Florence Mall
Retailer / private label
UnclaimedAn enclosed shopping mall in Florence, Kentucky, serving northern Kentucky and the wider Cincinnati metropolitan area.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Florence Mall is an enclosed shopping center in Florence, Kentucky, United States. It occupies a prominent site along Interstate 75, just south of Kentucky Route 18, and became one of the principal retail destinations in northern Kentucky after opening in 1976. The property was developed by Homart Development Company, the real-estate division of Sears, and originally opened with a two-story layout and 87 stores. Its initial anchor lineup consisted of Sears, Shillito's, Pogue's, and JCPenney, with the anchors introduced in stages between 1976 and 1978. The mall helped accelerate commercial development in Florence. New retail stores and related businesses followed its opening, contributing to the city's emergence as a regional shopping hub. Florence Mall has historically served a broad customer base from Boone County, neighboring northern Kentucky communities, and the Cincinnati area. Its tenant mix has included department stores, specialty retailers, restaurants, and food-court operators, while its current offering remains centered on more than 100 stores and mall services. The property's department-store history reflects the consolidation and retrenchment of American retail chains. Shillito's was combined with Rike's and later absorbed into Lazarus. Pogue's became L.S. Ayres in 1983, and that location was subsequently sold to Hess's. After Hess's closed in 1993, Lazarus expanded into the former space. The former Lazarus locations were later converted first to Lazarus-Macy's in 2003 and then to Macy's in 2005. JCPenney has remained a continuing anchor since its arrival in the late 1970s. Sears, one of the original anchors, announced its closure in 2018 and subsequently left the property, leaving that anchor space vacant. Florence Mall underwent significant physical and tenant improvements over time. The food court was renovated during the mid-1980s and again in 2004. A larger renovation during the 1990s reportedly cost approximately $8 million and added 64 tenants. The mall's ownership and management have also changed. General Growth Properties acquired the property in 2003 in partnership with the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois, after having managed it for several years. Brookfield Properties later sold the mall in 2021, with JLL taking on management responsibilities. On June 15, 2022, Mason Asset Management and Namdar Realty Group acquired the property; Mason was described as overseeing leading efforts, while Namdar managed the mall. A distinctive landmark associated with the property is the Florence Y'all Water Tower, located between the mall and Interstate 75. The tower was built before the mall opened and originally carried the words "Florence Mall." Because the original wording was considered impermissible commercial advertising before the mall existed, the lettering was altered to "Florence Y'all." The modified tower became a recognizable symbol of Florence and a notable roadside feature near the shopping center. Today, Florence Mall remains an active enclosed retail property whose identity is tied to its long regional history, its department-store anchors, and its role in the development of Florence's commercial landscape.
History
Florence Mall was developed on an Interstate 75 site in Florence, Kentucky, by Homart Development Company, the real-estate arm of Sears. Hixson, Inc. of Cincinnati designed the project, and Charles V. Maescher & Co., also based in Cincinnati, served as general contractor. Sears opened on March 10, 1976, ahead of the shopping center itself. Florence Mall opened approximately six months later with Pogue's as its second anchor and 87 stores. Shillito's and JCPenney joined the anchor lineup in 1977 and 1978, respectively. The mall's opening helped transform Florence into a major retail center in northern Kentucky. Its position near Interstate 75 gave it regional accessibility, and additional retail development followed around the property. Over subsequent decades, the mall's department-store identities changed as regional chains were consolidated. Shillito's was combined with Rike's and operated under the Shillito-Rike's name for a short period before the business was absorbed into Lazarus in 1986. Pogue's became L.S. Ayres in 1983, and the location was sold to Hess's in 1988. Hess's closed its Florence store in 1993, after which Lazarus moved its home-goods operations into the former Hess's space. The food court received a renovation in the mid-1980s. During the 1990s, the mall underwent an approximately $8 million renovation that added 64 tenants and refreshed the property. Another food-court renovation took place in 2004. The former Lazarus stores were converted to Lazarus-Macy's in 2003 and then adopted the Macy's name in 2005. JCPenney continued operating as an anchor, while Sears remained another major anchor until its announced closure in 2018. Ownership changed in 2003, when General Growth Properties acquired the property in partnership with the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois. General Growth had already managed Florence Mall for several years. Brookfield Properties later sold the mall in 2021, and JLL managed it following that transaction. On June 15, 2022, Mason Asset Management and Namdar Realty Group acquired the property, with Mason overseeing leading efforts and Namdar managing the mall. Florence Mall is also associated with the Florence Y'all Water Tower, a landmark standing between the mall and Interstate 75. The tower was constructed two years before the mall opened and initially displayed the words "Florence Mall." Local officials altered the lettering after determining that the original wording constituted impermissible commercial advertising before the mall existed. By changing the central lettering and adding an apostrophe, the message became "Florence Y'all." The tower subsequently became a civic and roadside landmark rather than simply a shopping-center sign. Florence Mall continues to operate as an enclosed regional shopping center with department stores, specialty retailers, food service, and mall amenities.
- 2022
Mason Asset Management and Namdar acquire the property
[1]The mall was sold on June 15 to Mason Asset Management and Namdar Realty Group, with Namdar managing the property.
- 2021
Brookfield Properties sells the mall
[1]Brookfield Properties sold Florence Mall, after which JLL was identified as the mall manager.
- 2018
Sears closure is announced
[1]Sears announced that its Florence Mall store would close in November, leaving the former original anchor space vacant.
- 2005
Lazarus-Macy's locations become Macy's
[1]The two former Lazarus locations adopted the Macy's name.
- 2004
Food court renovation
[1]The mall's food court underwent another renovation.
- 2003
General Growth Properties acquires the mall
[1]General Growth Properties acquired Florence Mall in partnership with the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois. The former Lazarus stores also became Lazarus-Macy's.
- 1993
Hess's closes
[1]Hess's closed its Florence Mall store. Lazarus later moved its home-goods operations into the former space.
- 1986
Shillito's is absorbed into Lazarus
[1]After a transitional Shillito-Rike's period, the former Shillito's operation became part of Lazarus.
- 1983
Pogue's becomes L.S. Ayres
[1]The Pogue's department-store location was converted to the L.S. Ayres banner.
- 1978
JCPenney opens as an anchor
[1]JCPenney became the fourth original anchor and has remained associated with the property throughout its history.
Products and positioning
A regional enclosed shopping mall and retail hub serving Florence, northern Kentucky, and nearby communities in the Cincinnati metropolitan area.
Anchor retail · 1976
Department-store retail
Florence Mall's principal anchor offering consists of department-store retail. The current anchor lineup is identified as JCPenney and two Macy's locations, providing apparel, accessories, beauty products, home merchandise, and other broad-category goods. Sears was historically one of the original anchors but its store closed after an announcement in 2018, leaving the former location vacant.
Mall retail · 1976
Specialty-store shopping
The mall accommodates more than 100 stores and service-oriented tenants across categories such as clothing, footwear, accessories, beauty, gifts, electronics, and other consumer goods. The specialty-store mix has changed over time as individual tenants and retail chains have entered, left, or repositioned within the property.
Food service · 1976
Food court and dining
Food service is a longstanding component of Florence Mall's tenant mix. Its food court was renovated during the mid-1980s and again in 2004, supporting quick-service dining and refreshments for shoppers and visitors.
Brand decisions
2022
Mason Asset Management and Namdar Realty Group acquire the mallM&ABackground
Following Brookfield Properties' sale of the property in 2021, Florence Mall changed ownership again on June 15, 2022.
Action taken
Mason Asset Management and Namdar Realty Group purchased the mall, with Mason overseeing leading efforts and Namdar managing it.
Aftermath
The transaction established the current ownership and management arrangement identified for the property.
2018
Sears exits the mallStrategyBackground
Sears announced on August 22, 2018, that its Florence Mall store would close in November.
Action taken
The Sears anchor location was closed and subsequently became vacant.
Aftermath
The departure removed one of the mall's four original department-store anchors.
2003
General Growth Properties acquires Florence MallM&ABackground
Florence Mall had previously been managed by General Growth Properties, which acquired the property in partnership with the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois.
Action taken
General Growth Properties and the pension system became the acquiring ownership partners.
Aftermath
The transaction occurred alongside the conversion of both Lazarus locations to the Lazarus-Macy's banner.
Sources1 sources
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