Santa Rosa Mall (Florida) facts for kids
| Location | Mary Esther, Florida, United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 30°25′02″N 86°39′25″W / 30.41720°N 86.65707°W |
| Address | 300 Mary Esther Boulevard |
| Opening date | 1976 |
| Developer | Jim Wilson & Associates |
| Owner | Radiant Properties |
| Architect | Crawford Giattina and Michael |
| No. of stores and services | 104 |
| No. of anchor tenants | 3 (2 open, 1 vacant) |
| Total retail floor area | 733,996 square feet |
| No. of floors | 1 |
Santa Rosa Mall is a shopping center located in Mary Esther, Florida. It is a place where many different stores are found. Two of the biggest stores, called "anchor stores," are Dillard's and JCPenney. Right outside the mall, there is also a large movie theater with 10 screens. A company called Stirling Properties manages and owns the mall.
Contents
Mall History: From Opening to Today
Building the Mall: How It Started
The Santa Rosa Mall was built in 1976. A company named Jim Wilson & Associates developed it. When it first opened, it had a big store called Gayfers.
Growing Bigger: New Stores and Fun
In 1984, the mall got bigger. A new section was added with a store called McRae's. Later, in 2006, McRae's changed its name to Belk. The original Gayfers store also changed its name to Dillard's in 1998. For extra fun, a carousel was put in the mall in 1996.
Changing Owners: Who Owned the Mall?
Over the years, the mall has had different owners. In 1987, it was sold to a group called California Public Employees Retirement System. Then, in 1997, Jim Wilson bought it back. It was sold again in 2003.
Facing Challenges: Storms and Changes
In late 1995, a big storm called Hurricane Opal caused some damage to the mall's structure. But the mall was repaired.
Modern Updates: Renovations and New Shops
The mall got a fresh new look in 2007. This included new flooring and some new restaurants. There were plans for a Ross Dress for Less store, but it never opened there. Instead, that space became a Planet Fitness gym in 2013.
Recent Changes: Stores Closing Doors
In December 2013, the Belk store announced it would close. Later, on October 15, 2018, it was shared that the Sears store would also be closing. Its building was torn down starting in August 2019. On June 4, 2020, JCPenney announced that its store at this location would close too. This means Dillard's will be the only main anchor store left at the mall.
