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Brevard Mall was an enclosed shopping mall in Melbourne, Florida, United States. A small, two-anchor mall, it was the first mall in Brevard County, Florida, and was the first mall built by The Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation in Florida.[1] Currently, the mall has been converted into an office complex called the Florida Business Center, with tenants including Percepta, Collins Aerospace, and IHeartMedia.

History

Developed by the Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation, plans for the mall were announced in 1961, anchored by a two-level Montgomery Ward and J. C. Penney, with space for 24 stores in between, at that time to include a McCrory's 5 & 10, a Food Fair, a savings and loan, two women's wear stores, two shoe stores, a men's shop, a restaurant, a child's clothing store, and a jewelry store.[2] Construction for the mall began in early 1962, on a 32-acre site considered part of the Melbourne Airport, and previously housing a television & appliance store, and a miniature golf course. At this time, an opening date of Fall 1962 was announced, as well as new tenants including Eckerd Drugs, Winn-Dixie, and Kinney Shoes.[3][4] Montgomery Ward announced a March 27, 1963 opening by January that year, with its auto center opening ahead of the main store, on March 18, 1963.[5][6] The mall opened as planned on March 27, 1963, with a mix of national and local tenants.[7]

The mall's Montgomery Ward was converted to Jefferson Ward in 1980, in a $2 million renovation.[8] In 1981, plans were announced to greatly expand the mall; A joint venture by owners Jim Wilson & Associates with Homart Development Company and Mel Sembler Associates, it would add 125 stores to the mall, connecting it to an existing Sears and adding Ivey's as a fourth anchor.[9] Plans collapsed however in March 1981, when anchor J. C. Penney announced it would not be renewing it's lease, set to run out in 1983, in order to move to the new Melbourne Square Mall, followed shortly by Ivey's.[10] JCPenney was re-tenanted in late 1984, when HomeOwners Warehouse, a subsidiary of Service Merchandise, renovated and opened in the space.[11] Jefferson Ward anchor folded with the rest of the chain in 1986, and remained vacant until 1988, when Montgomery Ward returned to the mall alongside a $1.25 million renovation by new owners J.J. Gumberg Co.[12] TJ Maxx was announced in 1987, taking over the former Winn-Dixie space as well as a few smaller tenants nearby.[13][14]

In 1997, as part of their Chapter 11 Bankruptcy filing, Montgomery Ward closed 48 stores, including the location at the Brevard Mall, which closed in August.[15] Also in 1997, the mall underwent renovations into the "Florida Marketplace", a mixed-use center including offices, retail, and a convention center space in the former Montgomery Ward space.[16][17]

References

  1. ^ Karel, Frank (October 5, 1961). "Did Shopping Center Deal Jell". The Miami Herald. Retrieved April 9, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ Karel, Frank (September 15, 1961). "Bigger Shopping Center?". The Miami Herald. Retrieved April 9, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ Pyle, Homer (February 3, 1962). "Mall Sets Opening In Fall". The Miami Herald. Retrieved April 9, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ "Construction Set On Brevard Mall". Orlando Evening Star. February 2, 1962. Retrieved April 9, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ Robshaw, Walt (January 24, 1963). "New Store Opening March 27". Brevard Star. Retrieved April 9, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ "MW Auto Store Set To Open". Brevard Sentinel. March 17, 1963. Retrieved April 9, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ "Mall Shops To Open Doors Today". Brevard Sentinel. March 27, 1963. Retrieved April 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ Hogan, Dave (April 20, 1980). "Brevard Retail Centers Undergo Expansion, Change". Florida Today. Retrieved April 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ Hogan, Dave (February 7, 1981). "Two malls may battle for Melbourne". Florida Today. Retrieved April 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ Cone, Marla (March 12, 1981). "J.C. Penney move ends 2-mall battle". Florida Today. Retrieved April 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ Hodges, Dave (December 14, 1984). "Brevard Mall welcomes HomeOwners Warehouse". Florida Today. Retrieved April 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ Carey, Chris (April 3, 1988). "Putting new faces on old shopping centers". The Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved April 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ "TJ Maxx plans store in Melbourne". Florida Today. November 18, 1987. Retrieved April 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ Carey, Chris (July 12, 1987). "Ward leads mall recovery". The Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved April 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ "Montgomery Ward closings could leave 3,800 jobless". Florida Today. October 11, 1997. Retrieved April 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ Worley, Dwight (December 5, 1997). "Mall launches new look in January". Florida Today. Retrieved April 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ "Panel ponders new name for airport". Florida Today. February 19, 1998. Retrieved April 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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