Altamonte Mall
A super-regional enclosed shopping mall in Altamonte Springs, Florida, near Orlando.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Altamonte Mall is a large enclosed shopping center in Altamonte Springs, Florida, a suburban city in the Orlando metropolitan area. It is situated in the Uptown Altamonte neighborhood near the intersection of Interstate 4 and State Road 436, giving it access to communities across Seminole County and the wider Central Florida region. The mall is a prominent regional retail destination rather than a standalone consumer-product brand. The center opened on August 1, 1974, after The Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation and Homart Development Company planned major shopping-center projects in Central Florida. Its original department-store anchors were Sears, Robinson's of Florida, Burdines, and Jordan Marsh. A two-screen General Cinema theater operated on an outparcel. At opening, Altamonte Mall was described as the largest shopping mall in Florida, reflecting the rapid growth of enclosed retail centers in the state during the period. The property changed hands and anchor identities several times over subsequent decades. Homart sold its interest in 1984, while Robinson's Florida stores were transferred to Maison Blanche in 1987. DeBartolo announced a substantial modernization in 1988, and the work was completed with a grand reopening in November 1989. The project introduced new ceilings, skylights, flooring, landscaping, and a brightly colored Old Florida design treatment. A second-floor food court followed in 1990. A proposed expansion of approximately 500,000 square feet and a four-story parking structure was later permitted but was not built. Department-store consolidation reshaped the tenant mix in the early 1990s. Jordan Marsh closed after Allied Stores merged with Federated Department Stores, and JCPenney took over that location in 1992. Maison Blanche's ownership changes eventually led to the store becoming part of Gayfers, and the property was converted to Dillard's after Mercantile Stores was acquired by Dillard's in 1998. Burdines was converted to Macy's when Federated consolidated its department-store brands in 2005. General Growth Properties acquired the mall in 1998 for $169 million. The mall underwent another major redevelopment around the early 2000s. The original General Cinema theater closed in 2000, and an 18-screen AMC multiplex opened in June 2003 together with two three-story parking garages. The renovation also updated the central court and food court, moderated the earlier color scheme, and replaced the bell-tower feature with a 26,000-square-foot Barnes & Noble store. In 2017, the central court received another update, replacing its fountain with seating and retail kiosks. The mall's Sears store and associated automotive center closed in August 2018. The former anchor building had not been reopened as of the reference material's 2026 status. Altamonte Mall remains a two-story, approximately 1.16-million-square-foot enclosed shopping center. It is identified as the largest enclosed mall in Seminole County and the third-largest in Central Florida, behind The Mall at Millenia and The Florida Mall. Its current anchor lineup includes Dillard's, JCPenney, Macy's, and the AMC multiplex.
History
Altamonte Mall emerged from the expansion of suburban retail infrastructure in Central Florida during the early 1970s. The Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation announced two major mall projects in the region, one south of Orlando and another in Altamonte Springs. Homart Development Company, the real-estate arm of Sears, Roebuck and Co., participated in the development of both projects. The Altamonte Springs project proceeded first and opened on August 1, 1974. The original mall was anchored by Sears, Robinson's of Florida, Burdines, and Jordan Marsh. Its opening made it the largest mall in Florida at the time. A General Cinema facility with two screens operated separately on an outparcel, complementing the department stores and in-mall retail tenants. The mall's location near Interstate 4 and State Road 436 helped establish it as a regional destination for the northern Orlando suburbs. Ownership and tenant changes followed the broader consolidation of American department stores. Homart sold its share in 1984. Robinson's Florida operations, including the Altamonte Mall store, were sold to Maison Blanche in 1987. In 1988, DeBartolo announced a $7.2 million renovation. The project replaced or upgraded ceilings, skylights, floors, and landscaping while introducing an Old Florida visual theme and a bell-tower façade. The work was celebrated with a grand reopening on November 4, 1989, and a second-floor food court opened the following August. A much larger expansion was considered and received permits, but the planned 500,000-square-foot addition and four-story parking garage were never constructed. In 1991, Allied Stores merged with Federated Department Stores. Because Federated already operated Burdines, the Jordan Marsh store was closed and its space was converted to JCPenney, which opened in January 1992. Maison Blanche was later acquired by Mercantile Stores and integrated into the Gayfers chain. DeBartolo sold its ownership stake to Rodamco in 1992 amid financial difficulties, although DeBartolo continued to manage the property. General Growth Properties acquired the mall in 1998 for a reported $169 million. That same year, Mercantile Stores was acquired by Dillard's, leading to the conversion of the former Gayfers location. The next major physical redevelopment began after the original General Cinema theater closed in 2000. An 18-screen AMC multiplex opened in June 2003 with two three-story parking garages. The associated mall renovation redesigned the central court and food court, softened the previous color palette, and replaced the bell tower with a 26,000-square-foot Barnes & Noble store. The mall's department-store portfolio changed again when Federated consolidated its banners: Burdines became Macy's in 2005. Altamonte Mall continued to adapt as enclosed malls faced changing consumer habits and department-store contraction. In 2017, its central court was renovated, with the fountain replaced by seating and retail kiosks. Sears and its Auto Center closed in August 2018, leaving the anchor building vacant. Despite the loss of Sears, the property remained an active regional shopping and entertainment center anchored by Dillard's, JCPenney, Macy's, and AMC. At approximately 1.16 million square feet across two levels, it is characterized as the largest enclosed mall in Seminole County and the third-largest in Central Florida.
- 2018
Sears closes
[1]The Sears anchor and accompanying Auto Center close in August.
- 2017
Central court receives another renovation
[1]The fountain in the central court is replaced with seating and retail kiosks.
- 2005
Burdines becomes Macy's
[1]Federated completes the conversion of Burdines stores to the Macy's banner.
- 2003
AMC multiplex opens
[1]An 18-screen AMC theater opens with new parking structures and a broader mall renovation.
- 1998
General Growth Properties acquires the mall
[1]General Growth Properties purchases Altamonte Mall for a reported $169 million.
- 1998
Gayfers location converts to Dillard's
[1]Following Dillard's acquisition of Mercantile Stores, the former Gayfers anchor becomes a Dillard's store.
- 1992
JCPenney replaces Jordan Marsh
[1]The Jordan Marsh anchor closes after corporate consolidation, and JCPenney opens in the location the following January.
- 1992
DeBartolo sells its stake to Rodamco
[1]DeBartolo disposes of its ownership interest because of financial difficulties while continuing to manage the mall.
- 1990
Second-floor food court opens
[1]A food court is added following the first major renovation.
- 1989
First major renovation completed
[1]The mall holds a grand reopening after a $7.2 million renovation adding updated interiors, landscaping, skylights, and an Old Florida theme.
Products and positioning
Super-regional enclosed shopping center serving Altamonte Springs, Seminole County, and the broader Central Florida market.
Retail · 1974
Department-store retail
Altamonte Mall's principal retail offer is organized around large department stores. The current anchor lineup identified in the reference material consists of Dillard's, JCPenney, and Macy's, providing apparel, accessories, beauty products, home merchandise, and other general department-store categories. These anchors have changed over time as national retail chains consolidated or rebranded.
Entertainment · 2003
AMC multiplex
The mall's current cinema offering is an 18-screen AMC multiplex. It opened in June 2003 after the earlier two-screen General Cinema theater closed, expanding the property's entertainment role and forming part of a broader redevelopment that included new parking structures.
Books and media · 2003
Barnes & Noble
A 26,000-square-foot Barnes & Noble store replaced the mall's bell-tower feature during the early-2000s redevelopment. It added a substantial books, media, and lifestyle-retail component to the center's tenant mix.
Food service · 1990
Food court and dining services
A second-floor food court was introduced after the late-1980s renovation. Dining and food-service areas form part of the mall's everyday convenience offer alongside shopping and entertainment.
Brand decisions
2018
Sears anchor closureOtherBackground
Sears closed its Altamonte Mall department store and related automotive center during a period of contraction for the chain.
Action taken
The Sears store and Auto Center ceased operations in August 2018.
Aftermath
The former anchor building remained unopened as of the supplied reference material's 2026 status.
2017
Central-court refreshStrategyBackground
The mall continued to update its common areas as visitor expectations and retail formats evolved.
Action taken
The central court fountain was removed and replaced with seating and retail kiosks.
Aftermath
The redesigned area placed greater emphasis on flexible gathering space and smaller-format retail activity.
2003
Redevelopment around a new multiplexStrategyBackground
The original two-screen General Cinema theater had closed in 2000, creating an opportunity to expand the property's entertainment offer.
Action taken
The mall added an 18-screen AMC theater, two three-story parking garages, an updated central court and food court, and a Barnes & Noble store.
Aftermath
The redevelopment broadened the center beyond department-store shopping and modernized its public spaces.
1988
Launch of a major mall renovationStrategyBackground
The aging shopping center required an updated physical identity and improved visitor amenities.
Action taken
DeBartolo announced a $7.2 million renovation covering ceilings, skylights, floors, landscaping, and an Old Florida-themed design.
Aftermath
The project concluded with a November 1989 grand reopening, followed by a new second-floor food court.
Renovation cost. $7.2 million (1988 announcement)
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