The Mall at 163rd Street
Retailer / private label
UnclaimedA historically significant shopping center in North Miami Beach, Florida, that evolved from an open-air retail center into an enclosed mall and later a hybrid mall and power center.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
The Mall at 163rd Street is a retail complex in North Miami Beach, Florida. It began operation on November 1, 1956, as the 163rd Street Shopping Center, an open-air center serving the rapidly developing communities of northern Miami-Dade County. Its original tenant mix combined department stores, supermarkets, drugstores, restaurants, variety retailers, and entertainment uses. The center was anchored at opening by a Raymond Loewy-designed Burdines department store and also included retailers such as Food Fair, JCPenney, Walgreens, Woolworth, and M and M Cafeteria. A Wometco movie theater operated on an outparcel and was later expanded into the 163rd Street & Patio Theater. The property accumulated additional regional retail importance during the 1960s and 1970s. Jordan Marsh opened a three-story department store in the east wing in February 1971, adding a major anchor to the center. Recreational features were also part of its earlier identity: the central court included children's rides surrounded by a train track, while a go-kart track operated in the north parking lot until it was destroyed by Hurricane Cleo. Between 1980 and October 1982, the open-air center underwent a major conversion into a climate-controlled enclosed mall. The redesign introduced large metal arches and a translucent, Teflon-coated fiberglass roof over the principal retail areas. The former Richard's department-store space was converted into a three-level atrium after that chain closed in 1980. A food court occupied the upper level, while the lower level accommodated the expansion of Spec's Music into a larger format known as Spec's Metro. The redevelopment also established the current name, The Mall at 163rd Street, although the transformation was popularly described as the “Miracle on 163rd Street.” The center faced increasing competition after Aventura Mall opened in 1983. JCPenney moved from the property to Aventura, and its former space was divided into smaller specialty-retail units, with a sporting-goods store later occupying the basement. Pantry Pride closed in 1984 and was replaced by Service Merchandise. The food court was relocated within the atrium as management adjusted the layout to changing customer traffic. Marshalls eventually occupied the atrium's upper level, reached by an extended escalator. Anchor departures accelerated during the 1990s. Jordan Marsh closed in 1991, and a Mervyn's store occupied part of the building before closing in 1995. In 1996, the former movie-theater outparcel was demolished for a Home Depot, beginning the property's transition from a conventional enclosed mall toward a power-center format. Burdines closed and moved to Aventura Mall in 1999, contributing to further vacancies and weakening the original department-store-centered model. The most substantial physical redevelopment occurred in October 2003, when the Jordan Marsh building, its associated parking structure, and approximately one-third of the enclosed mall were demolished. The site was redeveloped for a Walmart Supercenter, which opened in September 2005. Remaining portions of the property were reconfigured for large-format and discount retailers, including Office Depot and Ross Stores. Steve & Barry's operated on the upper level of the former Burdines building from 2007 until the chain's nationwide liquidation forced its closure in 2009. Office Depot later closed, and a Halloween City store temporarily occupied the location in 2017. Closeouts World opened in 2019 as a deep-discount apparel and footwear retailer. Marshalls had left the property by 2021, relocating to a nearby plaza. The mall's history reflects broader changes in South Florida retail: the rise of suburban department-store centers, the impact of newer regional malls, the decline of traditional enclosed malls, and the conversion of older properties into hybrid centers dominated by big-box and value-oriented tenants. The available reference material does not establish a current owner, operator, official website, or definitive post-2021 operating status.
History
The Mall at 163rd Street opened on November 1, 1956, as the 163rd Street Shopping Center in North Miami Beach, Florida. Designed as an open-air retail destination, it was anchored by a Raymond Loewy-designed Burdines department store and initially contained forty-nine outlets. Early tenants included Food Fair, later Pantry Pride; JCPenney; Walgreens; Woolworth; and M and M Cafeteria. The center also included a Wometco movie theater on an outparcel, which was expanded by 1961 into the 163rd Street & Patio Theater. The property developed into a major local shopping destination during the 1960s and 1970s. Jordan Marsh added a three-story store in February 1971. Family-oriented amenities included children's rides around a central train track, while a go-kart track operated in the north parking lot until Hurricane Cleo destroyed it. From 1980 through October 1982, the center was transformed into a climate-controlled enclosed mall. The architectural scheme used large metal arches and a translucent fiberglass roof. Richard's, which closed in 1980 during a chain-wide shutdown, was converted into a three-story atrium. Spec's Music expanded into the lower portion as Spec's Metro, while a food court occupied the upper level. The property adopted the name The Mall at 163rd Street, and the ambitious redevelopment became known locally as the “Miracle on 163rd Street.” The opening of Aventura Mall in 1983 altered the competitive environment. JCPenney moved to the newer mall, leaving its former space to be divided among specialty stores. Pantry Pride closed in 1984 and was replaced by Service Merchandise. The food court was later moved within the atrium, and the upper level was converted to Marshalls. The mall's traditional anchor structure weakened in the 1990s. Jordan Marsh closed in 1991, followed by the closure of Mervyn's, which had occupied part of the former Jordan Marsh building, in 1995. In 1996, the movie theater outparcel was demolished for a Home Depot. Burdines closed in 1999 and relocated to Aventura Mall, contributing to increased vacancies. Redevelopment increasingly favored large-format retail. In October 2003, the Jordan Marsh building, its adjacent parking structure, and roughly one-third of the enclosed mall were demolished. A Walmart Supercenter replaced the removed portion and opened in September 2005. The surviving mall areas were redesigned to accommodate big-box and discount tenants, including Office Depot and Ross Stores. Steve & Barry's operated in the upper level of the former Burdines space from 2007 until 2009, when the chain closed during a nationwide liquidation. Office Depot subsequently closed, with Halloween City temporarily using the space in 2017. Closeouts World opened in 2019. By 2021, Marshalls had moved from the property to a nearby plaza. The available sources do not provide a definitive account of the property's ownership or operating status after that point.
- 2021
Marshalls departs
[1]Marshalls relocates to a nearby plaza, leaving its former space at the mall open.
- 2019
Closeouts World joins the tenant mix
[1]Closeouts World opens as a discount apparel and footwear retailer.
- 2005
Walmart Supercenter opens
[1]A Walmart Supercenter opens after demolition of the Jordan Marsh building and part of the enclosed mall.
- 1996
Power-center redevelopment begins
[1]The former movie-theater outparcel is demolished for a Home Depot.
- 1983
Aventura Mall changes the competitive landscape
[1]After Aventura Mall opens, JCPenney transfers from the property to the newer regional mall.
- 1982
Enclosed-mall conversion is completed
[1]The property completes its conversion from an open-air center into a climate-controlled enclosed mall.
- 1971
Jordan Marsh becomes a major anchor
[1]Jordan Marsh opens a three-story store in the center's east wing.
- 1956
Original shopping center opens
[1]The 163rd Street Shopping Center opens on November 1 as an open-air center anchored by Burdines.
Products and positioning
A community-oriented South Florida shopping center that transitioned from a traditional department-store mall into a hybrid retail property emphasizing big-box, discount, home-improvement, and value-oriented merchants.
Department stores · 1956
Department-store retail
The property historically served department-store customers through Burdines, Jordan Marsh, JCPenney, Mervyn's, and other large-format retailers. These stores provided apparel, accessories, home goods, and general merchandise and formed the center's original anchor strategy.
Large-format retail · 1996
Big-box and general merchandise retail
Later redevelopment introduced large-format operators, most notably The Home Depot and a Walmart Supercenter. Their presence shifted the property toward a hybrid shopping-center model focused on practical household, home-improvement, grocery, and general-merchandise shopping.
Value retail · 2000
Discount apparel and footwear
Discount and off-price merchants became increasingly important as traditional department-store anchors departed. Ross Stores, Marshalls, and Closeouts World represented this value-oriented role, offering apparel, shoes, and related merchandise at reduced prices.
Specialty retail · 1956
Specialty and service retail
Across its history, the property hosted specialty and service-oriented tenants including Foot Locker, Office Depot, Walgreens, Spec's Music, Service Merchandise, sporting-goods retailers, restaurants, and entertainment uses. The mix changed repeatedly as anchor spaces were subdivided or redeveloped.
Brand decisions
2003
Redevelop a major portion for WalmartStrategyBackground
Departures by major department-store anchors had left substantial portions of the traditional mall format under pressure.
Action taken
The Jordan Marsh building, adjoining parking structure, and about one-third of the mall were demolished to make way for a Walmart Supercenter.
Aftermath
The Walmart store opened in September 2005, while the remaining mall was reworked for large-format and discount tenants.
1996
Begin conversion toward a power centerStrategyBackground
The property faced changing retail patterns and competition from newer regional malls, while its movie-theater outparcel was no longer part of the future format.
Action taken
The theater outparcel was demolished and redeveloped for The Home Depot.
Aftermath
The project began the mall's long-term shift from a conventional enclosed mall toward a combination of enclosed and big-box retail.
1980
Convert the open-air center into an enclosed mallStrategyBackground
The original open-air shopping center was remodeled during a period when climate-controlled enclosed malls were a dominant suburban retail format.
Action taken
Management enclosed the principal retail areas with a distinctive arched structure and translucent roof, reorganized former anchor space, and added an atrium and food-court functions.
Aftermath
The conversion was completed by October 1982 and the property adopted the name The Mall at 163rd Street.
Sources1 sources
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