Orlando Fashion Square is a two-story indoor shopping mall situated in Orlando, Florida. Established in 1973, the mall spans over one million square feet and houses 79 stores. Macy's, Floor & Decor, and Dillard's Clearance Center serve as anchor stores. The mall originally featured a Sears department store, which opened in 1963; however, this store ceased operations in 2016 and has since been demolished for redevelopment. JCPenney, another anchor store, closed its doors in 2020. Premiere Cinemas and Planet Fitness are among the other prominent tenants. The management of the mall is overseen by UP Development, Inc.
History[]
The inaugural operational establishment on the premises was a 173,000-square-foot (16,100 m2) Sears department store, inaugurated on October 30, 1963. The mall's inception was initially disclosed in 1971 by developer Leonard L. Farber, who was also involved in the development of Pompano Square (now Pompano Citi Centre) in Pompano Beach, Florida. According to the original plans, the mall was intended to be connected to the existing Sears store, with Burdines designated as the second anchor. Burdines commenced operations along with the rest of the mall on July 30, 1973.
A freestanding movie theater was constructed on an outparcel in 1975, remaining until 1989. In 1988, Robinson's Florida stores were acquired by Maison Blanche. Subsequently, Maison Blanche erected a new store just northeast of the original one two years later. The former store was transformed into more inline mall space, linking the new store with the rest of the mall. Maison Blanche transitioned to Gayfer's in 1992, and the brand was later acquired by Dillard's in 1998. JCPenney established a new store at the mall in 1993, replacing a store at Winter Park Mall. An interior renovation was concluded in 2002. In 2004, a new movie theater owned by Premiere Cinemas debuted in the mall. Burdines was rebranded as Macy's in 2005.
In 2013, UP Development, Inc. acquired the mall from PREIT for $35 million, intending to redevelop it. A year later, a new bowling alley was added, and the movie theater underwent reconstruction. In 2014, Dillard's transformed its store into a Dillard's Clearance Center, closing its second floor. The mall experienced the closure of several other stores, including Bath and Body Works, Victoria's Secret, and The Limited. In 2015, Sears Holdings spun off 235 properties, including the Sears at Orlando Fashion Square, into Seritage Growth Properties. On August 9, 2016, Sears announced the closure of its store at the mall. The Sears store was demolished in April 2017, and Floor & Decor was constructed in its place. Outparcels on the Seritage site now house Longhorn Steakhouse, Mission BBQ, and Olive Garden. On June 4, 2020, JCPenney declared its closure as part of a plan to shutter 154 stores nationwide. The store officially closed on October 18, 2020