Lakes Mall
{{short description|Former shopping mall in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, United States}}
{{For|the shopping mall in Muskegon, Michigan|The Lakes Mall}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox shopping mall
| name = Lakes Mall
| image =
| image_width =
| caption =
| location = Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, U.S.
| coordinates = {{coord|26.167|-80.204|display=inline,title}}
| address = State Road 7 and Oakland Park Blvd.
| opening_date = 1972
| closing_date = 1995
(demolished 1996)
| developer = Lakes Mall Partnership
| manager =
| owner = Yoram Izhak
| architect =
| number_of_stores = 83 (original mall)
| number_of_anchors = 2
| floor_area = {{convert|465000|sqft|m2|sigfig=2}} (original mall){{cite book|title=Directory of major malls|year=1990|publisher=MJJTM Publications Corp.|page=141}}
{{convert|274632|sqft|m2|sigfig=2}} (current mall)
| parking =
| floors = 1
| website =
| belowstyle =
| footnotes =
}}
Lakes Mall was an enclosed shopping mall in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, United States. Opened in 1972, the shopping center initially featured Jefferson Ward and Britt's discount stores, and later included the first locations for the retail chains Office Depot and Sports Authority. The complex was torn down in 1995 and redeveloped as a strip mall.
History
Lakes Mall opened in 1972, anchored by discount stores Jefferson Ward and Britt's,{{cite journal|year=1972|journal=Chain Store Age|title=Florida|publisher=Lebhar-Friedman|volume=47|issue=7ā12|pages=Eā65}} with other major tenants including a Pantry Pride supermarket and a McCrory dime store. By the 1980s, the mall was losing business to larger shopping centers in town. Also, Britt's closed in 1981, Pantry Pride in 1984,{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB360FDE12A3032&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Lakes mall gets $2 million renovation to fight big centers|date=15 November 1984|work=Miami Herald|accessdate=11 October 2011}} and Jefferson Ward in 1985. By 1986, the center had more than 25 vacancies;{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB366119A0662BF&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Mall wars take toll on small Broward center|date=3 November 1986|work=Miami Herald|accessdate=11 October 2011}} a year later, 42 of its 83 storefronts were vacant. Despite the increasing vacancies, the first Office Depot opened in the mall in 1986,{{cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1986-10-20/business/8603040002_1_office-depot-home-depot-office-products|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105153413/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1986-10-20/business/8603040002_1_office-depot-home-depot-office-products|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 5, 2010|title=Office Supplies Join Warehouse Trend|last=Gale|first=Kevin|date=20 October 1986|work=South Florida Sun-Sentinel|accessdate=11 October 2011}} and a flea market filled the former Britt's.{{cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1987-08-28/news/8703100221_1_flea-market-upscale-flea-market-vendor|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610200415/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1987-08-28/news/8703100221_1_flea-market-upscale-flea-market-vendor|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 10, 2015|title=Lakes Mall Hopes To Prosper With Indoor Flea Market's Opening|last=James|first=Sallie|date=28 August 1987|work=South Florida Sun-Sentinel|accessdate=11 October 2011}} Shortly after the Office Depot opened, the owners announced that they would begin renovating the mall with a "main street" theme.{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sun_sentinel/access/92727534.html?dids=92727534:92727534&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+19%2C+1986&author=Karen+Herzog%2C+Staff+Writer&pub=South+Florida+Sun+-+Sentinel&desc=LAKES+MALL+HOPES+%60MAINSTREET%27+THEME+WILL+LURE+SHOPPERS&pqatl=google|title=Lakes Mall hopes 'main street' theme will lure shoppers|last=Herzog|first=Karen|date=19 October 1986|work=South Florida Sun-Sentinel|accessdate=11 October 2011}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
Kmart bought the former Jefferson Ward building, converting part of it to a Builders Square home improvement store, while the rest became the first location of Sports Authority, a sports equipment store.{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB343DE6E0F7ECE&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Sports Authority will expand Lauderdale Lakes headquarters|date=9 June 1991|work=Miami Herald|accessdate=12 October 2011}} Since Office Depot, The Sports Authority, and Builders Square did not open to the mall, traffic within the mall itself continued to decline. By 1989, the only other retailers inside were McCrory (which closed on December 31 that year), two restaurants, a men's clothing store, and some offices and service tenants.{{cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1989-12-25/business/8902160828_1_mall-entrance-mall-owners-lakes-mall|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130203225038/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1989-12-25/business/8902160828_1_mall-entrance-mall-owners-lakes-mall|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 3, 2013|title=Lakes Mall Becomes An Open-and-shut Case|last=Altaner|first=David|date=25 December 1989|work=South Florida Sun-Sentinel|accessdate=12 October 2011}} Also, the mall's owners filed a mortgage on it, but the mortgage holder was charged in a foreclosure suit because it also owned space in the mall and could no longer afford to pay rent.{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB33B574D81A429&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Lauderdale Lakes Mall tangled in legal snafu|date=22 February 1989|work=Miami Herald|accessdate=12 October 2011}} The city building inspector declared the building unsafe in April 1990.{{cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1990-04-21/news/9001040147_1_building-inspector-lakes-mall-partnership-tenants|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229014925/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1990-04-21/news/9001040147_1_building-inspector-lakes-mall-partnership-tenants|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 29, 2014|title=Lakes Mall Unsafe, City Inspector Decides|last=Woolfe|first=Tao|date=21 April 1990|work=South Florida Sun-Sentinel|accessdate=12 October 2011}}
Builders Square closed its store in July 1990 so that Sports Authority could expand both its retail floor space and headquarters.{{cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1991-07-09/business/9101250166_1_sports-authority-retail-store-builders-square|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921170448/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1991-07-09/business/9101250166_1_sports-authority-retail-store-builders-square|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 21, 2015|title=Builders Square To Close Lauderdale Lakes Store|last=Altaner|first=David|date=9 July 1991|work=South Florida Sun-Sentinel|accessdate=12 October 2011}} A month later, the last two tenants (an optician and dentist's office) moved out following a roof collapse, leaving only Sports Authority and Office Depot.{{cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1990-08-01/news/9002060864_1_lakes-mall-tenants-two-large-stores|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002544/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1990-08-01/news/9002060864_1_lakes-mall-tenants-two-large-stores|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 4, 2016|title=Lakes Mall Loses Last Inside Tenants|last=Woolfe|first=Tao|date=1 August 1990|work=South Florida Sun-Sentinel|accessdate=12 October 2011}} In 1992, renovation plans were announced that called for demolition of the structure, except for those stores.{{cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1992-08-07/news/9201140350_1_lakes-mall-renovations-two-major-stores|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222309/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1992-08-07/news/9201140350_1_lakes-mall-renovations-two-major-stores|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 3, 2016|title=Conceptual Plan Calls For Renovating Lakes Mall|last=James|first=Sallie|date=7 August 1992|work=South Florida Sun-Sentinel|accessdate=12 October 2011}}
The mall was finally torn down in 1996,{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sun_sentinel/access/18346057.html?dids=18346057:18346057&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+13%2C+1995&author=HENRY+FITZGERALD+JR.+Staff+Writer&pub=South+Florida+Sun+-+Sentinel&desc=MALL+DEMOLITION+IS+PRELUDE+TO+REBIRTH&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120724191357/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sun_sentinel/access/18346057.html?dids=18346057:18346057&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+13,+1995&author=HENRY+FITZGERALD+JR.+Staff+Writer&pub=South+Florida+Sun+-+Sentinel&desc=MALL+DEMOLITION+IS+PRELUDE+TO+REBIRTH&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 24, 2012|title=Mall demolition is prelude to rebirth|last=Fitzgerald|first=Henry|date=13 August 1995|work=South Florida Sun-Sentinel|accessdate=12 October 2011}} with Linen Supermarket, Mac Frugal's (which converted to Big Lots in 2002) and Smart & Final opening on portions of the former lot.{{cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1996-09-29/business/9609280138_1_office-depot-lakes-mall-discount-store|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233157/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1996-09-29/business/9609280138_1_office-depot-lakes-mall-discount-store|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 3, 2016|title=Humble Beginnings|last=Altaner|first=David|date=29 September 1996|work=South Florida Sun-Sentinel|accessdate=12 October 2011}} Sports Authority moved out in 2003,{{cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2008-11-22/news/0811210566_1_lakes-mall-office-depot-sports-authority|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140829075743/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2008-11-22/news/0811210566_1_lakes-mall-office-depot-sports-authority|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 29, 2014|title=Lakes Mall sale creates hope for revitalization|last=Ortega|first=Juan|date=22 November 2008|work=South Florida Sun-Sentinel|accessdate=12 October 2011}} moving its headquarters to suburban Denver, Colorado, and Big Lots closed the same year.{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sun_sentinel/access/298123171.html?dids=298123171:298123171&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+03%2C+2003&author=Toni+Marshall+Staff+Writer&pub=South+Florida+Sun+-+Sentinel&desc=LAUDERDALE+LAKES+COPES+AFTER+LOSS+OF+BUSINESSES+%3B+LATEST+CLOSING+IS+SPORTS+AUTHORITY&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713125440/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sun_sentinel/access/298123171.html?dids=298123171:298123171&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+03,+2003&author=Toni+Marshall+Staff+Writer&pub=South+Florida+Sun+-+Sentinel&desc=LAUDERDALE+LAKES+COPES+AFTER+LOSS+OF+BUSINESSES+;+LATEST+CLOSING+IS+SPORTS+AUTHORITY&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 13, 2012|title=Lauderdale Lakes copes after loss of businesses; latest closing is Sports Authority|last=Marshall|first=Toni|date=3 March 2003|work=South Florida Sun-Sentinel|accessdate=12 October 2011}} Smart & Final also closed its Florida stores in 2003. The complex was purchased in 2008 by UrbanAmerica LP of New York City, and Florida Career College moved into a portion.{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2008/11/17/daily51.html|title=Lakes Mall sells for $9.4M|date=17 November 2008|work=South Florida Business Journal|accessdate=12 October 2011}} In 2009, Ross Dress for Less opened on the north side of the mall,{{cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2009-07-17/news/0907160394_1_lakes-mall-office-depot-ross|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212447/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2009-07-17/news/0907160394_1_lakes-mall-office-depot-ross|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 3, 2016|title=Ross Chain To Open Store At Lakes Mall|last=East|first=Georgia|date=17 July 2009|work=South Florida Sun-Sentinel|accessdate=12 October 2011}} and Burlington Coat Factory opened at the south end in 2010.{{cite web|url=http://therealdeal.com/newyork/articles/south-florida-s-top-retail-leases-of-the-year-topped-by-burlington-coat-factory-in-lauderdale-lakes-according-to-data-from-costar/comments|title=South Florida's top retail leases of the year|last=Britell|first=Alexander|date=29 December 2010|work=The Real Deal|accessdate=12 October 2011}}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Yoram Izhak, also the owner of Lauderhill Mall, bought the property in May 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2012/05/04/izhak-buys-lauderdale-lakes-mall.html|title=Izhak buys Lauderdale Lakes Mall for $23M|last=Bandell|first=Brian|date=May 4, 2012|work=South Florida Business Journal|accessdate=9 May 2013}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Broward County Malls}}
Category:Shopping malls in Broward County, Florida
Category:Demolished shopping malls in the United States
Category:Shopping malls established in 1972
Category:Shopping malls disestablished in 1995
Category:1972 establishments in Florida
Category:1995 disestablishments in Florida