Bal Harbour Shops
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| Bal Harbour Shops | |
 Courtyard at Bal Harbour Shops |
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| Facts and statistics | |
|---|---|
| Location | Collins Avenue and 96th Street, Bal Harbour, Florida |
| Opening date | 1965 |
| Developer | Herbert H. Johnsons & Associates |
| Owner | Whitman Family |
| No. of stores and services | 100+ |
| No. of anchor tenants | 3 |
| Total retail floor area | 500,000 square feet |
| Parking | Outdoor |
| No. of floors | 1 |
| Website | http://www.balharbourshops.com |
Bal Harbour Shops, is an upscale open-air shopping mall located in Bal Harbour, Florida, a suburb of Miami, and Florida's most exclusive shopping destination. The mall is still one of the few remaining family-owned malls in the nation and boasts one of the most exclusive luxury collections in the United States.[1]
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[edit] History
The open-air shopping mall was fronted by Stanley Whitman on the site of a former Army barracks and World War II POW camp.[2] He abandoned the traditional enclosed air-conditioned mall concept, firing architect Victor Gruen, and fronted one of the first open-air shopping mall developments, hiring local Southern Florida architecture firm, Herbert H. Johnson & Associates. Whitman paid a pricey $2 per square foot for the land.[3]
The mall officially opened in 1964 with its first tenant being toy retailer FAO Schwarz, who maintained a store in the mall until they went bankrupt.
[edit] Today
The mall is among the most profitable malls in the country today. In 2002, Women's Wear Daily ranked Bal Harbour Shops as the most profitable mall in the country, earning $1,350 per square foot, compared to the national average of $300 per square foot.[4] In 2006, the mall averaged $1,706.68 per square foot and in 2007 is on its way to be the first mall in the country to surpass $2,000 per square foot.[5]
While it is a mall in concept, the retail center discourages comparisons to traditional malls. There are no enclosed walking paths, there are no kiosks, and the main anchor, Saks Fifth Avenue, has a sidewalk entrance on one of the town's main streets. The shops are surrounded by perfectly kept gardens and fountains, as opposed to normal mall fare.
[edit] Stores
Bal Harbour Shops is known nationally for its collection of luxury retail. There is a two year waiting list for space in the mall, which has operated at 100% occupancy for more than two decades.
[edit] Anchors and Stores
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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