Edison Mall
Encyclopedia
Edison Mall is an enclosed, super-regional shopping mall
in Fort Myers, Florida
. The mall opened in 1965 with J.C. Penney
and Sears, making it the first mall to contain both stores. It was expanded in 2007. Owned by Simon Property Group
, the mall also includes two Macy's
stores and a Dillard's
, with more than 160 stores and a lifestyle center
section.
at Colonial Boulevard on the south side of Fort Myers. It was the first mall in the United States to feature rival chains J.C. Penney
and Sears as its anchor store
s; Maas Brothers
was a third anchor. At the time, US-41 was only two lanes wide, and the only other businesses near the mall were a Publix
supermarket and a drive-in theater
, now the site of a Kmart
store. Sanders sold the mall to Aster Realty in 1979.
Additions to the mall included Burdines
and J. W. Robinson's, later Maison Blanche
, which sold its store and six others in Florida to Dillard's
in 1991. Also in 1991, Burdines moved its women's clothing into the former Maas Brothers building, while retaining men's clothing and home goods at the original location. A 1998 renovation to Edison Mall added skylight
s in the center court.
Along with the rest of the Burdines chain, the two locations at Edison Mall were renamed Burdine's-Macy's
in 2003, dropping the Burdine's name two years later. In 2005, Simon announced a further renovation of the mall, which would add an outdoor lifestyle center
wing and renovate the interior.
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 Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers is the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. Its population was 62,298 in the 2010 census, a 29.23 percent increase over the 2000 figure....
. The mall opened in 1965 with J.C. Penney
J.C. Penney
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. is a chain of American mid-range department stores based in Plano, Texas, a suburb north of Dallas. The company operates 1,107 department stores in all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. JCPenney also operates catalog sales merchant offices nationwide in many...
and Sears, making it the first mall to contain both stores. It was expanded in 2007. Owned by Simon Property Group
Simon Property Group
Simon Property Group, Inc. is an American commercial real estate company, ranked #1 in the United States as the largest real estate investment trust. Simon is a fully integrated real estate company which operates from five retail real estate platforms: regional malls, Premium Outlet Centers, The...
, the mall also includes two Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
stores and a Dillard's
Dillard's
Dillard's, Inc. is a department store chain in the United States, with 330 stores in 29 states. Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Dillard's locations are concentrated in Texas and Florida; with a major presence in other states including Arizona, Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri,...
, with more than 160 stores and a lifestyle center
Lifestyle center (retail)
A lifestyle center is a shopping center or mixed-used commercial development that combines the traditional retail functions of a shopping mall with leisure amenities oriented towards upscale consumers...
section.
History
George Sanders developed the Edison Mall, which opened in 1965 on US-41U.S. Route 41
U.S. Route 41 is a north–south United States Highway that runs from Miami, Florida to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Until 1949, the part in southern Florida, from Naples to Miami, was U.S...
at Colonial Boulevard on the south side of Fort Myers. It was the first mall in the United States to feature rival chains J.C. Penney
J.C. Penney
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. is a chain of American mid-range department stores based in Plano, Texas, a suburb north of Dallas. The company operates 1,107 department stores in all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. JCPenney also operates catalog sales merchant offices nationwide in many...
and Sears as its anchor store
Anchor store
In retail, an anchor store, draw tenant, anchor tenant, or key tenant is one of the larger stores in a shopping mall, usually a department store or a major retail chain....
s; Maas Brothers
Maas Brothers
Maas Brothers was a leading Tampa, Florida, department store founded by Abe and Isaac Maas in 1886. It grew from a small 23' by 90' store to a chain of 39 stores across the state of Florida...
was a third anchor. At the time, US-41 was only two lanes wide, and the only other businesses near the mall were a Publix
Publix
Publix Super Markets, Inc. is an American supermarket chain based in Lakeland, Florida.Founded in 1930 by George W. Jenkins, it is an employee-owned, privately held corporation. Publix is currently ranked No. 86 on Fortune magazine's list of 100 Best Companies to Work For 2010 and was ranked No...
supermarket and a drive-in theater
Drive-in theater
A drive-in theater is a form of cinema structure consisting of a large outdoor screen, a projection booth, a concession stand and a large parking area for automobiles. Within this enclosed area, customers can view movies from the privacy and comfort of their cars.The screen can be as simple as a...
, now the site of a Kmart
Kmart
Kmart, sometimes styled as "K-Mart," is a chain of discount department stores. The chain acquired Sears in 2005, forming a new corporation under the name Sears Holdings Corporation. The company was founded in 1962 and is the third largest discount store chain in the world, behind Wal-Mart and...
store. Sanders sold the mall to Aster Realty in 1979.
Additions to the mall included Burdines
Burdines
Burdines was a leading department store chain in the state of Florida. The first Burdines store was opened in Bartow, Florida in 1896., Burdines became part of Federated Department Stores, Inc in 1956...
and J. W. Robinson's, later Maison Blanche
Maison Blanche
.Maison Blanche was a department store in New Orleans and later also a chain of department stores. It was founded in 1897 by Isidore Newman, an immigrant from Germany....
, which sold its store and six others in Florida to Dillard's
Dillard's
Dillard's, Inc. is a department store chain in the United States, with 330 stores in 29 states. Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Dillard's locations are concentrated in Texas and Florida; with a major presence in other states including Arizona, Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri,...
in 1991. Also in 1991, Burdines moved its women's clothing into the former Maas Brothers building, while retaining men's clothing and home goods at the original location. A 1998 renovation to Edison Mall added skylight
Skylight
Skylight may refer to:* Skylight * Skylight , by David Hare* Skylight of a lava tube, a hole in the ceiling of the tube* Skylight, Arkansas* Skylight, a short film by David Clayton Rogers* Skylight Pictures, a film company...
s in the center court.
Along with the rest of the Burdines chain, the two locations at Edison Mall were renamed Burdine's-Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
in 2003, dropping the Burdine's name two years later. In 2005, Simon announced a further renovation of the mall, which would add an outdoor lifestyle center
Lifestyle center (retail)
A lifestyle center is a shopping center or mixed-used commercial development that combines the traditional retail functions of a shopping mall with leisure amenities oriented towards upscale consumers...
wing and renovate the interior.