Midway Crossings
An enclosed shopping mall in Miami, Florida, originally opened as Midway Mall in 1970 and known as Mall of the Americas from 1987 to 2022.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Midway Crossings is an enclosed shopping mall at 7795 West Flagler Street in Miami, Florida, adjacent to the Palmetto Expressway. The property opened in late 1970 as Midway Mall and was described as the first purpose-built enclosed shopping mall in Greater Miami. Its original opening program comprised approximately 80 stores, including major anchor and junior-anchor spaces occupied by J.B. Hunter, Richards, Woolco, F. W. Woolworth, and Winn-Dixie. The mall was developed by Herbet Sadkin and Edward M. Strawgate and designed by the architectural firm of Don Reiff and Mort Fellmann. The project occupied a roughly 55-acre site and was reported as South Florida's most expensive non-residential construction project of 1970. Its early operating model was based on conventional department-store and grocery anchors, but several of those tenants subsequently closed, entered bankruptcy, changed corporate ownership, or were replaced. Following the departure of important anchors, the property underwent a 1983 renovation and shifted toward off-price retailing. Former anchor space was reused for Winston's, an off-price clothing retailer, while the former J.B. Hunter location passed through the Jefferson, Jefferson Ward, and Montgomery Ward clearance formats. In 1986, the mall was sold to James Schlesinger, Jim Levy, and Balcor Development while occupancy was reported at approximately 30 percent. A major repositioning followed in 1987, when the property was renamed Mall of the Americas. The redevelopment targeted a middle-class Latin American clientele and added or introduced uses intended to broaden the center beyond traditional department-store retail. A Home Depot replaced the former Winston's building, and an eight-screen AMC Theatres multiplex was constructed as part of the redevelopment. The mall later became notable for hosting the first Forever 21 location outside California in 1995. RREEF Funds acquired the mall in 1994 and sold it in 2004 to Sterling Organization, which remains identified as the current owner in the available reference material. The property continued to evolve as anchor economics changed. Home Depot moved from its mall-connected premises to a new building on the site of the former Winn-Dixie in 2003. In 2015, the north wing was demolished and redeveloped for Costco, which opened there in 2017. The former AMC Theatres section was also demolished after the cinema closed. In May 2022, the property was renamed Midway Crossings, restoring a version of its original Midway identity while distinguishing the center from other properties using the Mall of the Americas name. An Aldi store opened at the mall in 2024. Plans announced for 2025 called for a Macy's store to open at the property in 2026. The mall's current identity therefore combines enclosed shopping-center services with large-format retail, grocery, warehouse-club, and other neighborhood-serving uses. Its history reflects the redevelopment of an early South Florida enclosed mall in response to anchor turnover, demographic targeting, off-price retailing, entertainment demand, and changing mixed-format retail patterns.
History
Midway Crossings began operations in late 1970 as Midway Mall on West Flagler Street in Miami, beside the Palmetto Expressway. It was developed by Herbet Sadkin and Edward M. Strawgate and designed by Don Reiff and Mort Fellmann. Spread across approximately 55 acres, the project was reported as the most expensive non-residential construction project in South Florida during 1970. The original enclosed center contained about 80 stores and was regarded as Greater Miami's first purpose-built enclosed shopping mall. The initial anchor lineup included J.B. Hunter, Richards, and Woolco, with F. W. Woolworth and Winn-Dixie occupying junior-anchor positions. The property experienced substantial tenant turnover during the following decade. Jefferson Stores acquired J.B. Hunter in 1974 and converted the store to the Jefferson name; in 1980 it became Jefferson Ward. Richards closed its location on January 11, 1980, during the company's bankruptcy and liquidation process. Its former space was subdivided for smaller tenants. Jefferson Ward later closed in 1985, and the location was temporarily used as a Montgomery Ward clearance outlet. A 1983 renovation marked a move toward off-price retailing. Much of the former Woolco space was adapted for Winston's, an off-price clothing retailer. By 1986, the mall had been sold to James Schlesinger, Jim Levy, and Balcor Development, and occupancy was reported at approximately 30 percent. The new ownership and subsequent renovation sought to reposition the weakened property rather than preserve its original department-store configuration. In 1987, the mall adopted the name Mall of the Americas. The redevelopment was aimed at a middle-class Latin American customer base, reflecting the demographics and consumer culture of the Miami market. The former Winston's building was replaced by a Home Depot, and an eight-screen AMC Theatres multiplex was added. These changes expanded the property toward home improvement and entertainment while retaining its enclosed retail function. RREEF Funds purchased the mall in 1994. The property gained additional retail significance in 1995 when Forever 21 opened its first location outside California there. Home Depot later moved from its mall-connected premises to a newly constructed building on the site of the demolished Winn-Dixie in 2003. In 2004, RREEF Funds sold the property to Sterling Organization. The mall underwent another major physical transformation in the mid-2010s. Its north wing was demolished in 2015 and replaced by a Costco warehouse that opened in 2017. The AMC Theatres section was demolished after the cinema closed. These changes reduced portions of the traditional enclosed-mall footprint while adding a high-volume warehouse-club use. An Aldi store opened in 2024, further broadening the center's grocery and value-retail offer. In May 2022, the property was renamed Midway Crossings. The new name marked a departure from the Mall of the Americas identity used since 1987 and reconnected the center with its original Midway history. Plans announced in 2025 called for a Macy's department store to open in 2026. Across its history, the property has repeatedly adapted to anchor closures, ownership changes, demographic positioning, and the growing importance of large-format and grocery tenants in the shopping-center sector.
- 2025
Macy's plans announced
[1]Plans are announced for a Macy's opening at the mall in 2026.
- 2024
Aldi opens
[1]Aldi adds a grocery store to the center.
- 2022
Mall of the Americas becomes Midway Crossings
[1]The property changes its name in May 2022.
- 2017
Costco opens
[1]Costco opens on the redeveloped north-wing site.
- 2015
North wing is demolished
[1]The north wing is removed as part of a redevelopment that introduces a Costco warehouse.
- 2004
Sterling Organization becomes owner
[1]RREEF Funds sells the mall to Sterling Organization.
- 2003
Home Depot relocates
[1]Home Depot moves from its mall-connected space to a new building on the former Winn-Dixie site.
- 1995
Forever 21 expands beyond California
[1]The mall hosts Forever 21's first store outside California.
- 1994
RREEF Funds acquires the mall
[1]RREEF Funds becomes the property's owner.
- 1987
Mall of the Americas identity launches
[1]The property is renamed Mall of the Americas after a renovation targeting a middle-class Latin American clientele.
Products and positioning
A Miami-area enclosed shopping center positioned around accessible, value-oriented, and family-oriented retail, with a tenant mix spanning apparel, home improvement, warehouse-club, grocery, and department-store formats. During its Mall of the Americas period, the property specifically targeted a middle-class Latin American clientele.
Shopping-center services · 1970
Enclosed shopping mall
The core offering is an enclosed retail environment serving Miami-area shoppers. The center historically combined department stores, junior anchors, specialty retailers, food and grocery uses, entertainment, and later large-format operators. Its tenant mix has changed substantially as traditional anchors closed and parts of the property were redeveloped.
Warehouse-club retail · 2017
Costco warehouse
Costco occupies the site of the demolished north wing and opened in 2017. Its warehouse-club format adds bulk merchandise, groceries, household products, and other value-oriented categories to the mall's tenant and service mix.
Home improvement retail · 1987
Home Depot
Home Depot became part of the mall's 1987 repositioning when it replaced the former Winston's building. In 2003, the retailer moved from its mall-connected premises to a new building on the former Winn-Dixie site, retaining a major home-improvement presence within the broader property.
Grocery retail · 2024
Aldi
Aldi opened at Midway Crossings in 2024, adding a discount grocery format and reinforcing the property's value-oriented, everyday-needs positioning.
Department-store retail · 2026
Macy's
Plans announced in 2025 called for a Macy's department store to open at Midway Crossings in 2026. The planned store would restore a department-store component to a property whose original identity relied heavily on traditional anchors.
Brand decisions
2022
Name change to Midway CrossingsStrategyBackground
The property had operated under the Mall of the Americas name since its 1987 repositioning.
Action taken
In May 2022, the mall was renamed Midway Crossings.
Aftermath
The property resumed a Midway identity while continuing to operate as an active Miami shopping center.
2015
Large-format redevelopment of the north wingStrategyBackground
The mall's traditional enclosed configuration was being reshaped by changing anchor and entertainment economics.
Action taken
The north wing was demolished and replaced with a Costco warehouse; the former AMC section was also removed after closure.
Aftermath
Costco opened in 2017, increasing the property's large-format retail capacity.
1987
Repositioning as Mall of the AmericasStrategyBackground
The mall faced low occupancy and needed a new customer proposition after anchor turnover.
Action taken
Ownership renovated and renamed the center Mall of the Americas, targeting a middle-class Latin American clientele and adding Home Depot and an AMC multiplex.
Aftermath
The property operated under the Mall of the Americas name for 35 years.
1983
Shift toward off-price retailingStrategyBackground
Several original anchors had left or weakened, creating vacant or underperforming space.
Action taken
The mall renovated and repurposed former anchor space for off-price retail, including Winston's.
Aftermath
The strategy preceded a broader 1987 repositioning and name change.
Recent events
- 2025
Macy's opening plans are announced[1]
Product launch
Plans were announced for a Macy's department store to open at the mall in 2026.
- 2024
Aldi opens at Midway Crossings[1]
Product launch
Aldi opened a store at the mall, adding a grocery component to the property's post-redevelopment tenant mix.
- 2022
Mall of the Americas is renamed Midway Crossings[1]
Other
In May 2022, the shopping center changed its name from Mall of the Americas to Midway Crossings.
- 2017
Costco opens at the redeveloped mall site[1]
Product launch
A Costco warehouse opened on the site of the demolished north wing, strengthening the property's large-format and value-oriented retail offer.
- 2015
North wing redevelopment replaces part of the mall with Costco[1]
Product generation
The mall's north wing was demolished and redeveloped for a Costco warehouse, which subsequently opened in 2017. The former AMC Theatres section was also demolished after the cinema closed.
- 2004
Sterling Organization acquires the property[1]
M&A
RREEF Funds sold the mall to Sterling Organization, identified in the available reference material as its current owner.
- 1995
Forever 21 opens its first store outside California at the mall[1]
Other
The property became the location of Forever 21's first store outside California, adding a significant apparel retailer to its tenant mix.
- 1994
RREEF Funds acquires the mall[1]
M&A
RREEF Funds purchased the shopping mall, which had operated under the Mall of the Americas name since its 1987 redevelopment.
- 1987
Midway Mall is renamed Mall of the Americas after redevelopment[1]
Other
Following a renovation, the Miami property changed its name from Midway Mall to Mall of the Americas and repositioned itself toward a middle-class Latin American clientele. The redevelopment included a Home Depot replacement for the former Winston's building and an eight-screen AMC Theatres multiplex.
Sources1 sources
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