# Aventura Mall

Aventura Mall is a shopping mall located in Aventura, Florida. It is the fourth-largest mall in the United States by total square feet of retail space and the largest mall in Florida and the Miami metropolitan area. The mall features JCPenney, Macy's, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdale's, in addition to a 24-screen AMC Theatres.
Aventura Mall has more than 50 eateries and restaurants, including Treats Food Hall, and the experiential Arts Aventura Mall program.
The Brightline Aventura Station, which opened in December 2022, is located across Biscayne Boulevard from the mall. A pedestrian bridge across Biscayne Blvd. is planned, to provide direct access to the mall from the station. In the interim, Brightline provided free shuttle bus service for some time, and the price is $1.3 billion.

## History

In April 1983, the Oxford Development Company, led by partners Donald Soffer, Edward J. Lewis, Mark E. Mason, Eugene Lebowitz, and Ray Parello officially dedicated Aventura Mall. There would be four anchors in the original, 1.2-million-square-foot (110,000 m$^2$), complex: Lord & Taylor, JCPenney (opened April 28, 1983), Sears (opened July 6, 1983, three weeks after another at Miami International Mall), and Macy's opened October 1, 1983.
On board as an original investor in the project was mall-developer Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. The mall was originally designed to accommodate a fifth anchor, and there was a section of drywall in a place where its mall entrance would be located.
Soon after its construction, Soffer left Oxford. As part of the break-up of assets, Soffer's new firm, Turnberry Associates assumed control of the Aventura Mall. In 1996, the DeBartolo Realty Corporation, which owned the minority interest once held by Edward J. DeBartolo, was acquired by Simon Property Group.
In 1996, the ground was broken for a major expansion of Aventura Mall. The addition, built onto the southeast end of the existing complex, consisted of a three-story atrium with an multiplex cinema and restaurants at a new entrance. Part of the new development were two three-story parking garages surrounding the new anchor stores' southeast facades.
The Mall continued to expand, with major additions being added in November 1997 and August 1999. The mall underwent a $20 million renovation in late 2006. The mall expanded again in 2017 by opening a new three-level, 241,000-square-foot (22,400 m$^2$) expansion wing.
In March 2019, LEVEL THREE, a 25,000-square-foot (2,300 m$^2$) venue designed by Carlos Zapata, was launched.
By 2023, since the government lockdown, Aventura Mall had announced several newest additions, among them are Mango, Dr. Martens, Vuori, Garage, Aesop, Hermès, Balenciaga, Armani Exchange, BVLGARI, and Valentino.

## Incidents

On May 29, 2020, two people were taken to the Aventura Hospital after a shooting incident occurred in the Nordstrom part of the Aventura Mall.
On May 8, 2021, a shooting incident occurred near Nordstrom in the Aventura Mall. The shooter was arrested.

## Current anchors

* Macy's (Women's and Kids Fashion) (original tenant) (1983–present)
* JCPenney (original tenant) (1983–present)
* AMC Theatres (August 7, 1998–present)
* Bloomingdales (1997–present)
* Macy's (Men's and Home Furnishings) (2005–present)
* Nordstrom (2008–present)

## Former anchors

* Sears (original tenant) (1983–2017)
* Lord & Taylor (original tenant) (1983–2005)
* Burdines (1999–2004)
* Burdines-Macy's (2004–2005)