Lake Square Mall
A shopping mall in Leesburg, Florida, serving as the only enclosed shopping mall in Lake County.
Last updated August 26, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Lake Square Mall is a shopping mall in Leesburg, Florida, United States, and is described as the only shopping mall in Lake County. The property opened on September 24, 1980, after being developed by General Growth Properties. Its original anchor lineup included Belk, J. C. Penney, and Sears, reflecting the traditional department-store-centered format of American regional malls in the late twentieth century. The mall expanded and changed substantially over the following decades. An expansion involving Target and ten additional storefronts was proposed in 1989, and Target opened at the property in March 1992. In 1995, the on-site AMC movie theater increased from six screens to twelve. That year, Belk also enlarged its store into space formerly occupied by Rite Aid. J. C. Penney was remodeled in 1996, while a stage in the mall's center court was removed. Books-A-Million was added around the time of the property's 1997 ownership change, and PetSmart joined the tenant mix in 2011. The property entered a period of significant anchor-store contraction in the 2010s. Target announced the closure of its location in November 2013, and the store ceased operations on February 1, 2014. J. C. Penney announced in January 2014 that it would leave the mall, completing its closure on May 3 of that year. Macerich placed the property up for auction in November 2013, and the mall was sold to Kohan Retail Investment Group by March 2014. Kohan subsequently sold it on September 3, 2014, to Via Properties of Istanbul, Turkey, for an undisclosed amount. Under Via Properties, the mall was renovated and renamed ViaPort Florida. In 2017, Exclusive Management and Properties, Inc. acquired the property. The new owners restored the Lake Square Mall name and announced plans to reduce vacancies and renovate the exterior facade. The mall's current anchor businesses are Belk and Via Entertainment, an entertainment center operating in space associated with the property's former cinema and entertainment uses. Sears, another original anchor, closed in mid-December 2019 after its parent company announced a nationwide store-closing program. Lake Square Mall's history illustrates the evolution of a regional shopping center through department-store openings, entertainment expansion, ownership transfers, rebranding, anchor closures, and efforts to reposition under new management. Publicly available reference material does not establish a separate corporate parent, public listing, stock ticker, founder, or current financial results for the mall itself.
History
Lake Square Mall opened in Leesburg, Florida, on September 24, 1980. General Growth Properties developed the center with Belk, J. C. Penney, and Sears as its initial anchor stores. The mall was designed as a regional retail destination for Lake County and surrounding communities, combining department stores with smaller specialty tenants. In 1989, an expansion incorporating Target and ten additional storefronts was proposed. Target opened at the mall in March 1992, adding a major general-merchandise tenant to the department-store lineup. The entertainment component also grew: in 1995, the AMC Theatres cinema expanded from six screens to twelve. Belk expanded into an adjacent space previously occupied by Rite Aid, while J. C. Penney received a remodel in 1996. A stage in the center court was removed during the 1990s changes. Books-A-Million was added around 1997. Ownership changed in 1997, when Simon Property Group and Macerich acquired the mall. The tenant roster continued to evolve, with PetSmart added in 2011. The property later experienced the broader pressures affecting many traditional American malls, including department-store rationalization and vacancies. Target's closure was announced in November 2013, and the store closed on February 1, 2014. J. C. Penney announced its departure in January 2014 and closed on May 3. Macerich put the mall up for auction in November 2013. Kohan Retail Investment Group acquired the property by March 2014. On September 3 of that year, Kohan sold the mall to Via Properties of Istanbul, Turkey, for an undisclosed sum. The new ownership renovated the property and changed its name to ViaPort Florida. In 2017, Exclusive Management and Properties, Inc. purchased the mall, restored the Lake Square Mall name, and announced plans to reduce vacancies and renovate the facade. Sears remained one of the property's original anchors for nearly four decades. In 2019, its closure was announced as part of a nationwide Sears program affecting 92 stores, and the Lake Square Mall location closed in mid-December. Current reference material identifies Belk and Via Entertainment as the mall's anchor occupants. The property's history is therefore marked by repeated ownership changes, rebranding, anchor turnover, entertainment expansion, and ongoing efforts to reposition a mature regional shopping center.
- 2019
Sears closes
[1]The Sears store closed in mid-December as part of a broader nationwide store-closing program.
- 2017
Lake Square Mall name restored
[1]Exclusive Management and Properties acquired the property, restored its original name, and announced vacancy-reduction and facade-renovation plans.
- 2014
Mall sold and renamed ViaPort Florida
[1]After a sale to Kohan and then Via Properties, the property was renovated and rebranded as ViaPort Florida.
- 2011
PetSmart added
[1]PetSmart joined the mall's tenant mix.
- 1997
Simon and Macerich acquire the mall
[1]Simon Property Group and Macerich purchased the mall; Books-A-Million was also added around this period.
- 1995
Cinema and Belk expansions
[1]AMC expanded its cinema from six to twelve screens, and Belk enlarged its store into former Rite Aid space.
- 1992
Target opens
[1]Target opened at the mall in March.
- 1989
Expansion including Target proposed
[1]Plans were proposed for an expansion that would add Target and ten new storefronts.
- 1980
Lake Square Mall opens
[1]The mall opened in Leesburg on September 24 with Belk, J. C. Penney, and Sears as anchor stores.
Products and positioning
A regional enclosed shopping mall serving Leesburg and the wider Lake County, Florida market, with a tenant mix combining department-store retail, specialty shops, and entertainment.
Department store · 1980
Belk
Belk is one of Lake Square Mall's current anchor occupants. The store represents the mall's traditional department-store retail role and has operated at the property since its 1980 opening. It expanded into adjacent former Rite Aid space in 1995.
Entertainment center
Via Entertainment
Via Entertainment is identified as an anchor entertainment center at the mall. It reflects the property's continuing use of leisure and entertainment attractions to complement conventional retail tenants.
Cinema
AMC Theatres cinema
The mall's AMC movie theater expanded from six screens to twelve in 1995. The cinema was an important entertainment component of the property, although the supplied reference does not establish its current operating status under the AMC name.
Brand decisions
2017
Return to the Lake Square Mall identityStrategyBackground
Exclusive Management and Properties acquired the renamed property and pursued a new operating direction.
Action taken
The owners restored the Lake Square Mall name and announced vacancy-reduction and facade-renovation plans.
Aftermath
The mall resumed its historic identity while management focused on occupancy and physical improvements.
2014
Ownership transfer and rebrandingM&ABackground
The mall faced anchor departures and was placed into an auction process during a period of property transition.
Action taken
Following sales to Kohan Retail Investment Group and Via Properties, the property was renovated and renamed ViaPort Florida.
Aftermath
The rebranding marked an attempt to reposition the property under new ownership.
1995
Entertainment and anchor-space expansionOtherBackground
The mall invested in both leisure facilities and existing anchor-store capacity.
Action taken
AMC expanded its cinema from six to twelve screens, while Belk expanded into former Rite Aid space.
Aftermath
The changes increased entertainment capacity and enlarged one of the mall's principal department stores.
1989
Expansion planned around TargetStrategyBackground
The mall sought to broaden its tenant base beyond its original department-store anchors.
Action taken
An expansion adding Target and ten storefronts was proposed; Target opened in 1992.
Aftermath
The project added a major general-merchandise tenant and expanded the mall's retail footprint.
Recent events
- 2019
Sears announced for closure at the mall[1]
Other
Sears announced that its Lake Square Mall store would close as part of a nationwide program involving 92 stores. The location closed in mid-December 2019.
- 2017
Property returned to the Lake Square Mall name[1]
M&A · Campaign
Exclusive Management and Properties, Inc. acquired the property, restored the Lake Square Mall name, and announced plans addressing vacancies and the exterior facade.
- 2014
J. C. Penney announced its Leesburg closure[1]
Other
J. C. Penney announced in January 2014 that it would leave the mall and completed the closure on May 3, 2014.
- 2014
Lake Square Mall sold to Kohan Retail Investment Group[1]
M&A
The property was sold to Kohan Retail Investment Group by March 2014 after being offered at auction.
- 2014
Mall renamed ViaPort Florida after ownership transfer[1]
M&A · Other
Via Properties of Istanbul acquired the mall on September 3, 2014, and renovated and rebranded it as ViaPort Florida.
- 2013
Target closure announced at Lake Square Mall[1]
Leadership change · Other
The closure of the mall's Target store was announced in November 2013. The location ultimately stopped operating on February 1, 2014.
- 2013
Macerich placed Lake Square Mall up for auction[1]
Other
Macerich put the mall up for auction during a period of declining occupancy and anchor-store departures.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/lake-square-mall · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled