Aventura Mall is a

shopping mall A shopping mall (or simply mall) is a North American term for a large indoor shopping center, usually Anchor tenant, anchored by department stores. The term "mall" originally meant pedestrian zone, a pedestrian promenade with shops along it (that ...

located in Aventura, Florida. It is the 5th largest mall in the United States by total square feet of retail space and the largest mall in

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and ...

. The anchor stores are

Bloomingdale's Bloomingdale's Inc. is an American luxury department store chain; it was founded in New York City by Joseph B. and Lyman G. Bloomingdale in 1861. A third brother, Emanuel Watson Bloomingdale, was also involved in the business. It became a di ...

Nordstrom Nordstrom, Inc. () is an American luxury department store chain headquartered in Seattle, Washington, and founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin in 1901. The original Wallin & Nordstrom store operated exclusively as a shoe store, and ...

, 2

Macy's Macy's (originally R. H. Macy & Co.) is an American chain of high-end department stores founded in 1858 by Rowland Hussey Macy. It became a division of the Cincinnati-based Federated Department Stores in 1994, through which it is affiliated wi ...

stores, and

JCPenney Penney OpCo LLC, doing business as JCPenney and often abbreviated JCP, is a midscale American department store chain operating 667 stores across 49 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. Departments inside JCPenney stores include Mens, Womens, Boys, Gi ...

. The center is highlighted by a mix of over 300 stores. Aventura Mall has more than 50 eateries and restaurants, including Treats Food Hall, and the experiential Arts Aventura Mall program. The Brightline Aventura Station, now under construction, will be located adjacent to Aventura Mall on West Dixie Highway and will include a new pedestrian bridge over Biscayne Boulevard, providing riders direct access to the mall.

History

In April 1983, the Oxford Development Company, led by partners

Donald Soffer Donald Soffer (born September 20, 1932) is an American businessman, investor, and philanthropist. He is a real estate developer who developed Florida swampland into what was to become the city of Aventura, Florida. Early life and education Soffe ...

, Edward J. Lewis, Mark E. Mason, Eugene Lebowitz, and Ray Parello officially dedicated Aventura Mall. There would be four anchors in the original, , complex: Lord & Taylor,

(opened April 28, 1983), Sears (opened July 6, 1983, three weeks after another at Miami International Mall), and

opened October 1, 1983. On board as an original investor in the project was mall-developer

Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. Edward John DeBartolo Sr. (May 17, 1909 – December 19, 1994) was an American businessman. In 1971, his Ohio-based corporation was ranked as 47th among the nation's top 400 construction contractors. In 1983, DeBartolo was included on ''For ...

The mall was originally designed to accommodate a fifth anchor, and there was a section of drywall in a place where its mall entrance would be located. Soon after its construction, Soffer left Oxford. As part of the break-up of assets, Soffer's new firm,

Turnberry Associates Turnberry Associates is a real estate development and management company in the United States. The company has developed over $10 billion worth of properties during the course of its history. Current holdings in its portfolio include the Aventura ...

assumed control of the Aventura Mall. In 1996, the DeBartolo Realty Corporation, which owned the minority interest once held by Edward J. DeBartolo, was acquired by

Simon Property Group Simon Property Group, Inc. is an American real estate investment trust that invests in shopping malls, outlet centers, and community/ lifestyle centers. It is the largest owner of shopping malls in the United States and is headquartered in In ...

. In 1996, the ground was broken for a major expansion of Aventura Mall. The addition, built onto the southeast end of the existing complex, consisted of a three-story atrium with an multiplex cinema and restaurants at a new entrance. A two-story Rainforest Cafe also opened, but was closed just a few years later. Part of the new development were two three-story parking garages surrounding the new anchor stores' southeast facades. The Mall continued to expand, with major additions being added in November 1997 and August 1999. The mall underwent a $20 million renovation in late 2006. The mall expanded again in 2017 by opening a new three-level, expansion wing. In 2015,

Sears Holdings Sears Holdings Corporation was an American holding company headquartered in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. It was the parent company of the chain stores Kmart and Sears and was founded after the former purchased the latter in 2005. It was the 20t ...

spun of 235 of its properties, including the Sears at Aventura Mall, into Seritage Growth Properties. In March 2019 Aventura Mall opened LEVEL THREE, a 25,000 square-foot venue designed by Carlos Zapata.

Incidents

On May 29, 2020, two people were taken to the Aventura Hospital after a shooting incident occurred in the Nordstrom part of the Aventura Mall. On November 17, 2021, 3 people were shot and two others were injured in a shooting incident at the Aventura Mall. The shooter was arrested.

Current anchors

(Women's and Kids Fashion) (original tenant) (1983–present) *

(original tenant) (1983–present) * AMC Theatres (August 7, 1998–present) *

Bloomingdales Bloomingdale's Inc. is an American luxury department store chain; it was founded in New York City by Joseph B. and Lyman G. Bloomingdale in 1861. A third brother, Emanuel Watson Bloomingdale, was also involved in the business. It became a di ...

(1997–present) *

(Men's and Home Furnishings) (2005–present) *

(2008–present)

Former anchors

* Sears (original tenant) (1983–2017) * Lord & Taylor (original tenant) (1983–2005) * Burdines (1999–2004) *

Burdines-Macy's Burdines (} ) was an American chain of department stores operating in the state of Florida, headquartered in Miami. The original store opened in Bartow, Florida in 1896 as a carriage-trade shop. Over its nearly 110-year history, Burdines grew ...

(2004–2005)

References

External links