One of the largest and most prosperous commercial centers in the nation , is about to get bigger . The Aventura Mall soon will demolish its current fast food area to build a new three-story wing , with shops and a parking seven levels high.
Turnberry Associates, the company that owns and manages the mall received approval by the Commission of the City of Aventura, earlier this month. The company expects to begin construction at the end of the year. Plans to move the fast food area have not yet been specified , a spokesman for the shopping center said.
Expansion and 241,000 square feet will be built where the current is fast food area near the JCPenney store. Parking could include up to 1,400 jobs .
Aventura mall is already the largest shopping mall in Florida and one of the largest in the country, with a floor area of 2.7 million square feet. That makes it the 16th largest , according to the Centers Directory of the United States , according to other measurements , is the third largest . It is also one of the top five highest income in the country, in terms of sales per square foot, according to Turnberry .
Adventure owners said they have not signed a lease for the new space. But buyers can expect to see more luxury brands, a segment that the mall has pursued in recent years.
"The continued resurgence of the real estate industry in Florida, and the growth of tourism has led to significant increases in the number of buyers , specifically in the Aventura Mall ," said the mall owners through a statement sent email . "We had a tremendous demand from retailers and simply do not have enough space to meet their needs."
Currently , the mall houses 300 retail stores , including Bloomingdale's , Nordstrom and Macy's , according to Turnberry Associates. Other retail stores include Louis Vuitton , Cartier and Bluberry . The mall also has several restaurants and a 24-screen AMC cinema and IMAX .
It's amazing to see how South Florida is evolving into one of the main destinations of fashion , "said Jackie Soffer , one of the directives of Turnberry Associates. "We are very excited about the continued transformation of Aventura Mall, which will provide an enhanced shopping experience for our local and international visitors."
The rise in online shopping has put pressure on traditional stores that have experienced a decline in customer traffic . But the malls have responded by focusing on the experience in the store, said John Fleming, a spokesman for the Florida Retail Federation . Many events have increased and remodeled facilities .
" Shopping is an experience that many people appreciate ," said Fleming . " It's just not the same as searching the Web from your chair, walk and lunch and [ do] all things that people love to buy in the stores."
EL Aventura Mall specifically benefits from being in the category of "destination malls " which attracts both residents of Miami- Dade and Broward as well as tourists. To meet the needs of these shoppers , the mall will create a closed conveyor system for buses in the street level of the new parking lot .
" Bus stops are currently five to six around the mall and are not as convenient for some people ," said Manager Eric Soroka Aventura Mall. "It's not ideal when it comes to having pedestrian and vehicle traffic situation together . This will allow all traffic from buses go to one place , which will be safer and [ will make it ] more convenient for people to use public transport to get to come to the mall . "
The city is currently evaluating a study on the impact on traffic , delivered by Turnberry, said Joanne Carr, the director of community development in Aventura.
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