This luxury Florida shopping mecca is set to become even more of a dream with $ 550 million renovation
When it comes to luxury shopping destinations around the world, places like New York, Milan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai immediately spring to mind. However, this under-the-radar Florida mall, filled with a plethora of designer stores, not only makes the list, but may well rise through the ranks with its ongoing $ 550 million renovation.
The shops of Bal Harbor, just north of Miami, home to luxury stores such as Gucci, Stella McCartney, Dolce & Gabbana and Chanel. Complete with thoughtfully accented with koi ponds, fountains and lush jungle trees to call this outdoor shopping mecca “a mall” would be an absolute understatement.
“We are delighted to make this major investment in the future of Bal Harbor Shops, which will solidify our long-standing position at the forefront of global luxury retail and build on my grandfather’s vision. Stanley Whitman when he first developed The Shops in the 1960s, ”said Matthew Whitman Lazenby, President and CEO of Whitman Family Development, which developed, owns and operates Bal Harbor Shops. “As a business – and as a family – we’ve always believed that what’s good for stores is also good for Bal Harbor Village, so these improvements are being made with the intention of benefiting the surrounding community as well. “
Initial utility construction on the stores began in 2018 with a plan to expand the mall to 700,000 square feet from approximately 450,000 square feet, nearly doubling the stores’ current commercial space.
Courtesy of Bal Harbor Shops
Already housing a large selection of shops and restaurants, including Le Zoo and Makoto, a third level will be added to the shops as well as a new wing with 40 new stores and restaurants including Burberry, Robert Cavalli, Haremlique, Bally, Vhernier, Aba, Sant Ambroeus and Felice.
Founded by Whitman in 1965, people were skeptical of a high-fashion mall built on former WWII army barracks (especially at a time when air-conditioned supermarkets were all the rage.) But it was all the rage. There’s a reason Whitman was dubbed the “Walt Disney of Retail” because his attention to detail was impeccable and his vision helped persuade retail icon Neiman Marcus to open his first specialty department store in outside of Texas in 1971.
The caliber of stores Whitman was able to place in Bal Harbor placed The Shops on par with Manhattan’s 5th Avenue and the Champs Elysees stores.
Courtesy of Bal Harbor Shops
The improvement plan will also provide more than $ 100 million in public benefits, including millions of dollars for a new waterfront community park, improvements to village infrastructure and nearly two acres of new land for the town.
In addition to the expansion, Bal Harbor Shops launched its own member rewards app, called ACCESS, last fall. With ACCESS, customers receive a free parking pass when downloading the platform and the opportunity to earn monthly benefits and rewards for purchases such as free services, member-only invitations, freebies with purchase, birthday gifts, etc.
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