The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale

The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale is an upscale super-regional shopping mall located on Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Its present identity emerged from the redevelopment of the Sunrise Center, an open-air shopping center originally built in 1954. Most of the earlier center was demolished and replaced by an enclosed mall, while the former Jordan Marsh building was retained and later reopened as South Florida's first Dillard's location. The enclosed Galleria opened in phases. The first phase opened on November 11, 1980, with Burdines, Saks Fifth Avenue and Jordan Marsh as principal department-store anchors. A second phase added Neiman Marcus in 1982, followed by a third phase featuring Lord & Taylor in 1983. Over time, the anchor mix changed substantially as department-store consolidation, closures and conversions reshaped the property. Burdines became Macy's in 2005; Jordan Marsh closed in 1991 and was replaced by Dillard's in 1993; Saks Fifth Avenue closed in 2009 and its former space was subsequently divided among other uses, including H&M and IWG; Lord & Taylor closed in February 2002; and Neiman Marcus closed in 2020. The property underwent a major renovation between 2001 and 2003, with reported spending of $44 million. The work introduced palm trees, opened portions of the mall to increase natural ventilation and daylight, and replaced flooring with tri-color tiles. The result reinforced the center's South Florida-oriented upscale retail environment while preserving its role as a major shopping destination in the Fort Lauderdale area. Several redevelopment concepts have been proposed around or within the property. A 2014 plan envisioned approximately 1,600 condominium units and 150 hotel rooms in the surrounding area, but it did not proceed after community opposition. In 2018, SeaQuest proposed an aquarium in part of the former Lord & Taylor space, including a facility with marine animals such as sharks and stingrays; that proposal also failed to materialize. On September 24, 2025, GFO Investments, InSite Group and Atlas Hill RE acquired the mall as a consortium. Centennial Real Estate Management was announced as the property's management company, while Atlas Hill RE was assigned responsibility for retail leasing. The new ownership group has been associated with a proposed mixed-use redevelopment of the surrounding surface parking lots, including nine residential towers of up to 30 stories and a hotel. The reported residential concept includes 3,144 rental units, of which 1,273 are intended as workforce housing. The Galleria remains an active retail property anchored by Dillard's, H&M and Macy's, with its future increasingly tied to possible mixed-use intensification of the surrounding site.

The property's commercial history begins with Sunrise Center, an open-air shopping mall constructed in 1954 on Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. The original center was later substantially redeveloped. Most of the open-air mall was demolished to make way for an enclosed regional shopping center, although the Jordan Marsh store building survived the reconstruction. That building ultimately became a Dillard's location, reopening in 1993 as South Florida's first Dillard's store. The enclosed Galleria opened in three stages. The first phase began operations on November 11, 1980, with Burdines, Saks Fifth Avenue and Jordan Marsh serving as major anchors. Neiman Marcus joined the center in 1982, and Lord & Taylor completed the principal phased expansion in 1983. This anchor lineup positioned the mall as an upscale regional destination for shoppers in Fort Lauderdale and surrounding South Florida communities. The department-store composition changed over the following decades. Jordan Marsh closed in 1991 and its location became Dillard's in 1993. Lord & Taylor closed in February 2002, with part of its former space later occupied by Powerhouse Gym and another portion remaining vacant. Burdines was converted to Macy's in 2005 as part of the broader rebranding of the Burdines chain. Saks Fifth Avenue closed in July 2009. Its former premises were later used for a Publix Health and Fitness Expo and then divided into smaller spaces, including H&M and IWG, while another portion remained vacant. Neiman Marcus closed in September 2020. Between 2001 and 2003, the mall received a reported $44 million renovation. The improvements included the addition of palm trees, newly opened windows and tri-color floor tiles. These changes modernized the physical environment and emphasized a more open, tropical South Florida atmosphere. Ownership and management also changed over time. The Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System pension fund purchased the mall in 1993 for $125 million. Before the current management arrangement, the property was managed at different times by the Kravco Company, Simon Property Group and Jones Lang LaSalle. The mall and its surrounding land became the subject of further redevelopment discussions. In 2014, a plan proposed adding approximately 1,600 condominiums and 150 hotel rooms, but community opposition meant that the redevelopment did not materialize. In 2018, SeaQuest proposed converting former Lord & Taylor space into an aquarium with roughly 1,200 marine animals, including sharks and stingrays. That proposal also failed to proceed. On September 24, 2025, GFO Investments, InSite Group and Atlas Hill RE acquired the property. Centennial Real Estate Management became the announced property manager, while Atlas Hill RE took responsibility for retail leasing. GFO and InSite have been associated with plans to redevelop the mall's surrounding surface parking areas as a mixed-use district with nine towers of up to 30 stories and a hotel. The reported concept includes 3,144 rental homes, including 1,273 workforce-housing units. The mall's current anchor tenants are Dillard's, H&M and Macy's, while the proposed surrounding development could alter the property's role from a standalone shopping center into a denser mixed-use destination.

• 2025

  New ownership and management announced

  [1]The Galleria at Fort Lauderdaleen.wikipedia.org

  GFO Investments, InSite Group and Atlas Hill RE acquired the mall, with Centennial Real Estate Management named manager and Atlas Hill RE responsible for retail leasing.

• 2020

  Neiman Marcus closed

  [1]The Galleria at Fort Lauderdaleen.wikipedia.org

  Neiman Marcus closed its mall store in September.

• 2009

  Saks Fifth Avenue closed

  [1]The Galleria at Fort Lauderdaleen.wikipedia.org

  Saks Fifth Avenue closed its store in July; the former premises later received several partial reuses.

• 2005

  Burdines converted to Macy's

  [1]The Galleria at Fort Lauderdaleen.wikipedia.org

  The Burdines anchor was rebranded as Macy's.

• 2002

  Lord & Taylor closed

  [1]The Galleria at Fort Lauderdaleen.wikipedia.org

  Lord & Taylor closed in February, leaving space later divided between fitness use and vacant retail area.

• 2001

  Major renovation began

  [1]The Galleria at Fort Lauderdaleen.wikipedia.org

  A renovation program reported at $44 million began and continued through 2003.

• 1993

  Dillard's opened at the former Jordan Marsh location

  [1]The Galleria at Fort Lauderdaleen.wikipedia.org

  The former Jordan Marsh building reopened as South Florida's first Dillard's location.

• 1993

  Pension fund acquired the mall

  [1]The Galleria at Fort Lauderdaleen.wikipedia.org

  The Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System pension fund purchased the property for $125 million.

• 1991

  Jordan Marsh closed

  [1]The Galleria at Fort Lauderdaleen.wikipedia.org

  Jordan Marsh ceased operations at the mall; the space later became a Dillard's store.

• 1983

  Lord & Taylor phase opened

  [1]The Galleria at Fort Lauderdaleen.wikipedia.org

  The third phase opened with Lord & Taylor, completing the original enclosed-mall expansion.

• 1982

  Neiman Marcus joined the mall

  [1]The Galleria at Fort Lauderdaleen.wikipedia.org

  The second phase introduced Neiman Marcus as an additional department-store anchor.

• 1980

  First phase of the enclosed Galleria opened

  [1]The Galleria at Fort Lauderdaleen.wikipedia.org

  The enclosed mall opened its first phase on November 11, with Burdines, Saks Fifth Avenue and Jordan Marsh as anchors.

• 1954

  Sunrise Center constructed

  [1]The Galleria at Fort Lauderdaleen.wikipedia.org

  An open-air shopping mall known as Sunrise Center was built on Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale.

An upscale, super-regional shopping destination serving Fort Lauderdale and the wider South Florida market, combining major department stores with fashion, specialty retail, services and dining in an enclosed mall setting.

• Department store · 1993

  Dillard's

  Dillard's is one of the mall's current department-store anchors. Its location occupies the former Jordan Marsh building, which was retained from the earlier Sunrise Center and reopened as South Florida's first Dillard's store in 1993. The store provides broad department-store merchandise, including apparel, accessories, beauty products and home-related goods.

• Department store · 2005

  Macy's

  Macy's is a current anchor occupying the former Burdines location. The store entered the mall through the conversion of Burdines in 2005 and serves as a broad-based department store offering fashion, accessories, beauty, home merchandise and related seasonal assortments.

• Fashion retailer · 2016

  H&M

  H&M is a current fashion anchor in space largely derived from the former Saks Fifth Avenue premises. The store adds accessible fashion apparel, accessories and related seasonal products to the mall's department-store and specialty-retail mix.

• Fitness facility

  Powerhouse Gym

  Powerhouse Gym occupies approximately 22,000 square feet of the former Lord & Taylor space. It represents a service and fitness use within the mall rather than a conventional retail anchor.

• Flexible workspace · 2016

  IWG

  IWG occupies part of the former Saks Fifth Avenue premises. Its flexible-workspace use reflects the mall's gradual conversion of former department-store floor area into service, office and nontraditional retail functions.

• 2025

  Consortium acquired the propertyM&A

  Background

  A new ownership consortium sought to control the mall and pursue potential redevelopment of the surrounding surface parking areas.

  Action taken

  GFO Investments, InSite Group and Atlas Hill RE acquired the property. Centennial Real Estate Management became property manager, and Atlas Hill RE assumed retail leasing responsibilities.

  Aftermath

  The ownership group has been associated with a proposed project containing nine residential towers of up to 30 stories, a hotel and 3,144 rental units, including 1,273 workforce-housing units.

  Source

• 2018

  Considered aquarium conversionOther

  Background

  The former Lord & Taylor premises created a large vacant or underused block within the mall.

  Action taken

  SeaQuest proposed an aquarium with approximately 1,200 marine animals, including sharks and stingrays.

  Aftermath

  The aquarium concept did not materialize.

  Source

• 2014

  Proposed surrounding mixed-use redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  The owners and project proponents explored a larger redevelopment of the area around the mall.

  Action taken

  The proposal called for approximately 1,600 condominium units and 150 hotel rooms.

  Aftermath

  Community opposition prevented the proposed redevelopment from being realized.

  Source

• 2001

  Approved and began major mall renovationStrategy

  Background

  The enclosed mall required modernization to maintain its upscale regional positioning and strengthen its South Florida architectural character.

  Action taken

  A renovation program reported at $44 million was carried out from 2001 through 2003, adding palm trees, opening windows and installing tri-color floor tiles.

  Aftermath

  The improvements refreshed the interior environment and reinforced the property's tropical, open-feeling retail experience.

  Renovation expenditure. $44 million (2001-2003)

  Source

1. 1The Galleria at Fort Lauderdaleen.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale official websitegalleriamall-fl.com