord and Taylor, in October 1983.

The metamorphosis from the middle market SUNRISE CENTER into the posh GALLERIA FORT LAUDERDALE was now complete. The new mall enveloped over one million leasable square, with a retail roster of one hundred and twenty-six stores and services.

The first anchor rebranding transpired after the September 1991 shuttering of Jordan Marsh. It re-opened as a Dillard's October 28, 1993. In the same year, the complex was purchased by Keystone-Florida Property Holdings, with Philadelphia-based Kravco (now Kravco Simon) recruited to handle management and leasing.

By the late 1990s, GALLERIA FORT LAUDERDALE was losing ground as an upscale retail center. Commercial competitors, such as TOWN CENTER AT BOCA RATON (1979) {15.3 miles northwest} and AVENTURA MALL (1983) {12.4 miles south, in northern Dade County}, were drawing from the GALLERIA customer base.

Other higher end shopping venues, such as BROWARD MALL (1978) {9.5 miles southwest, in Plantation} and -especially- FASHION MALL AT PLANTATION (1988) {9.5 miles west, also in Plantation} were not serious rivals of the GALLERIA.

A 50 million dollar renovation commenced in November 2002. The '70s style, box-like bohemoth structure of the GALLERIA was given a major exterior facelift, assuming the look of an 1880s, Henry Morrison Flagler-type, grand Florida hotel.

Moreover, interior spaces were renovated. New, glass enclosed escalator lobbies connected the ground level parking deck with the Mall Level above. A new, Palm Court was fashioned in space on the first and second levels and new flooring installed throughout the complex.

The renewed, 1,047,500 square foot, one hundred and fifty store space shopopolis was dedicated in 2005. By this time, the west anchor had goon through some changes. It became a Burdines-Macy's January 30, 2004 and was fully "Macy-ated" March 6, 2005.

Unfortunately, store closings in the mall multiplied. Lord and Taylor had been shuttered February 5, 2002. Saks Fifth Avenue closed July 20, 2009, ending 55 years of operation at the SUNRISE CENTER / GALLERIA site.

Hope springs eternal, however. In October 2008, it was speculated that a new Nordstrom was to open at the mall, replacing the vacant Lord and Taylor and Saks stores. At present, it is unclear whether or not this report is entirely factual, or when such a store would open for business.

Sources:

"Galleria Fort Lauderdale" article on Wikipedia
The Miami News
The Boca Raton News
Malls of America Blogspot / Keith Milford webmaster
http://www.galleriamallfl.com/
Retail Traffic/ "Retail Rebirth" / February 1, 2006

2010-01-03T16:39:00.004-05:00

Fort Lauderdale's Coral Ridge Plaza

CORAL RIDGE PLAZA, Florida's first shopping mall built as a fully-
enclosed structure, opened for business in November 1962. However,
the first interior mall concourse in the Sunshine State, at Orlando's
COLONIAL PLAZA, had been dedicated the month before. It was an
addition to an open-air strip plaza completed in 1956.
Photo from Malls of America Blogspot

2010-01-03T16:37:00.000-05:00

Another bird's eye view shot of the 300,000 square foot shopping center,
which accompanied a large residential development in the northern
environs of Fort Lauderdale. It would be the first of twelve interior malls
that would open in Broward County between 1962 and 1992.
Photo from Malls of America Blogspot

2010-01-03T16:36:00.000-05:00

A physical layout of the original CORAL RIDGE PLAZA. The complex
was anchored by a dry goods only Penney's on the north and New York
City-based Britts on the south, with a freestanding Publix supermarket
filling out the merchandising mix.

2010-01-03T16:34:00.000-05:00

Fast forwarding to the present, we have a frontal shot of CORAL RIDGE

MALL. The name change from "Plaza" to "Mall" took place in the early

1980s.
Photo from www.loopnet.com

2010-01-03T16:30:00.002-05:00

A thorough renovation was done to the retail hub in 1998-1999,
accompanying the construction of a new south anchor, a 123,000 square
foot Target. A new South Entrance, installed during this remodeling, is
seen here.
Photo from http://www.mycoralridgemall.com/

The new Target, which held its grand opening October 10, 1999.
Photo from http://www.mycoralridgemall.com/

2010-01-03T16:28:00.002-05:00

A contemporary site plan of the forty store center. Penney's pulled out

of the mall in January 1995. Its space was divided between two junior

anchors; T.J. Maxx (which relocated from a south anchor space in 1998)

and Home Goods (dedicated in the year 2000).

2010-01-03T16:23:00.001-05:00

CORAL RIDGE PLAZA
North Federal Highway / US 1 and Oakland Park Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, Florida

The first shopping complex in Florida built as a fully-enclosed structure opened in the northern environs of Fort Lauderdale in late 1962. Commanding a 31 acre site located 3.8 miles northeast of the city center, the 8 million dollar CORAL RIDGE PLAZA encompassed 297,400 leasable square feet. It was developed by James S. Hunt (under the auspices of Coral Ridge Properties) and Miami's Jack A. Cantor.

Two department stores stood at either end of the dumbell plan mall. The first, a predominantly 1-level J.C. Penney encompassing 62,000 square feet of retail area, was on the northwest. A 2-level Britts, on the southeast, housed 165,000 square feet. This store held its grand opening November 8, 1962.

Britts, an upscale division of J.J. Newberry 5 and 10s, was based in New York City, although the chain had originated in Spokane, Washington.

The CORAL RIDGE PLAZA operation was the first of a bi-coastal expansion phase, with Sunshine State stores eventually opening in such locations as WINTER HAVEN MALL [Winter Haven] (1972), LAKES MALL [Lauderdale Lakes] (1973), CROSS COUNTY PLAZA [Palm Beach County] (1973) and BOCA RATON MALL [Boca Raton] (1974).

Inline stores in the original CORAL RIDGE PLAZA included Walgreen Drug, Gordon's Jewelers, Mister Pretzel, Dipper Dan's Ice Cream, Baker's Shoes, Morrow's Nut House, Gall's Book Store, Happy House Cards and a J.G. McCrory 5 and 10. A freestanding (32,300 square foot) Publix supermarket was situated on the north end of the site.

Upon its 1962 opening, the mall had one retail rival; SUNRISE CENTER (1954) {2.1 miles southeast, in Fort Lauderdale}. This was joined by LAUDERHILL MALL (1966) {5.6 miles southwest, in Lauderhill} and LAKES MALL (1973) {5.4 miles west, in Lauderdale Lakes}.

A theatrical venue, the single-screen Coral Ridge Theatre, was built across Federal Highway from the mall and opened June 13, 1963. It was twinned in 1977.

The official name of the shopping hub had been changed to CORAL RIDGE MALL by 1981. Ownership of the complex was established by Palm Beach-based Gumberg Asset Management in December 1984.

In 1982, the first anchor store alteration had taken place, with Britts being shuttered in January. Its area was divided between Miami-based J. Byron and Framingham, Massachusetts-based T.J. Maxx. A second level nightclub, encompassing 28,000 square feet, was also created out of the Britts space, going by several names before re-opening as the Baja Beach Club May 1, 1992.

The Coral Ridge Twin had been replaced by the Coral Ridge 10, a rear parking area outparcel, in 1988. The next major change at CORAL RIDGE MALL involved J.C. Penney, which had been slated to close in October 1992. This shuttering was cancelled, but a bona fide closing of the store did take place January 28, 1995.

On the south end of the mall, J. Byron (known as simply "Byron's" since 1992) pulled the proverbial plug in May 1996. T.J. Maxx remained in business until relocating into half of the old Penney's in September 1998. The Baja Beach Club moved across the highway, into the old Coral Ridge Theatre building, in October.

The south anchor spot, which had housed Britts, J. Byron, T.J. Maxx and a series of nightclubs over the years, was now vacant. It was razed in December 1998 and replaced by a 1-level (123,000 square foot) Target, which came inline October 10, 1999.

While the Target was being built, CORAL RIDGE MALL was given a 15 million dollar makeover. When the construction dust settled in late 1999, the mall proper structure spanned 251,600 leasable square feet.

Marshalls set up shop in the old McCrory's space in 1999. T.J. Maxx was joined by Framingham, Massachusetts-based Home Goods (filling the second half of the vacant Penney's) in the year 2000.

Among the forty-one stores in today's CORAL RIDGE MALL are Famous Footwear, Foot Locker, Bath and Body Works, Claire's, Old Navy, Kiss My Glass and Nova Electronics.

Sources:

Malls of America Blogspot / Posts by "Anonymous", "Woofpop" and "Jesse1986"
www.mycoralridgemall.com
The Miami News

2010-01-03T16:16:00.006-05:00

South Florida's Hollywood Mall

The main entrance of HOLLYWOOD MALL. It was the Sunshine
State's fourth fully-enclosed shopopolis. With its 1964 dedication,
Broward County could boast of having two ultra-modern, fully-air-
conditioned shopping centers. Miami, its big sister city to the south,
would not have an interior-type mall until 1970.
Photo from www.hollywoodfl.org / General Photo Collection

2010-01-03T16:14:00.002-05:00

A mid-1960s interior view of the mall, festooned with Googie-style
lighting fixtures. The Sears anchor store is seen midway in the
background, on the left.
Photo from Malls Of America Blogspot

2010-01-03T15:42:00.004-05:00

South Broward County's HOLLYWOOD MALL was the second
fully-enclosed shopping complex in South Florida. At its October
1964 grand opening, it housed 310,000 leasable square feet and
thirty store spaces.