The Palm Beach Mall opened October 27, 1967 as the largest mall in the Southeast United States. It is still in operation, although the only remaining original store is JC Penney.
The mall was built by the Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation. DeBartolo was able to take advantage of the dramatic changes occurring across the United States after World War II. As more and more Americans moved into suburbs, there was a corresponding increase in demand for convenient access to stores. DeBartolo's company was one of the first companies in Ohio, as well as across the United States, to build shopping centers in suburban communities.
At first, these shopping centers were built in long strips, but soon DeBartolo began developing enclosed shopping malls as well. The DeBartolo Corporation became one of the most influential businesses in the shopping mall industry, owning almost one-tenth of all of the mall space in the United States.
The mall is now owned by the Simon Corporation. It has been through two major remodelings, and is now at a crossroads of its existence. Some plans have the mall becoming a "big box" mall with demolition of major sections of the mall while others predict that the mall will be razed and housing developments will be built.
For those who grew up in the West Palm Beach area in the 1960's and 1970's, there was no where else to shop.
The mall was built by the Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation. DeBartolo was able to take advantage of the dramatic changes occurring across the United States after World War II. As more and more Americans moved into suburbs, there was a corresponding increase in demand for convenient access to stores. DeBartolo's company was one of the first companies in Ohio, as well as across the United States, to build shopping centers in suburban communities.
At first, these shopping centers were built in long strips, but soon DeBartolo began developing enclosed shopping malls as well. The DeBartolo Corporation became one of the most influential businesses in the shopping mall industry, owning almost one-tenth of all of the mall space in the United States.
The mall is now owned by the Simon Corporation. It has been through two major remodelings, and is now at a crossroads of its existence. Some plans have the mall becoming a "big box" mall with demolition of major sections of the mall while others predict that the mall will be razed and housing developments will be built.
For those who grew up in the West Palm Beach area in the 1960's and 1970's, there was no where else to shop.
Original Stores
This is a partial list of the 87 original stores and 9 restaurants of the Palm Beach Mall, and some of the 1970's stores:
Anchors:
JC Penney
Jordan Marsh (now Dillard's)
Richard's (now Sears)
Woolworth
Food Fair (Pantry Pride)
Burdines (1976)
Specialty:
Barefoot Mailman - Curios, gifts
Chess King - Men's store
Contempo Casuals - Women's fashions
Cricket Shop - Tropical Fashions
Lerner - Women's fashions
Doktor Pet Store - Pet Shop
Jacobs Jewelers - Jewelry
Webster's - Sporting Goods
Fannie May Candy - Candy store
Kinney Shoes - Shoe stor
Barron's - Men's Store
Lani Kai Fashions - Resort wear
Thom McKann Shoes
SmokeShop - Cigarettes and cigars
Surrey's Ltd. - Men's Store
Florsheim Shoes - Shoes
Baker Shoes - Shoes
Lillie Rubin - Women's fashions
Hallmark Card Shop - Card Shop
Spec's Music - Albums and sheet music
Walgreen's - Drugs and prescriptions
Walden Book Store - Books
Anthony's Fashions - Women's fashions
Goodyear Tire - Auto repair & Appliances
Wicks and Sticks - Candles
County Seat - Levi's Jeans
Food/Restaurants:
Junior's - Deli style foods
Le Petit Cafe - Fast food, sandwiches, pastries
Orange Bowl - Hot dogs, pizza
Harvest House - Cafeteria style
Barracini's Ice Cream - Ice Cream
Hickory Farms - Cheeses
Hot Sam - Pretzels
Department Store Restaurants - Jordan Marsh, Woolworth's lunch counter
This is a partial list of the 87 original stores and 9 restaurants of the Palm Beach Mall, and some of the 1970's stores:
Anchors:
JC Penney
Jordan Marsh (now Dillard's)
Richard's (now Sears)
Woolworth
Food Fair (Pantry Pride)
Burdines (1976)
Specialty:
Barefoot Mailman - Curios, gifts
Chess King - Men's store
Contempo Casuals - Women's fashions
Cricket Shop - Tropical Fashions
Lerner - Women's fashions
Doktor Pet Store - Pet Shop
Jacobs Jewelers - Jewelry
Webster's - Sporting Goods
Fannie May Candy - Candy store
Kinney Shoes - Shoe stor
Barron's - Men's Store
Lani Kai Fashions - Resort wear
Thom McKann Shoes
SmokeShop - Cigarettes and cigars
Surrey's Ltd. - Men's Store
Florsheim Shoes - Shoes
Baker Shoes - Shoes
Lillie Rubin - Women's fashions
Hallmark Card Shop - Card Shop
Spec's Music - Albums and sheet music
Walgreen's - Drugs and prescriptions
Walden Book Store - Books
Anthony's Fashions - Women's fashions
Goodyear Tire - Auto repair & Appliances
Wicks and Sticks - Candles
County Seat - Levi's Jeans
Food/Restaurants:
Junior's - Deli style foods
Le Petit Cafe - Fast food, sandwiches, pastries
Orange Bowl - Hot dogs, pizza
Harvest House - Cafeteria style
Barracini's Ice Cream - Ice Cream
Hickory Farms - Cheeses
Hot Sam - Pretzels
Department Store Restaurants - Jordan Marsh, Woolworth's lunch counter
Harvest House was eatery in PB Mall
By Eliot Kleinberg
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Q: Back in the early to mid-'70s, I remember a restaurant in the Palm Beach Mall. It was a nice place that served brunch on Sundays and had a clown do magic for us kids. What was the name of that place?
- Rich W., Jupiter
A: This question brought some nostalgic smiles from some of our Baby Boomer staffers, not to mention Rachelle Crain, marketing director for the Palm Beach Mall. She remembers Harvest House, as the restaurant was called, and the clowns who did magic and made balloon animals for the kids. Crain grew up in West Palm Beach and recalls going to the place as a teen in the 1970s with her four siblings.
The restaurant chain had a contract to operate inside Woolworth's. The Woolworth's at the Palm Beach Mall stood where the Designer Shoe Warehouse, Musician's Superstore and Borders are now, and the Harvest House inside had a separate entrance into the mall, Crain said. She said the restaurant moved out around 1994. The Woolworth's shut down in 1997 when the chain closed all its 400 remaining five-and-dime stores.
Woolworth's later morphed into Foot Locker. We tried to get more historical information about Harvest House, but its press people didn't return several calls.
By Eliot Kleinberg
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Q: Back in the early to mid-'70s, I remember a restaurant in the Palm Beach Mall. It was a nice place that served brunch on Sundays and had a clown do magic for us kids. What was the name of that place?
- Rich W., Jupiter
A: This question brought some nostalgic smiles from some of our Baby Boomer staffers, not to mention Rachelle Crain, marketing director for the Palm Beach Mall. She remembers Harvest House, as the restaurant was called, and the clowns who did magic and made balloon animals for the kids. Crain grew up in West Palm Beach and recalls going to the place as a teen in the 1970s with her four siblings.
The restaurant chain had a contract to operate inside Woolworth's. The Woolworth's at the Palm Beach Mall stood where the Designer Shoe Warehouse, Musician's Superstore and Borders are now, and the Harvest House inside had a separate entrance into the mall, Crain said. She said the restaurant moved out around 1994. The Woolworth's shut down in 1997 when the chain closed all its 400 remaining five-and-dime stores.
Woolworth's later morphed into Foot Locker. We tried to get more historical information about Harvest House, but its press people didn't return several calls.
In the News
The beautiful fountain or "Wonderfall" at the Palm Beach Mall. The fountain was a series of strings that were suspended between the ceiling and base of the fountain. The water would stream down the strings creating a unique effect.
About Us
Please contact us if you have any additional information about the mall. We maintain websites on Palm Beach County History - visit our sister website at www.africa-usa.com.
Contact: Click here
Please contact us if you have any additional information about the mall. We maintain websites on Palm Beach County History - visit our sister website at www.africa-usa.com.
Contact: Click here
