Bal Harbour Shops
Encyclopedia
Bal Harbour Shops is an upscale open-air shopping mall
in Bal Harbour
, a wealthy suburb of Miami, Florida
, known internationally for its collection of luxury retail. Bal Harbour Shops is one of the few remaining family-owned malls in the nation. For a business that is willing to lease, there is a two year waiting list at the mall, which has operated at 100% occupancy for more than two decades.
barracks
and World War II
prisoner of war
camp. He abandoned the conventional enclosed air-conditioned mall concept, firing architect Victor Gruen
, and hiring the South Florida
architectural firm Herbert H. Johnson & Associates. Whitman paid $2 per square foot for the land.
Bal Harbour Shops officially opened in 1965 with its first tenant being toy retailer, FAO Schwarz, which operated a store in the mall until its bankruptcy in 2000. Until the 1970s no upscale fashion brands had boutiques there aside from Saks Fifth Avenue
and Neiman Marcus
, but Gucci
was convinced to open its 5th US store there, after that an influx of major brands opened up including Chanel
, Dolce & Gabbana
, Emilio Pucci
and more.
While classified as a mall, the retail center discourages comparisons to traditional malls. There are no enclosed walking paths or kiosks.
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
in Bal Harbour
Bal Harbour, Florida
Bal Harbour is a village in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,305 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bal Harbour is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of...
, a wealthy suburb of Miami, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, known internationally for its collection of luxury retail. Bal Harbour Shops is one of the few remaining family-owned malls in the nation. For a business that is willing to lease, there is a two year waiting list at the mall, which has operated at 100% occupancy for more than two decades.
History
The conceptual plan of the open-air shopping center was envisioned by Stanley Whitman on the site of a former United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
barracks
Barracks
Barracks are specialised buildings for permanent military accommodation; the word may apply to separate housing blocks or to complete complexes. Their main object is to separate soldiers from the civilian population and reinforce discipline, training and esprit de corps. They were sometimes called...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
camp. He abandoned the conventional enclosed air-conditioned mall concept, firing architect Victor Gruen
Victor Gruen
Victor David Gruen, born Viktor David Grünbaum , was an Austrian-born commercial architect best known as a pioneer in the design of shopping malls in the United States.- Biography :...
, and hiring the South Florida
South Florida metropolitan area
The South Florida metropolitan area, also known as the Miami metropolitan area, and designated the Miami–Fort Lauderdale–Pompano Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area by the U.S...
architectural firm Herbert H. Johnson & Associates. Whitman paid $2 per square foot for the land.
Bal Harbour Shops officially opened in 1965 with its first tenant being toy retailer, FAO Schwarz, which operated a store in the mall until its bankruptcy in 2000. Until the 1970s no upscale fashion brands had boutiques there aside from Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue is a luxury American specialty store owned and operated by Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises , a subsidiary of Saks Incorporated. It competes in the high-end specialty store market in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, i.e. 'the 3 B's' Bergdorf, Barneys, Bloomingdale's and Lord & Taylor...
and Neiman Marcus
Neiman Marcus
Neiman Marcus, formerly Neiman-Marcus, is a luxury specialty retail department store operated by the Neiman Marcus Group in the United States. The company is headquartered in the One Marcus Square building in Downtown Dallas, Texas, and competes with other department stores such as Saks Fifth...
, but Gucci
Gucci
The House of Gucci, better known simply as Gucci , is an Italian fashion and leather goods label, part of the Gucci Group, which is owned by French company PPR...
was convinced to open its 5th US store there, after that an influx of major brands opened up including Chanel
Chanel
Chanel S.A. is a French fashion house founded by the couturier Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, well established in haute couture, specializing in luxury goods . She gained the name "Coco" while maintaining a career as a singer at a café in France...
, Dolce & Gabbana
Dolce & Gabbana
Dolce & Gabbana is an Italian luxury industry fashion house. The company was started by the Italian designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana in Milan, Italy. By 2005 their turnover was €597 million....
, Emilio Pucci
Emilio Pucci
Emilio Pucci, Marquis of Barsento , was a Florentine Italian fashion designer and politician. He and his eponymous company are synonymous with geometric prints in a kaleidoscope of colours.-Early life:...
and more.
While classified as a mall, the retail center discourages comparisons to traditional malls. There are no enclosed walking paths or kiosks.