The retail landscape evolves as the Orlando Fashion Square Mall enters the market for potential redevelopment. The Dallas-based real estate brokerage Edge is handling the sale of the two-story, 625,000-square-foot mall that has seen better days. Edge is representing TBB Orlando LLC, an affiliate of The Bancorp Inc. based in Delaware, in this endeavor. Brokers Barney McAuley and Christopher Morris spearhead this offering, signaling new opportunities for the property spanning decades.
Dating back to 1973, the mall's footprint in central Florida's commercial arena has diminished, with a noticeable decrease in daily foot traffic. The closure of staple stores such as Sears, which was demolished in April 2017 to make way for new businesses like Floor & Decor and Orchard Supply Hardware, marked the beginning of a wave of departures. Despite introducing restaurants such as Longhorn Steakhouse and Olive Garden on the out parcels, running under the management of the separate group Seritage, this hasn't been enough to reinvigorate the space fully.
Fast-forward to 2020, when JCPenney shuttered its doors on October 18 as part of a larger retrenchment plan that affected multiple locations nationwide. Tenants' departures continued into 2022 and 2023, as noted by Florida Daily, which reported the closure of stores, including Claire’s, Finish Line, Journeys, and T-Mobile. Champs Sports, Hot Topic, and Spencer’s are the few national retailers remaining.
While the mall’s future hangs in the balance, the listing has piqued the interest of developers looking for a sizable project in the heart of Orlando. The present state of the mall might reflect a bygone era of retail, but Edge's marketing of the site as a "redevelopment opportunity" signals a potential pivot towards modernization. Information regarding the sale was detailed on WFTV, suggesting that the mall could see a transformation that aligns with contemporary commercial trends and consumer behaviors.
