DeSoto Square Mall

In November 1971, Bradenton Mall Corporation bought {{Convert|100|acre|km2}} along US 301 and Cortez Road for $1.6 million from 32 property owners. Bradenton's mayor, A.K. Leach, was concerned that the mall which was outside of city limits would impact retailers in the downtown area but he thought they would be able to manage through it.{{Cite news|last=Laura|first=Finaldi|date=November 27, 2021|title=Florida mall, once the 'place to be,' fades into oblivion|work=Tampa Bay Times|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida/2021/11/27/florida-mall-once-the-place-to-be-fades-into-oblivion/|access-date=January 4, 2022|via=Associated Press}}

The center was built by Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation in 1973. It was originally planned to be called Bradenton Mall, but the name was determined unacceptable by city officials because the mall was not located within city limits. The company decided to change the name to DeSoto Square Mall in response. A spokesman for DeBartolo corporation said the corporation thought it would identify more with the local community because of the annual DeSoto Celebration.{{Cite news|date=August 15, 1973|title=DeSoto Square Mall Just Almost Had Another Name|page=33|work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19730815&id=itseAAAAIBAJ&pg=7204,6135541|access-date=December 22, 2015|via=Google News Archive}} Richard Turner, the president of the Manatee County Conquistador Group, suggested the name as he thought it would draw more attention to the celebration.{{Cite news|last=Finaldi|first=Laura|date=November 18, 2021|title=Trajectory of a mall's life: DeSoto Square Mall, once the 'place to be' in Manatee, fades to oblivion|work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/business/2021/11/18/remembering-manatee-county-desoto-square-mall-bradenton/7772470002/|access-date=January 5, 2022}}

The mall had its grand opening on August 15, 1973, with about 37 shops open.{{Cite web|last=Royer|first=Jackie|date=August 16, 1973|title=DeSoto Square Mall Opens Doors|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19730816&id=_uAeAAAAIBAJ&pg=6843,107375&hl=en|access-date=July 14, 2016|website=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|via=Google News Archive Search}} At the time of its opening, the mall had three planned anchor stores: Sears, JCPenney and Maas Brothers. JCPenney did not initially open in August 1973 and instead opened in January 1974 as the last pre-planned anchor store to open. During the mall's initial opening, Piccadilly Cafeteria opened and remained until May 2003. Cafeterias were popular in shopping malls prior to food courts replacing them. A Montgomery-Roberts department store was added in November 1973.

Future president Ronald Reagan visited the mall on February 26, 1976, while campaigning for president that year.{{Cite web|title=Ronald Reagan|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll1/id/27765|access-date=2020-08-14|website=cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org|language=en}} Parking facilities would be expanded in 1978 which led to the demolition of the Suncoast Motel.{{Cite web|date=1960–1970|title=Suncoast Motel|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll4/id/3129/rec/5|url-status=live|access-date=January 4, 2022|website=Manatee County Public Library System: Digital Collection|publisher=Aurora Post Card Company|type=Postcard|format=TIFF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104154636/https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll4/id/3129/rec/5 |archive-date=January 4, 2022 }} The motel was originally named Pike's Court and opened in 1953 with Leonard and Edith Pike owning it. The motel was sold in 1956 to Mary Biggs who renamed it to Suncoast Motel.{{Cite web|date=1953–1956|title=Pike's Court, U.S. 301, South of Bradenton|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll4/id/3154/rec/9|url-status=live|access-date=January 4, 2022|website=Manatee County Public Library System: Digital Collection|publisher=E.B. Thomas|type=Postcard|format=TIFF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104154634/https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll4/id/3154/rec/9 |archive-date=January 4, 2022 }} Belk-Lindsey was added as a fourth anchor in June 1979, after having been evicted from a nearby store at Cortez Plaza.{{Cite web|last=Winn|first=Sherry|date=April 7, 1979|title=Testimony Continues in Eviction Trial|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19790407&id=CLUyAAAAIBAJ&pg=6458,3783193|access-date=December 22, 2015|website=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|via=Google News Archive Search}}

Burdines expressed interest in opening a store at DeSoto Square as early as 1979,{{Cite news|date=March 7, 1979|title=Budines Eyes DeSoto Square|page=8|work=Sarasota Journal|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1798&dat=19790307&id=lXY0AAAAIBAJ&pg=2040,1018210|access-date=December 22, 2015|via=Google News Archive}} though they did not join the mall until 1991 when the company merged with Maas Brothers. The Maas Brothers store was officially rebranded as Burdines on October 20, 1991.{{cite book|last1=Lisicki|first1=Michael J.|title=Remembering Maas Brothers|date=2015|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|location=Charleston, SC|isbn=978-1-4671-1473-8}} A year later, Belk sold its store in the mall to Dillard's.{{Cite web|title = 3 Belk Lindsey stores sold to Dillard|url = https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/tampabay/access/54229242.html?dids=54229242:54229242&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Apr+24%25252C+1992&author=MARK+ALBRIGHT%25253B+KAYLOIS+HENRY&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&desc=3+Belk+Lindsey+stores+sold+to+Dillard&pqatl=google|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130131164608/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/tampabay/access/54229242.html?dids=54229242:54229242&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Apr+24%252C+1992&author=MARK+ALBRIGHT%253B+KAYLOIS+HENRY&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&desc=3+Belk+Lindsey+stores+sold+to+Dillard&pqatl=google|url-status = dead|archive-date = January 31, 2013|website = pqasb.pqarchiver.com|access-date = December 22, 2015}} During the late 1980s, there would be "talk about adding a food court" but nothing materialized. A food court named Port O'Call with a tropical theme opened in April 1997. During the opening ceremony, Dawn Wells who played the character Mary Ann on the television show Gilligan's Island appeared as a judge for a contest for who could dress the best as a castaway from the show. Old Navy was added in 2000.{{Cite news|date=August 2, 2000|title=Old Navy to join DeSoto Square Mall|work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=20000802&id=pEEgAAAAIBAJ&pg=6462,1665704|access-date=December 22, 2015|via=Google News Archive Search}} Burdines was renamed Burdines-Macy's on January 30, 2004 as the brands were merged by their parent company. On March 6, 2005, the Burdines name was officially dropped and the stores were fully merged into Macy's.{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/news_press/access/1813514381.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+27%2C+2004&author=Anne+Mitchell&pub=The+News+Press&desc=Burdines+stores+get+renamed+Friday&pqatl=google|title=Burdines stores get renamed Friday|last=Mitchell|first=Anne|date=27 January 2004|work=News-Press|accessdate=12 January 2011|archive-date=November 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105080957/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/news_press/access/1813514381.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+27,+2004&author=Anne+Mitchell&pub=The+News+Press&desc=Burdines+stores+get+renamed+Friday&pqatl=google|url-status=dead}}

Several stores closed in 2009 due to the Great Recession, including Old Navy, Foot Locker, Waldenbooks and the Dillard's anchor.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bradenton.com/2010/11/04/2710420/retailers-open-in-desoto-square.html |title=Retailers open in Desoto Square |date= |access-date=December 22, 2015 |website=bradenton |publisher= }} {{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The Old Navy space became a family entertainment center called Saturn 5 in 2010.{{Cite web|title = Hot this week: Family entertainment center officially opens|url = http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100812/ARTICLE/8121031|website = HeraldTribune.com|access-date = December 22, 2015|archive-date = December 23, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151223052356/http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100812/ARTICLE/8121031|url-status = dead}}

In May 2012, Simon Property Group (which bought out DeBartolo in 1996) announced plans to sell the mall.{{Cite web|title = DeSoto Square Mall appears set to change hands|url = http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20120523/ARTICLE/120529819|website = HeraldTribune.com|access-date = December 22, 2015|archive-date = December 23, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151223050353/http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20120523/ARTICLE/120529819|url-status = dead}} In November of that year, Mason Asset Management acquired the mall for $25 million.{{cite news |last=Salman |first=Josh |title=DeSoto Square mall in Bradenton is sold |work=Bradenton Herald |date=November 20, 2012 |access-date=February 16, 2013 |url=http://www.bradenton.com/2012/11/20/4286148/desoto-square-mall-in-bradenton.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304161238/http://www.bradenton.com/2012/11/20/4286148/desoto-square-mall-in-bradenton.html |archive-date=March 4, 2013 }} Macy's announced the closure of its store at the mall in July 2014, as they relocated to the Mall at University Town Center.{{Cite web|title = Macy's closing DeSoto Square store in|url = http://www.bradenton.com/news/business/retail/article34724655.html|website = bradenton|access-date = December 22, 2015}} The theater closed a month later.{{Cite web|title = Movie theater closes in DeSoto Square Mall|url = http://www.mysuncoast.com/news/local/movie-theater-closes-in-desoto-square-mall/article_41ad645c-247d-11e4-b585-0017a43b2370.html|website = Sarasota News {{!}} Mysuncoast.com and ABC 7|access-date = December 22, 2015|first = Movie theater closes in DeSoto Square Mall 0|last = comments|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304124811/http://www.mysuncoast.com/news/local/movie-theater-closes-in-desoto-square-mall/article_41ad645c-247d-11e4-b585-0017a43b2370.html|archive-date = March 4, 2016|url-status = dead}} In 2015, Sears Holdings spun off 235 of its properties, including the Sears at DeSoto Square Mall, into Seritage Growth Properties.{{Cite web |url=http://www.seritage.com/retail/property/303-us-hwy-301-blvd-w/3312491/landing |title=At DeSoto Square | Seritage |access-date=December 26, 2018 |archive-date=December 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226100033/http://www.seritage.com/retail/property/303-us-hwy-301-blvd-w/3312491/landing |url-status=dead }} Mason Asset Management sold the mall for $25.5 million to New York-based Meyer Lebovitz in March 2017.{{cite news|last1=O'Dea|first1=Janelle|title=Plans for DeSoto Square include $7 million investment|url=http://www.bradenton.com/news/business/article141204613.html|access-date=April 1, 2018|agency=Bradenton Herald|date=March 28, 2017}} Lebovitz owned DeSoto Owners LLC.{{Cite news|date=March 28, 2017|title=DeSoto Square Mall sold for $25.5 million|work=Business Observer|url=https://www.businessobserverfl.com/article/desoto-square-mall-sold-255-million|access-date=January 6, 2022}} Lebovitz chose Madison Properties USA LLC for the task of redeveloping and leasing the mall. Jerrell M. Davis, president of the Madison Properties Southeast Region, oversaw the project. The mall was used by FEMA as a disaster recovery center after Hurricane Irma hit Florida in September 2017.{{Cite news|last=Finaldi|first=Laura|date=July 2, 2018|title=A new chapter for DeSoto Square|work=The Palm Beach Post|url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/special/special-sections/2018/07/02/new-chapter-for-desoto-square/11613718007/|access-date=January 6, 2022}}

In January 2018, Your Treasure House, a retail store and auction house, opened on the first floor of the former Macy's location.{{cite news|last1=Menderski|first1=Maggie|title=Old DeSoto Square Macy's reopens as resale store, auction house|url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20180130/menderski-old-desoto-square-macys-reopens-as-resale-store-auction-house|access-date=April 1, 2018|agency=Sarasota Herald Tribune|date=January 30, 2018}} In July 2018, it was briefly rebranded as "Midtown DeSoto Square Mall",{{cite news|last1=Finaldi|first1=Laura|title=A new chapter for DeSoto Square|url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20180702/new-chapter-for-desoto-square|access-date=July 3, 2018|date=July 2, 2018|website=Sarasota Herald-Tribune}} as part of plans to renovate and expand the mall. When those plans fell apart, the rebranding was dropped.{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/business/20200106/plans-for-bradentonrsquos-desoto-square-mall-filed|title=Plans for Bradenton's DeSoto Square Mall filed|access-date=May 19, 2021|archive-date=May 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519111616/https://www.heraldtribune.com/business/20200106/plans-for-bradentonrsquos-desoto-square-mall-filed|url-status=dead}} Sears announced on October 15, 2018, that it would be closing as part of a plan to close 142 stores nationwide.[https://www.bradenton.com/news/business/article220046975.html Bradenton Herald] (subscription required)

Your Treasure House closed in late 2019 leaving the former Macy's space vacant again.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}} On December 13, 2019, it was announced that the former Sears would be converted to a self-storage facility.{{Cite news|url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/business/20191213/former-bradenton-sears-being-converted-into-self-storage|title = Former Bradenton Sears being converted into self-storage|newspaper = Sarasota Herald-Tribune|last1 = Finaldi|first1 = Laura}} The mall went into default on its mortgage on January 20, 2020, and a judgement of foreclosure of $29.3 million was given.{{Cite news|last=Llovio|first=Louis|date=October 22, 2021|title=Sale of shuttered mall approved by federal judge|work=Business Observer|url=https://www.businessobserverfl.com/article/sale-of-shuttered-mall-approved-by-federal-judge|access-date=January 6, 2022}} JCPenney announced on June 4 that it was closing on October 18 as part of a plan to close 154 stores nationwide which left Hudson's Furniture as the only anchor left.{{cite web |title=JCPenney Store Closings |date=June 4, 2020 |url=https://companyblog.jcpnewsroom.com/storeclosings/}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/business/20200605/jcpenney-closing-at-desoto-square-mall-in-manatee-county|title = JCPenney closing at DeSoto Square Mall in Manatee County}} A foreclosure sale was originally scheduled to occur on September 23 but DeSoto Owners LLC filed bankruptcy a day prior to the sale.

On April 29, 2021, it was announced that the mall would officially close the next day, April 30, 2021.[https://www.bradenton.com/news/business/real-estate-news/article251029399.html Bradenton Herald] (subscription required) At the time of its closure, there were 4 stores operating in the mall.{{Cite news|last=Angers|first=Angie|date=April 30, 2021|title=After nearly 50 years, DeSoto Square Mall closes its doors for good|work=Bay News 9|url=https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2021/04/30/after-nearly-50-years--desoto-square-mall-closes-its-doors-for-good-|access-date=January 6, 2022}} Sometime before the mall's closing, DeSoto Owners LLC filed for bankruptcy again to try to restructure the company's finances and give themselves more time.

In August 2024, Madison Communities, a subsidiary of Madison Capital Group Holdings LLC, a real estate developer from North Carolina, announced that it had secured a $47 million loan to build an apartment community on its 7.5-acre parcel of the former DeSoto Mall site in Manatee County.{{cite web |last1=Llovio |first1=Louis |title=Developer Obtains $47M loan for apartment conversion at Bradenton MAll |url=https://www.businessobserverfl.com/news/2024/aug/05/loan-apartment-conversion-bradenton/ |website=Business Observer |publisher=Business Observer Florida |access-date=August 5, 2024}} Madison Capital Group previously purchased the former Sears anchor building for their Go Store It Self-Storage brand in September 2019.{{cite web |last1=Finaldi |first1=Laura |title=Former Bradenton Sears being converted into self-storage |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/manatee/2019/12/13/former-bradenton-sears-being-converted-into-self-storage/2087744007/ |website=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |publisher=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |access-date=December 13, 2019}}

{{reflist}}

{{Tampa Bay Area malls}}

Category:Buildings and structures in Bradenton, Florida

Category:Defunct shopping malls in the United States

Category:Shopping malls in Florida

Category:Shopping malls established in 1973

Category:Shopping malls disestablished in 2021

Category:Tourist attractions in Manatee County, Florida

Category:1973 establishments in Florida

Category:2021 disestablishments in Florida

Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020

Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2021