The Florida Mall

Infobox shopping mall
shopping_mall_name = The Florida Mall


image_width = 140px
caption = One of the main entrances to The Florida Mall
location = Orlando, Florida
opening_date = 1986
developer = Edward J. DeBartolo Jr.
manager =
owner = Simon Property Group
number_of_stores = 250
number_of_anchors = 7 (one vacant)
floor_area = convert|1849000|sqft|m2|-2|abbr=on.
floors = 1
parking = Surrounding Sectional ~ Free
website = [http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=139 The Florida Mall]

The Florida Mall is a large enclosed shopping mall in Orlando, Florida. It opened its doors in 1986. It is located on the southeast corner of Orange Blossom Trail and Sand Lake Road. The mall has over 250 stores, including its anchors Macy's, Dillard's, Sears, J.C. Penney, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, and The Florida Mall Hotel.cite web |url=http://www.simon.com/mall/directory.aspx?ID=139 |title=Mall Directory |accessdate=2007-02-05 |work=The Florida Mall website |publisher=Simon Property Group, Inc.] At 1,849,000 ft² (179,778 m²) GLA, it stands as one of the largest single-story malls in the United States.

The mall's Lord & Taylor store was the only store of that chain left operating in Florida. The Florida Mall store was opened in 2002 after an expansion of the anchor building chosen for the store. Although its impending closure was announced in 2003, the purchase of May Department Stores by Federated (now Macy's, Inc.) and the subsequent sale of the Lord & Taylor brand put closures to a halt. The anchor location where Lord & Taylor was located is exceedingly unlucky, as Robinson's, Maison Blanche, Gayfers, and Parisian have all failed at that particular location. Lord & Taylor started with the liquidation of the store in August 2006, and finally closed in September.

The Florida Mall's Dillard's store was added in 1993. Belk-Lindsay, a former mall anchor, was converted to a Saks Fifth Avenue in 1996. At the turn of the 21st century, the mall underwent a massive expansion and renovation project that brought in Burdines in 2000 and Nordstrom in 2002. In 2005, Burdines was converted to Macy's when Federated decided to end the Burdines nameplate.

Simon bought it in 2002 during the break up of Urban Shopping Centers, Inc.

Located close to Orlando International Airport and many other Orlando attractions, The Florida Mall Hotel contains 510 guest rooms and suites. The hotel was originally owned by Sheraton but later became a Crowne Plaza and then an Adam's Mark. It became an independent hotel in 2004.

Among the major retailers in the buildings surrounding the mall are Toys "R" Us, Rooms To Go and OfficeMax, as well as a business plaza and several restaurants. The Florida Mall also controls an outdoor shopping plaza, The Terrace at The Florida Mall, next door to the east on Sand Lake Road. It features a Target, Marshall's and American Signature Furniture.

In late 2007 the mall's closed Lord & Taylor store was demolished and the land is being used to build a mixed-use outdoor shopping area that will include stores and restaurants. According to the Orlando Sentinel, it is rumored to be the site of Florida's first H&M store as well as new locations for Zara, Dick's Sporting Goods and Forever 21.

The mall is serviced by [http://www.golynx.com/ LYNX] Buses (Links) 4, 7, 37, 42, 43, and 52.

Anchors

*Dillard's (opened 1993, convert|252300|sqft|m2|-1|abbr=on)
*JCPenney (opened 1986, convert|200000|sqft|m2|-4|abbr=on)
*Macy's (opened 2005, convert|200000|sqft|m2|-4|abbr=on)
*Nordstrom (opened 2002, convert|165757|sqft|m2|0|abbr=on)
*Saks Fifth Avenue (opened 1996, convert|105672|sqft|m2|0|abbr=on)
*Sears (opened 1986, convert|169926|sqft|m2|0|abbr=on)
*The Florida Hotel & Conference Center

Former Anchors

*Robinson's (opened 1986, became Maison Blanche in 1988, convert|110000|sqft|m2|-3|abbr=on)
*Maison Blanche (opened 1988, became Gayfers in 1994, convert|110000|sqft|m2|-3|abbr=on)
*Gayfers (opened 1994, became Parisian 1998, convert|110000|sqft|m2|-3|abbr=on)
*Parisian (opened 1998, became Lord & Taylor in 2001, convert|110000|sqft|m2|-3|abbr=on)
*Lord & Taylor (opened 2001, closed 2006, demolished in late 2007, land currently vacant, convert|140000|sqft|m2|-3|abbr=on)
*Belk-Lindsay (opened 1986, became Saks Fifth Avenue in 1996, convert|105672|sqft|m2|0|abbr=on)
*Burdines (opened 2000, renamed Macy's in 2005, convert|200000|sqft|m2|-4|abbr=on)

References

External links

* [http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=139 The Florida Mall Official Website]